The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-11-30
Countersigned by the Ministers as abov


FAUSTIN.
Countersgncd by the Ministers as above.
The Loss OF the Steamship Central America.
IMPORTANT REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE APPOINTED
TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSES OF THE LOSS OF
THE STEAMSHIP CENTRAL AMERICA.
From the testimony oral and written, voluntarily commu.
ncated to the committee by several of the surviving officers
and passengers OF the late United States mail steamship
Central America, belonging company having contract
from government at an annual pay of $1,000 would
appear that that vessel had not the time Of her depar
ure from Havana for New York, about 10 A. NJ Tues
day. the sth day of September last any material defect
either in hull machinery but generally questions
BILE whether the pumps and other appliances of the
key engine good working order, and 1t is quite
certain THAI The ordinary deck pumps not
That about sixty hours after leaving Havana she
encountered severe adverse gale which increased in
violence, producing heavy head sea; that long as
there was sufficient quantity OF steam To keep the vessel
under steady headway, she maintained her
woathered the storm that the morning u the lth at
about half past seven the ship abored heavyin fact
TO such 10 alarm the passengers
the captain and chief engineer who at that time
their bcrhs or state rooms that about noon the gale stu
increasing she fell on nom the wind and then appeared
that the fires in the engine room had by unexplained
carelessnes been allowed TO 80 down. and had become
stopped working and the Roadway Of the ship being
consequently checked, she fell OF into what Is
termed the trough Of the sea- and partly
ON her side An attempt then made and the object
partially Effected again To get in the boilers but
not more than hall dozen revolutions were accomplished
by the engine before they stopped entirely and
may be inferred from these statements that the original
fault and that which led To the catastrophe the
neglect above stated 10 keep up sufficient and contnu
Gus head " steam and when II found TO have fallen
dangerously low, in there not being greater and
nance. with mel ~ abeb ,sere vas o ne ,aT
Up 10 the stopping OF the engines do find that any
water Of consequence had reached the engine room,
result 50 long xe dres were psaporly Sep, su mn
and the duties Of the officers and men in the
engineers department faithfully performed Il
appear, from the testimony, that there any serious
leak in the bottom Of the vessel fracture break OF
any part ofthe machinery but that the engines area
dy remarked, were prevented from working, only by
want OF steam, and that the water insdousy and slowly
entered the vessel (as she lying upon her eide
very much keeed) by Of the air ports which were
either inadvertently left open mpcrfecy closed as
also by the opening at the shaft and through
The probable open seams about the guards and other
parts OF the upper works, thus accidentally immersed
The water gradually increasing, washed BY the
ton vessel against and INTO tho ash pans and furnaces
cxngus hing entirely the fires and rendering impossible
finally 70 raise steam In the main boilers All hopes
being exhausted OF further using the main engines, and
resort was had TO the donkey pumps, and after raising
steam IN the boiler by using the cabin DOORS sc, for
fuel these also proved TO be defective and notwths,and
ing the efforts made by the under engineers and others TO
remove the difficulty, they could not get the pumps 10
work 70 any advantage, and subsequently the further
use Of them was altogether abandoned.
The regular deck pumps prosed to be Of order
rendering them Ct little avail, and In the attempt T.
construct temporary box pumps BY some Of The passen
could be found. :,
Wills, the ship was lying in this helpless condition
attempts were made ~ bring her more 10 the wind by
setting the mzcn; but this falling by the blowing pieces
q the SAIL fruess efforts next made 10 get her be-
fore the wind by setting tho rccfcd forcsa one or
more Of the head sails but hcsc also were aesroycd by
the wind, and a. last resort the foremost away,
and drag prepared and put overheard in the hope OF
bringing the ships head nearer TO tho wind and thus
neving her
Meanwhile, parties were organized for balng and
passing buckets and other means OF removing the water
Xpro tOre heck M fha
leaks wherever observable especially about shaft
air ports 50 that Notwithstanding the defective working of
the pumps the water gained hut slowly proved by
the length OF time the vessel oated amer the commence
mcnt Of the leaks-a period Of about thirty hours
There being but little chance Of Swing the vessel
adopted for the safety Of many the pas
scngers as the boats would accommodate and some pro-
gress was made 10 the construction OF raft The
mee have thus stated all the essential facts and crcum
stances which have been brought 70 their notice The in
vestgaon has been conducted With the sole desire 20
elicit truth and crinaie any one but rather that
their inquiries should lead 10 the adoption of such
surcs MS may tend TO the Improvement Of the EXISTING
navigation laws and the establishment ofa more efficient
system in the general management Of ocean steamers and
especially with reference 70 the greater safety oil pas
angers.
that the testimony before tho committee goes
10 show that Che Central America was not
found and equipped she ought 10 have been that
her crew was not sufficiently numerous that she
without carpentcr suitable carpenters tools and
what seems 10 the committee most serious defect being
there want Of proper organization in regard TO the
relative authority and duties Of the officers aud OF
he vessel each department appearing 10 be independent
OF the others instead OF being strictly subordinate aud
sponsIbc 10 the captain, the legitimate superior and
chief and this independence o. action the more OBJ
servable in the department Of the engineer.
But the committee have no desire 10 dwell upon
the melancholy incidents Of the past and in turning
from the foregoing recital Of facts explained 70 them
they enter with greater freedom upon the discussion Of
more congenal branch Of their investigation the neces
sty and OF improvement In the Construction equip
ment and internal organization OF ocean steamers, tho
consideration Of which will forI tho subject Of another re-
port. NJ G. PERRY. CHARLES II. MARSHALL
n NyT 4 ID JONFJ