The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-09-24
Loss Of the California steamer
Central America with 400
Passengers aud S2,OO0,oo0 in.
Cod. ~. M g "

NoRFoLK, Sept. 1S.
The Central America foundered on Satur-
day. Fifty passengers were rescued By the
Elos, including % females, and have arrived
in Hampton Roads. The officers were all lost
except James Frazer, the second officer.-
Chief Engineer Ashley took boa. and de sert-
ed the ship. Two millions in specie are lost.
Il ~Ess-g = 81
H. ~ III Baltimore. Sept, 10.
The boat which left Norfolk yesterday
evening arrived here this morning the agent
Of the associated press boarded her last night
from the p m. boat, and came up here with
several ofthe passengers of the Central Amer
lea. Captain Badger, Of Baltimore furnished
him with some interesting facts: seisaa as
"A list Of those knowa to be lost: Mr.. Lee,
Canada; Benz. Colt, Hancock Co., ILL.,; Hanson
and Johr Herne, Mo-; Rich. Wilton, Quincy.
ILL.,; Jas. + Birch, U Mail contractor, Fall
River; Gabriel Bush, Baggage Master, New
York; Chas. Taylor, u C; DR. Byannie, San
Francisco; DR. Gibbs and MIR. Marvin, Califor.
MIA, Mr.. Barker, San francisco; Mr. Bother,
Boston, Parser Dobbin, Mr.. White, Sacramen-
to; Mr.. Hull, Californis; Mr.. Rensoer, first
officer; Capt sHerndon, u. s. ~, Commander
Of the steamer, and Jas. Tennison. DR.. Of the
| steamer. ,5 te m
The Norwegian bark at Norfolk is the bark
Ellen, Capt A Johnson, Balise and Honduras,
and not the bark Elois as was reported
Oliver P. Maurice passenger. gives the toll
lowing informatioh: The brig Marine was laying
nearly mile off and by the time the third boats
/ reached her, 1t became evident that the ship
must 60 down before they could get back
All hands then seized pieces Of spars, chairs
and life preservers while others rushed below
to procure the treasure.
Now the vessel gave three lurches. Some
of tie passengers jumped off at each lurch, and
those who jumped off at the first or second
lurch es swan off some distance, but the great
mass remained on deck until the vessel went
down, which was a minute or two afterwards.
We were all drawn under the surface at least
20 feet, and when we rose were nearly stiflet.
The rapidity with which | was drawn down
fore the spar from my hands and the life pre-
server from my body; and when reached the
surface my clothing was almost all stripped
of. however met friend who hac two life
preservers and who gave me on; we also seized
on pieces of the wreck, which helped to ,stain
US. About forty Of the passengers were strug-
Cling about-most of them having los. their
life preservers and others serving the pieces of
wreck which came up with US. The Cap ain
had cut away the upper works of the vessel
30 that when the huh sunk they would float
oil, but they were all dragged down and came
up in fragments. Many persons were killed
stunned and drowned by being struck by pieces
of the wreck, whilst the pieces were to others
the means Of ultimate safety
| An occasional flash of lightning shovel to
each other sea Of struggling forms. Each
strove to encourage his friend with hopes
which he scarce felt himself. AT once we
were all together in a mass, but soon the waves
separated rs, and at the successive hashes Z
lightning we were beng scatt, REQ over wide
I' @f@h TT .tsA t- 1--WE .tfas sff >