The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1857-10-03
Advertise Family $1'O
Statement Of q Passenger on the Steamer
Central America

Statement Of q Passenger on the Steamer
Central America.
The following statemest is made by
Henry II. Childs, one Of the passengers
on the steamer:
al left Havana in the steamship Cen
ira! Am RIGA for New York, on sept.
sth. The weather was delightful and
the sea calm on the passage from Aspin-
wall. On the afternoon of the day of
sailing from Havana, fresh westerly
breezes sprung up. On the following
morning the wind blew very strong, the
gale continuing to increase in violence as
the day advanced AT night there was
no abatement in the fury Of the gale and
it commenced raining in torrents. On
Thursday it blew a hurricane, the SEA
running very high. On Friday NOR
ming the storm ragged fearfully. At IL
o'clock in the morning of this day it Was
first known among the passengers that
the steamer had sprung leak, and was
making water fast A line of men was
Immediately formed, and they went to
work bailing out the water from the en-
CINE rooms, the fires having already been
extinguished We gained on the water
so much that wewere able to get up steam
again, but we held it but few minutes,
and then it stopped forever. Bailing
continued, however, and was kept up in
all parts of the ship till she finally wen,
down.
During Friday night, the water gained
gradually, and all on board being in pref
ty good spirits, they worked to the best
Of their ability, feeling that when NOR.
ming came th.y possibly might speak
some vessel, and thus be saved.
The fatal Saturday came at last but
brought nothing but increased fury in the
gale. Still we worked on, and about 2
O. clock in the afternoon, the storm lullet
a little, and the clouds broke away
Hope was renewed, and all worked now
like giants. At 4 P. NJ. we espied sail
and fred guns, and placed our flag al
half-mast. 1t was seen, and the Marine
of Boston, bore down upon us. We con
| sidered safety certain.
She came near us, and we spoke to hel
and told our condition. She laid by a
bout mile distant, and we, in the only
three boats saved, placed all the women
and children, and they were safely pu
on board the brig AS evening was fas
appr, aching we discovered another sail
which responded to our call and came
near us. Capt Herndon told our condi
tion and asked them to lay by and send
boat, as we had none left She promised
to do SO, but that was the last we saw o.
her, except at a distance, which grew
greater and greater every moment.
At O'Clock we saw no possibility o
keeping afoat much longer, although W.
all felt that if we could do so until morn
ing, all would be saved. liz short tim
a heavy sea for the first time broke owe
the upper deck of the vessel, and thel
all hope faded away. Life preserves
were now supplied to all, and we sent ul
! two rockets, when tremendous sea swep
over US, and the steamer in a moment
went down. | think some four hundre,
or four hundred and fifty souls wer,
launched upon the ocean, at the mere,
Of the waves. The storm at this tim,
had entirely subsidized We all kept nea
| together, and went as the waves took us
There was nothing, or very little saic
except that each one cheered his fellow
comrade on. Courage was thus kept W
for two or three hours, and | think fo
this space of time none had drowned bu
three who could not swim because ex
hausted. After this gradually enc b.
one. passed away to eternity. The hop
that boats would be sent to us from tw,
vessels We had spoken soon fled us, an,
our trust was alone in Providence, -anC
what better trust could you or | asl
| for"
| saw my comrades sink fast, aud a
one o'clock that night | was nearI,
alone upon the ocean, soma two hundred
miles from land. | heard, however
shouts from all who could do SO, tina
they were not far from NE, but | eoult
not see them
Within an hour from this time | saw
vessel, which | judged to be about ont
mile from m. Taking fresh courags
! struck out for the vessel, and reached i
when nearly exhausted, and they drew
me on board of it by ropes. 1t proved
to be Norwegian bark from Balize, Hon
duras, bound for Falmouth, England ]
found on board of her some three of my
comrades, and at IL o clock next NOR
ni.g We had - noble fellows on board
aud these are all know of having beer
saved.
We stayed about the place until W,
thought that all alive had been rescued
and then set sail We found the bari
short of provisions and the crew livins
on Cruel. We had some tea and coffee
to refresh ourselves, and at noon on Sun
day We spoke the American bark Saxo
ny, bound for Savannah, which supplied
us with provisions, and took five Of us OIL
| board.
| BosToS This town looks as if some
body had been building lot of cities b,