Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1857-09-30
THE CENTRAL AMERICA.

FURTHER INCIDENTS OF THE WRECKED STEAMER
As Theodore Payne. ESP, of San Francisco was
leaving the steamer to 60 the bark Marine, Capt
Herndon gave him his watch, with the request that
he would deliver it to Mrs. Herndon should he be
fortunately saved Mr.. Payne reached this city yes
terday from Norfolk, with the watch in his posses
sion and the request of the captain will be faithful
ly complied with.
1t is said that owing to the violence of the storm
there considerable suffering among the paSsen-
gers the steamer from sea Sickness but soon
as the danger became imminent, all symptoms of
sickness disappeared. This Produced probably,
by being overpowered by the strong mental emo
tons crealed by their Perilous position.
Much credit is said to be due to DR.. = Harvey, Of
Placervle, California, for the care and medical at
tention bestowed by him upon the women and chill
dren on board the bark Ellen.
Captain Thomas W. Badger, Of Virginia, one of
the rescued, lost SIG, 500 in gold eagles, which
was in carpet bag in his state-room.
One man swan to the bark Ellen with 90 pound
Of gold dust around his person. He was saved with
his treasure. 1t was valued at $4,000.
Mrs. Birch wife ofthe minstrel, had beautiful ca
nary bird which she left in a cage in her state
Before she left the ship she took it from its cage
and placing it in her bosom broug it safe to the
brig. Her husband secured jewelry of great value
about his own person.
The gentlemen whose wives went off from the
ship, in many instances gave them their money,
watches and jewelry to carry with them, with what
ever checks papers of vaue they had about them
| DR.. O. Harvey had in his possession a cane with
large and elaborately carved gold head set with
gold quartz. At the suggestion of a friend he cut
the head off, and threw the stick away. He brought
it safely through, and exhibited it at Barnums yes
terday. 1t is valued at $50.
Mr.. Van Hagen, one Of the lost, handed his watch
to his wife and told her to keep it as memento, if
he perished.
passengers, all of which, with the exceptions named,
| went down with its possesSors.
Mr.. W. H. Adams, mentioned in the list Of saved
as from Oregon, is Baltimorean, and reached his
| home on Sunday morning.
1t is related that of the sailors of the Norwe.
gan barque Ellen sprans overheard and tied rope
around one of the pershing men, trusting himself
to the chances of being saved in the raging sea.
Inrestigation of the Disaster Causes Loss &c
New YORK, Sept 21.-The company who owned
| the lost steamship Central America have resolved
upon thorough investigation of every thing connect
ed with the disaster receiving statements from every
person saved, if possible. A strong impression be.
gins to prevail that the vessel lost through the
carelessness Of the passengers in leaving the port
holes open, through which the water rushed in
There is story here that the mast which was cu
away and thrown overheard for the purpose Of ma
king drag with which to try and bring the ship
before the wind knocked hole in the ships bottom,
but Mr. Roberts, the president of the company, thinks
the statement unreliable. 1t does not appear tina
there was any fault in the pumps, and it is now es
tablished that they were worked to good advantage
until broken. She had two nine inch bilge-pump
connected with the engines, but these pumps o
sourse were useless after the engine stopped.
The LESSON TO BE DRAWN FROM IT.-The New
York Journal of Commerce. in its comments on tn
loss of the Central America, says:
"The steamer was provided with six life boats
Two were Francis metallic boats, and the remaining
four were fitted up with air tanks on the end an
sides, and each Of the six was capable of holdin
from 30 to rs persons. She was also equipped wit
600 700 life preservers but had no bulkhead pal
ttions. We have here another terrible lesson re
specting the necessity of having all going steam
ers furnished with water-tght compartments; for
is reasonable to assume that had the Central Amer
lea been thus provided the lamentabie loss of lii
> now chronicled might have been greatly diminished
if not wholly averted."
In this brief paragraph is conveyed the lesson
the neffciency of the present mode Of insurng lii
. at upon those ships which the public regard
, being most safe, owing to the nominal precautior
taken to that end. The question is, will that terr
BILE disaster superinduce better preparation otht
American steamships for such storm as that
, i which this ship went down.?
Fund for the Relief Of tho Sufferers.
? New YORK. Sept. 2l.-The merchants of this Gil
have held meeting, and appointed committee
raise funds relative to the SUITE rers by the loss
the steamer Central America, and reward the re
: cuers. The sum of 81, TOO was subscribed to.ds
including $4,000 by the steamship company. q