The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-09-25
Appalling Disaster.
STEAMER CESrRM AMERICAN ForSpkSKD.
Over four hundred lives supposed TO b lost


lated Charleston, September IL, stating
that the steamship Thomas Swan, had
arrived in that city, and reports having
spoken ON the 10th inst, about 10 miles
north OF Cape llatteras, the Norwegian
barquc Eloi,c, which had on board forty
passengers of the steamship Central
America, ioundcred on the 18th inst,
with 500 passengers on board. only 20 OF
whom were saved.
This despatch Of course, filled the com.
munity with gloom, and further accounts
were auxiously waited for. On Saturday
the barque Elolse arrived at Norfolk. Va,
and further particulars Of the terrible dis
astcr were obtained. 1t appears that tho
Central America, which was one Of the
California line OF Steamers, was on her way
from the Isthmus with over five hundred
passcngcrs,returning Californians on board
encountered terrific gale which lasted
some forty hours during which she foun-
dcrcd.
We give such particulars consisting Of
Geographic dispatches aud statements
OF passengers saved, As are necessary to
give our readers a connected account OF
the disaster.
The Central America had j2j passengers
and lOi officers and crew. She is said 10
have had on board two millions OF treasure,
including four hundred thousand RENTED
from Havana, which is principally insured
in London.
The Central American foundered at 4
O'Clock on Saturday evening. The passen-
gers saved were rescued from pieces Of the
wreck.
Statement Of Henry III. Childs, one Of The
Passengers Sdred.
AuGusrA, Ca, Sept. Is.
The following is the statement Of Henry
IL. ChilLs, one of the passengers of the Gen.
trail America rescued by barque Saxony -
| left Havana in the steamship Central
America for New York, ON Sept, sth. The
weather was delightful, and the sen calm on
the passage from Aspinwall.
On the day OF Slillng from Havana, fresh
westerly breezes sprung up. On the follow
ing morning the wind blew very strong, the
gale continuing TO increase rs the day adj
nnced. At night there was no abatement
IN the fury of the gale, and il commenced
raining IN torrents.
On Thursday it blew a hurricane, the sen
running very high. On Friday the storm
ragged icarinlly. vt IL O'Clock in tho
morning OF this day il was first known
among the passengers that the steamer hal
sprung alcak, and was making water fast.
4 line of men was Immediately formed, and
they went to work bailing out the water
iron, the engine rooms, the fires having al
ready been extinguiShed. We gained ON
the water 50 much that we were able to Get
ur steam again, but we held il but few
MINUTES, and then 1t stopped forever.
The bailing continued, however, and was
kept up in all parts of the ship until she f.
nally went down.
During Friday night the water gained
cradu' lly, but all on board being in pretty
good spirits, they worked 10 the bcst of their
ability, feCling that when the morning
came, they possibly might speak some YES
sci and thus be saved.
Tho fatal Saturday came at last, but
brought nothing but increased fury in the
gale. Still we worked on, and at about .
o'clock in the afternoon the storm lullcd u
little, and the clouds broke away. Hope
was renewed. and all now worked like Il
ants. AtlP. VI. we spicd sail, and fired
guns, and placed our flag mt halEmast. u
was seen, and the brig Marine, Of Boston,
bore down upon us. We then considered
safety certain. She came near us, and we
spoke % her and told our condition. She
laid by about "A mile distant, and We in the
only three boats saved placed all the wO-
men and children, and they were safely
placed ON board the brig.
AS evening was fast approaching, we dis
covered another sail, which responded to
our call and came near Us. Capt. Herndon
told our condition, and asked them 10 lay
10y and send a boat, a. We had none len.
She promised 20 do 20, but that was the last
we saw Of her, except at distance, which
grow greater and greater every moment.
At O'Clock we saw no possibility OF
keeping aaoat much longer, although we all
felt that ii we could do - until morning,
all would be- saved. In a short time heavy
sssi, for the first time, broke over the upper
deck oi the vessel, and then al hope faded
away. Life prcscryers were near, and sup.
piled 10 all and We sent up two rockets,
when tremendous sea swept over US, and
the stramer in u moment went down.
thinS some 100 Tor $50 souls were launch
ed upon the ocean, at the mercy Of the
waves The storm ut this time had entire
ly subsidized. We all kept near together,
and went as the waves took US.
There was nothing or very little said, ex.
cept that each one cheered his fellow CON-
rldes on. Courage was thus kept up for
two or three hours, and | think for this
space of time none had drowned but three,
who could not swim because exhausted.
After this one by ono gradually passed
away 10 eternity.
The hope that boats would be sent TO us
from the two vessels we had spoken soon
fled from us, and our trust was alone in
Proyldence-and what better trust could
you or | ask for.
saw my comrades sink fast, aud ut /
o'clock that night was nearly alone upon
the ocean, some 200 miles from land. |
heard, however, shouts from all that could
do 50, that were not lar from me, but
could not sec them.
Within au hour from this time | saw
vessel which Judged To he about one mile
from me. Taking fresh courage, struck
out for the vessel and reached IL when near
ly exhausted, and they drew me on board OF
Il by ropes.
The vessel proved to be u Norwegian
taruue. from Relize, Honduras, bound for
Falmouth, T.. found on board OF her some
thrcc of my comrades, and Mt half-past
O'Clock the next morning We had iorty-nine
noble fellows ON board, and these are all
know were saved.