Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1857-10-01
The Central America---Statemen of the
Chief Engineer

Mr.. Ashby, the Chief Engineer. published tn
following statement in Portsmouth;
PORTSMOUTH, Va, Saturday, Sept. 10.
To the Editor ofthe Transcript
Erroneous statements having gone forth IL
connection with the disaster to the steamer Cen
fTat 1meTica rs to my conduct as Chief Enginee.
desire to correct them through the medium o
your paper and place my conduct before til,
public IN its proper light. 1t has been alleged
that the loss of the steamer is solely attributed
to my neglect OF duty, in permitting the fires o
the engine to unnecessarily go out, and thu:
rendering the vessel unmanagable The state
ment is entirely false. The fact is that The
steamer filed with water so rapidly from leak:
and the boisterous character OF the sea that III,
fires could not be kept up, though every remedy
was suggested itself was employed for the pur
pose.
Another statement is, that | acted pre-
maturity and unadvisedly in quitting the seamre
This charge of desertion is equally false with the
first. After consultation with the Commander
Capt, HERNDON, and the First officer of the
ship, Mr.. CHARLES VAN RENSSELAER,, it was
our unanimous opinion that the Cenfral AmeYi.
can couldnot live till midnight of the evening
on which she foundered, and the Justice of thu.
conclusion is sustained by the fact: in q much
less space of time than predicted the steamer
went down.
Previous to the-meiancholy termination of tho
struggle, however, and at the solicitation OF
rather the direction of Captain HERNDoN, did
get one OF the ships boats ready and placed in
her all the ladies and children on board the
steamer. The brig Marine was coming down
to the assistance of those in the boats and after
rowing over they were safely placed on the
brig.
twas after this, however, Capt. Herndon
saw the necessity of obtaining closer communi-
PD TOn with hrfor ,1-N. Al
having larger number of boats in which to
transfer the passengers from the steamer, and by
his direction, lett in the next boat from the
steamer for the brig to attend to the desired ar
rangements. On my arrival aboard the brig
with the Captain, who informed
me he would bear down as fast as possible. but
that it would necessarily be with caution, "a he
was himself in adisabled condition, having lost
his main yard and some sails. Capt. Burke Of
fered the use of his own boat, a yawl, but de-
her as entirely unsafe, that she would
not live three minutes in such a sea- In the
meantime two boats arrived from the steamer
with passengers, and portion of her crew, who
on being placed on board, deserted their con
leaving them alongside of the BRIG
with only one quarter master in each of the
boats | ordered and entreated the crew to man
the boats to return with me to rescue the otl.-
ers, but they positively refused to comply. as
left powerless, and had no other alternative but
TO remain on board the Marine. This is q brief
but impartial marathon of facts, which vii be
confirmed as soon as | ~ rive in New York, and
full investigation can be had. u NTH this shall
occur, it is but just that public opinion should
be suspended, as it will vindicato my conduct as
an officer and gentlemen from the aspersions
attempted to be cast upon IT,.
am, very respectfully,
GEO. Z. ASHBY,
Late Chief-Engineer of the Central America
Mr.. II, +. Jones one of the passengers, says.
heard Mr.. Ashby implorc the men who man
ned his boat most earnestly TO return with him
TO the aid of the Central America, HI offered
them 800 apiece to do so, and attempted to
throw some of them by main force into his boat,
but all 10 no purpose. With the exception OF a
Mr. Raymond, they all absolutely refused to risk
their lives by returning.
Another one says:
The Chief Engineer came in the third boat,
and said he came for the purpose OF insulting the
return of the boats, but his arguments and en-
treaties were poweress to move them; they
said it was too late.
AN INCIDENT.
The youngest of the lady passengers by the
Ceatrat america was Miss Winlfred Fallon, OF
Sharon, Conn, who together with her little
brother of two years, was returning with their
father from California. Her mother died in Cal
fornia in February last. Mr.. Fallon had about
SO 900 in gold with him. When the gale was
at its hight, and it became evident that they
would sink, her father took out his gold and
handed it to her, saying: Take this, my child,
for yOu may be saved and if l am not you will
need it." She wept at the thought, but took
the reasure. In another hour a sail hove in
sight, and it was at once determined that the
most helpless should FIRST receive protection
IL Al 4 I
placed in safety Miss Fallon, however believed
that her father would be saved, and handed back
the purse telling him they would now all get off
safe, She was put into the boat with her little
brother. and saw the smile of satsfaston on her
fathers face as they were borne away from the
ship; this was the last view she had of him
she arrived here wholly destitute either Of money
or comfortable clothes, with her almost naked
little brother, for whom she must now act the
double part of sister and mot her.
APPEARANCE OF THE PASSENGERS.
As the rescued passengers of the lost steamer
saved their lives, but lost everything else, their
appearance on board the Empire City, as she
came into port was such as to betoken the eX-
treme poverty of their condition and painfully
to recall the suffering through which they had
passed The men were so thinly clad that many
Of them feared to encounter the exposure of the
docks, and the women were forced TO make apol-
ogies for their destitute and ragged appearance
to the visitors who came on board. The children,
except those which were small enough to be
placed in their mothers armes, were nearly ma
ked, and many of them crying.
The men wore flannel shirts, such as they
were able to procure from the sailors, and some
Of them were destitute both of shoes for their
feet and hats for their heads. The ladies on go
ing from the sinking steamer to the brig, were
all0vEaH n aar wi tb Thorn ANYTHING which
might incumber or unduly load the life boats
even their thick shawls were necessarily denied
to them, and very few wore away their bonnets.
hey could choose only one suit of clothes, and
could take it with them only by wearing it,
On board the brig they OF course could not be
supplied from lady's wardrobe, and were COM
PEELED to wrap themselves with sheets bedquilts
or blankets, to shield themselves from the cold
ness of the weather. Many of the sheets were
cut up to make under-ciothes for the children,
and rags were tied around the feet Of those that
had no shoes. When the dresses of the ladies
became dirty there was no chance of washing
them, as they had no change OF garments to sub
stituse for them in the meantime.
AS the brig was met ut Hampton Roads by the
Empire City, the resources of Norfolk were not
placed at their disposal; ana they gained by their
transfer to the steamer little more than Larger
cabin room and better berths to sleep IN. They
Of course had more to eat at the table of Capt.
McGowan, than Capt. Burt had been able to Of
fer them; but they were not able to array them
selves in clean or decent clothes until they ar
rived in this city. One man was in so ragged a
condition that a stranger. who saw him after he
had arrived with. others at Loyejoy's Hotel, went
voluntarily aud procured for him an entire sui;
of good clothes.
The faces of the men, women and children
were brown, as if they had come from long ex-
posure to burning sun. The skin had peeled
off in various places all over their necks and
heads Many of them were also, particularly
the children, suffering from smariing blisters,
in some degree by contact with the
salt water.
THE FRAUDS WHICH ELECTED BUCHANAN
The Philadelphia Meas, of Friday last says:
The Grand Jury yesterday returned upward.