Weekly Trinity journal., 1857-10-31
The Loss of the Central America.

paper, the particulars of the laundering OF the
Central An'eriea on the nj ght of the 18th of Sep
tember, and the loss of nearly five hundred
human beings
/ Previous to the going down of the steamer
the women and children were removed on board
a friendly brig. 1t is believed that the whole of
the passengers and crew might have been saved
in the same manner, had she not been driven
before the wind in a disabled state, finding it
impossible to return. Out of six hundred pas
sengers only l49 were saved.
/ few days only before the news of the disas
ter reached our shores, the Sacramento .age pre-
dicted as follows:
| Latterly, slow, old and rotten steamers have
| been put upon the route We call these the
coffin steamships-and some Of the newer YES
sells are worthy of the ominous name. Pretty
soon the awful announcement will come up
coast like the tones of tolling bell, that one of
| the coflns has been quickly lowered by the gale
or rock carrying with it to the deep down sands
a multitude of people. But the Steamship Com
pany will not mourn with the mourners. ex-
/ press a single honest regret-it was an accident,
d" peril of the sea" against which they gave no
assurance. We warn the public that among the
next great events will be a terrible catastrophe
on the Pacific and the Mail Steamship Com
! pany will be the criminals OF the murderous oc-
casion.
The prediction has been verified with the ex-
ception that the terrible catastrophe occurred
on the Atlantic coast instead Of our own and by
it hundreds of human lives have been sacrificed.
After Drawing the perils of sea aud land and
those consequent to California life, they were
turning to make glad the hearts of those who
years ago they left behind to seek their fortunes
on the golden shores of the Pacific.
But to the cause of the accident. 1t is assert
ed that she leaked at her shaft ;" and owing to
some defect in the pumps Of the vessel it was i'm
possible to keep the hold clear of water. This,
we have no doubt was the cause of the disaster,
for we cannot believe that the Centrdi .4mertca
was unseawortby in other respects, but on the
contrary that she was as staunch and strong as
wood and iron could make her.
That the chief officer of the vessel behaved
nobly, and died like a hero none will deny aud
Of the conduct Of his crew the New York Times
says:
That the crew worthy Of their gallant
commander, and by their conduct redeemed the
name of the American sailor from the reproach
Il
fact upon which we may dwell with melancholy
pride, and it is with pleasure that we fisd in the
account Of Mr.. Jones, published today, a state
ment which promises to deliver the name of
the Chief Engineer Ashby from the pillory in
which it has been set by the first reports of his
behavior.
But the cause Of the accident falls upon the
Pacific Mail Steamship Company Had the in
speotors done their duty, the Central America
would never have been allowed to leave port in
the disabled manner in which she did Passcn
gers say that the vessel " leaked at the shaft"
and that the pumps could not be used, before the
storm set in. But it is in keeping with the past
course Of this monopoly, and we trust the time
is near at hand when the travlng public will not
be obliged to depend upon it alone, and at the
risk of their lives. Many of the Eastern papers,
we notice, attempt to shield the Pacific Mail
Company, while others arc particularly bitter
Among the latter is the New Orleans True Delta,
from which we extract the following:
What care they how many valuable lives have
been sacrificed on the filthy old hulk George
Law, what is to them how many children are left
fathellcss or widows to lament in bitter and un-
avaing tears the premature loss OF their only
earthly protectors, while the latter are beseech-
ing in choking sobs their Heavenly Father for
succor and support the political jobbers in New
York are swallowing their rich wines in high
gee at the prospect Of recovering from the un
derwrters sufficient insurance to build new
ship.
Upon the head of these sordid wrctches the
blood Of the drowned hundreds who perisbcd on
the unseaworthy old hulk Central America, or
George Law, will rest and We wish we could !
acquit the government Of the nation of conni-
vance and completely in their crime.
Among the lost are Philip Holler, Lawrence
Dorsey and James Whalen Of this place. Dorsey
and Whalen were from Illinois. All three were
old residents of this county, and well known by
our citizens, who mourn their untmely end.
WEAvERvILtE TRAu~-A company of men
under charge of S. Daby are engaged on this
trial this side of Hiampum. The work this fall
will be laid out principally between the South
Fork and Woodward & Barney ranch, changing
that portion Of the trail, if possible, as to
avoid the two deep gulchcs Of Redwood Creek
and Grouse Creek 1t is the design, we believe,
to put as much work on the trail this fall as the
weather will allow and the means at the disposal
of the Trail Committee will warrant As the
citizens of Weayerville and Shasta are engaged
in improving the route between those points, our
people should see the necessity of improving
this trail also. The country through which it
passes is better adapted for such purpose than
any rou te from the coast TO the interior, and it
only requires little common sense engineering,
in places, and some grading, TO make good tdH
With this we will be content for the present; it
will not be long before a wagon road will be de-
mandcd but, until it is demanded, let us have
the next thing to it, HtnbOid Times.
AMONG THE DEAD.-Thomas X. Blanton, one
of the original propretors of the Red Bluff
BeacOn, is among the lost passengers who were
on board the Ceatrdt .dmericd at the time of
of laundering. The Beacon of the 2Sth inst
pays the following tribute to this gentleman:
Mr. Blanton cmigrated to this State from
Missouri when but lad, and worked steadily at
bis trade as a journeyman printer, until within
few months of his departure for home, when he
came to this town, and in connection with
Stephen d. Clark, started the Red Bluff Beacon.
During his stay with us he made for himself
mapv friends and no enemies He would have