Bellevue gazette. [volume] (Bellevue City, N.T. [i.e. Neb.]) 1856-1858, 1857-10-08

and came near us. Capt. Herndon told
them our condition, and asked them TO lay
by and send n bnat, rs W. had rome lett.
she promised TO do so, but that was the
last we saw Of her except at a distance,
which grew greater and greater every
moment. AT z o'clock we saw no posi-
bility of keeping nloat much longer, al
though we all felt that if we could do so
ill morning, all would be saved. In a
short time a heavy sea for the first time
broke over the upper deck OF the vessel
and then all hope faded away. L.ife-pre-
servers were now supplied to all, and we
sent up two rockets, when a tremendous
sea swept over us and the steamer in a
moment went down. think some 400, or
450 souls were launched upon the ocean
at the mercy Of the waves. The storm al
this had entirely subsidized. we
all kept near together, aud went as the
waves took us. There was nothing or
very little said, except that each one
chcered his fellow comrade on. Courage
was thus kept up for two or three hours,
aud ! think for that space of time no one
had drowned but three who could not
swim became exhausted. After this,
gradually one by one passed away to eter-
nitv. The hope that boats would be sent
to us from the two vessels we had spoken,
soon fled from us, and our trust was alone
in Providence" and what better trust
could you ask for z" | saw my comrades
sink fast, and at one o'clock that night |
was nearly alone upon the ocean, some
two hundred miles from land. heard,
however, shouts from all that could do so,
that were not far frome me, but | could
not see them. Within an hour from this
time | saw a vessel, which | judged to be
about one mile from Inc. Taking fresh
courage, | struck out for the vessel and
reached it when nearly exhausted, and
they drew me on board of it by ropes. 1t
proved to be a Norwegian bark from Be-
lie, Honduras, bound for Falmouth, Eng
land. found on board OF her, some
three of my comrades, and at 0 l-2
o'clock, the next morning, we had forty
nine noble fellows on board, and these are
all | know of having been saved. We
STAYED about the place until we thought
all alive had been rescued, and then set
sail. We found the bark short of provls-
ions, and the crew living on Cruel. We
had some tea and coffee to refresh our
selves, ard at noon on Sunday, we spoke
the American bark Saxony, bound for
! Savannah, which supplied us with provis-
ions and took five of us on board"
The following account was furnished
to the N. Y. Tribune, by Mr.. c. II. Den
ison, Purser of the Empire City:
The Empire City, Capt. John MEOW
an, left her wharf at Norfolk, Va, at II
. ID, A. NJ, on the 18th, for this port
: She had been victualled and coaled dur,
ing the previous two days for a thorough
e cruise in search of the missing steamer
Central America, of whose ultimate safe
, ", however, none on board felt any mic
y giving. But on the appointed departure
h at 5, A. Nj. a pilot boat came up iron
outside, anchored in the stream ne ar u
and we were soon boarded by u gentle
man-one of four passengers-who cleo
= trifed us with the announcement of tn
n total loss Of the Central America, found
/, cred at sea, at S, p. NJ, on the evening
of the 18th inst, during the late sever
'' gale, carrying down with her most of he
lie officers and crew, nearly 400 passenger,
d, aud 81 100000 in treasure.
Our informant had been picked up o
the night of the disaster, floating about o
fragments of the wreck, by the Norwt
le gian bark Ellen, Capt. Johnson, from b
lie, Honduras, bound to Falmouth, Eng
S. land, which vessel he reported coming u
rs the Bay in tow of a small steamer.
1t was likewise understood hat all Ii
~ the women and children, some of the la
r. ter infants in all ffty-slx in number, ha
~ been saved in the steamers boats, befol
she sunk, and put on board the brig Nj
"a rine of Boston. Sir" said our inform
IN ant, five hundred men, with dea'
IN yawning before them at any moner
p. stoold solid as rock, nor made a move f.
" the boats until the women and chlldre
sc had all been safely transported TO the br
ut after which about forty of the crew al
male passengers in a few trips reacht
Is. the latter vessel before the steamer we
he down."
he Capt. MCGOWAN, abandoning his pr
in vious intention, Immediately got his sh
rst under weigh, steamed down the harbc
he and when neal the light-ship, spoke >
IL bark, with her quota of the saved.
N Hailing her, he profiered a passage
rk New York 10 all who chose to accept
ne The majority were taken IN board, an
* with a parting round with three hear
so cheers for their preservers, we proceed,
nm on our course, hoping to fall in with 4
es, brig, and relieve the women and childre
lg, Within three miles of Cape Henry, a We
in sci was deserted ahead in tow of a pr
ent peIler, bound in, and Immediately spec
ter Iation was rife as 10 whether she mioht