New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-09-21
ARRIVAL OF THE EMPIRE CITY WITH
NINETY-TWO SURVIVORS.
PURsER'S REPORT.


PURsERS REPORT
The Empire City, Cspt. Jno. MCGOWAN, left her
wharf at Norfolk, Ga at lO the 18th for this
port. She had been victualled and cosed during the
previous two days for Thorough cruise in search of
the missing steamer Central Anerics, Of whose ut-
mate safety, however, none on board felt any mis-
Swing. But on the day Of appointed departure, at ;
a. No, pilot boat came up from outside anchored in
the stream near us, and we were soon boarded by .
gentlemsn-One of four passeDgers-who electrified US
with the of the total loss of the Central
America foundered at sea at p. m. on the evening
Of the 18th inst, during the lse severe gale, carrying
down with her most of her officers and crew. nearly
400 passengers, and 81 100000 in treasure.
Our informant had been picked up on the night Of
the disaster fospg about on fragments of the wreck
with fortyeght Others by the Norwegian bark Ellen,
Capt. johnson, from Balize, Honduras, bound to Fall
mouth, England, which vessel he reported then CON-
ing up the Bay in tow Of a small steamer
1t was likewise understood that all the women and
children some Of the latter nfaDts in all fifty six in
number had been saved in the steamers boats, before
she sunk, and put board the brig Marine of Boston.
"Sir, said our informant "fve hundred men, With
"death yawnipg before them at any moment, stood
"sOlid as rock, nor made movement for the boats
until the women and children had been all safely
transported to the brig-afer which about forty of
"the and male passengers ina fe trips reached
"the latter vessel before the steamer went down."
Capt. MCGOWAN, abandoning his previous intention,
immeoistely got his ship under weigh, steamed down
the harbor and when near the lsht-ship, spoke the
bank, with her quota of the saved.
HaiDg her, he profered passage to New York to
all who chose to accest it. The majority were taken
on board, and, with parting round of three hearty
cheers for their preServers, we proceeded on our
course hoping to fall in with the brig, and relieve the
women and children. Within three miles Of Cape
Henry vessel was deserted ahead in tow of pro-
peen bound ill., and immediately speculation was rife
az to whether she might might not prove to be the
We eel we sought. Glasses were eveed at her by
anxious groups gathered forward, and as we rapidly
closed together certainty succeeded surmise, aud, to
the Joy of all she proved to be the brig Marine, in
tow of the City Of Norfolk propeller her low and con-
fined decks swarmirg with wretched looking objects,
many of them women and children, wringng their
hares and weeping and laughing BY turns, hysten-
caly. Our boats were speedily lowered, and Capt
McGowas, in the first boat boarded the brig in per-
son, caressed, embraced and indeed half sranged by
the poor women, who threw themselves upon him a.
he reached the deck.
As boat load after boat load reached ships aide
sr ladder each We'd with the other In assisting them
to our decks and in short time the greater portion
we're comfortably quartered in our cabins. To the
bystsIders the recognition and greeting between the
two psrties-mother claiming SOD, and husband vie;
the eager scanning of each face in sgonzng fear and
expectation the joy grief manifested as recognition
or disappointment awaited the gazer, touching in
the extreme straning the heart strings and moisten
Jog the eyes Of many hitherto unused to such mani.
festation. portion remained on board the brig, pre-
ferirg TO 60 up to Norfolk, and when all who wished
had been taken on board, the Empire City again
started with her freight of unfounstes for New York
Nnety-six in all were reported TO have been saved
by the brig exclusive of the colored stewadess who
died from exhaustion, shortly after having been taken
from the wreck. All speak in the highest terms Of the
attention paid them and the humanity displayed BY
the officers and crews Of both brig and bark; the
former conveying the womep was abou. to serve out
her last days ration of water and had not an oppor.
tune supply of provisions been received from spassing
vessel they must have been driven TO great straits,
with hunger well as thirst.
The bark Ellen had previously had al her boa's
stove in the gale, and every individual Of those saVeo
by her were drawn on board by lines thrown them -
she sailed through the drifting masses oil drowning
member captain handling his vessel az only 'eN''
could. going ahead, going ahead getting stern"ay on
her, ard drifting to leeward as the cr'esoi ui0
BIN, from those whom he could mol SEQ lnfouea VIC
darkness CT the light. dictated. Ilsn eec'p'" W.
sausled ia tie sun.is 81 marine disaster aAa fs+st