Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-09-24
TERRIBLE SHlPWRECK! !!
THE CENTRAL AMERICA FOUNDERED!
OVER 500 LIVES LOsT!!

The steamship Central America, of Roberts
C; f0rnia line, left Havana at 9 o'clock on
ibe morning of Tuesday. the Sth lust, under
III command of Lieutenant Herndon, of the
U,tCd States navy, q most efficient officer
Sle lad something over five hundred passen-
|gyS on board, the exact number not being
|hown, and these, with the ships company,
mounted in all to probably six hundred and
|Renty-fve persons. She carried treasure to
Nd amount of a million six hundred thousand
|dIars, valuable cargo aud mails from the
hcifc.
Hon the evening of the 9th the heavy gale,
WiCh has proved so destructive on our south
en- coasts, set in from the northwest, and it
cane to its height on Saturday, 18th inst,
Wien it blew perfect hurricane 1t was in
tbs awful tempest that the Central America
k15ered carrying down with her nearly FIVE
hG irad souls.
aCaptain BADGER, one of the rescued passen-
Ger, Of tie Csutrai Imertcu, states that the
ge increased until O'Clock on Friday, llth
iRt, when it was perceived that the engine
va, stopped and the ship fell off into the
tHugi of the sea, which caused her to make
considerable water around her lea shaft and
iht lea lower dead lights 1t was afterwards
aseTtalned that the cause of the stoppage of
ING engine was the neglect of the FIRE and
eRne department Of getting coal along from
th bunkers to the fre-room fast enough to
Eap up the fires, consequently all the engines
alepped, as well as all the pumps attached to
,@ engines. The deck pumps were out of Or
ua and, Capt. BADGERS suggestion, companies
Hee organized, while the stewards gangs and
0S-ttands went down to pass the coal along.
" 'hiS time the fires were pnt cut, and the
We became so heated in the hold Of the
ks4 and the steam engendered was SO great
w they we're compelled to abandon passing
#'R coal. The ship then lay at the mercy of
lR waves, but still did not labor hard. We
REn started several gangs at bailing as the
eE hope of saving the ship. At my sugges-
h0 the Captain ordered the foremast to be
aa away, which was done about six o'clock
INN four o'clock till the water was kept at
M% An attempt was made to raise steam
a1le donkey boiler. Berths we're torn and
'MoWn into the furnace to raise the steam to
vi Tue pumps, but all to no avail. The
e4>e did not learn. A drag was prepared
w tailed, and the ship continued in the trough
Eathe sea. BaiIing still went on vigorously
" Was kept up all night by gangs, who were
ET44lSed as often as they became exhausted
.y'ards morning the men were beginning to
M anu the water to increase and grow up in
mole OF the ship. At 4 o'clock on the
nIhS OF Saturday, the 18th, the gale abat-
IA Win heavy sea running.
"eg were encouraged by myself and others
u IN 'qe ne assurance that the ship would hold
Every passenger remained cool, and
sn.a to forget the danger in the united ef-
> 70 save the vessel. There was no weep
OP exhibition of despair, even on the part
W FEMALES. At eight o'clock another at
%p. Was made to raise steam in the donkey
IN, 70 pump the ship, but to no avail
- proposed to box the pumps, but on in
10 carpenter or tools could be found, and
E water gained rapidly. The lea shaft
~ Gl'feuded in heavy blankets to stop the
IL 'ut the water burst through At 2
ia on Saturday a sail was reported to
t%ufa iva and at half-past three she came un-
VIC Stern Boats Immediately we're lower
~. were stove instantly by the sea. Three
.IIwained, one in bad condition. At
Tue work of removing the ladies and
nen 10 the deck of the Marine was COM
Su' ,S; The brig being much lighter than
Dp, m mad by this time drifted away 20 lee
Inc distance was considerable, and
T"tS ho: were long in making the trips, and
Vs'n9 heavy sea but few could be car
lrsn ume, After sending the ladies and
n, o the engineer and some fifteen others
d.,L dJoafEed ss, on the brig. By this time it
,Sa sA The work of baiIing still kept on,
H'e' gained faster aud faster upon