Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-09-22
STATEMENT OF MIR. GEORGE E. ASHBY
CHIEF ENGINEER.


Among the passengers, officers and crew rescued
by the brig Marine was the chief engineer, who Sat
urday morning arrived IN Baltimore, and soon after
wards called at the Sun office. In our interview will
him (says the Baltimore SUM he SPOKE with mucl
| feeling Of the precipitate judgement which had beer
uttered against him, chiefly, as he said because of il
untoward effect upon public opinion where he is no
known. He expresses the utmost confidence that will
those who know him, euch imputaiions as have beer
made against him., az he concludes, by persona wbt
knew nothing OF the facts il the care, will have n
weight whatever. H. has been six years chief enpi
neer of the ship, and this was tho 18th trip hs hac
made in her, and has We: to hear tbs first word of com
plaint from her owners or respective commanders fo
any omission or negligence of duty. lie is a fine, stal
wart mau of about thirty, with a frank, seamanlike
face and bearing, and certainly with nothing about
him from which to surmise the graceless defect OF
character alleged against him. His statement of the
progress of Affairs during the loss of the ship We give
az follows:
The account Of the trip until the Central America
encountered the gale in which she was lost is already
familiar to the reader. On Friday morning, in the
height ofthe blow, tine engineer discovered that the ship,
rolling heavily in the trough OF the sea, had sprung a
leak; reported il Immediately to Capt. Herndon. Al.
though it has been said that the sole cause of this ca,as.
trophe was attributable to the chief engineer, under
such terrible imputation, he looks to a simple statement
Of facts for an ample justification. His frat duty was
in the angine room. The usual mode of supplying
the coal bunkers is by wheelbarrows, but in a heavy
gale the men ate obliged to resort to buckets and
baskets. This was done at that time. He had dou.
bled the gangs, but finding that he required more
aid. he had made II requisitlon on Captain Herndon
for the stewards gang, and had received the
necessary assistance. The coal was supplied az
fast as it was wanted. The pumps were work.
ed as soon as the water reached them. The shin had
Il lit and the water tell Oh the lee side, and coming
in contact with the starboard boiler was heated 10 a
degree almost uubearable. Sotw outstanding this all
hands endured and labored in the engine room. The
leak increased, and the engineer reported to Capt III.
III nn,.satt ~ Col bail uatar hatn.,, - L-.l II
and aft ccsl.buukers, and extremely hot. Ord.ls were
at once given by Capt. II. for all hands and III. mas.
sengers TO bail. This was done cheerfully, bur the
leak gained steadily, notwithstanding all these Efforts.
Meantime steam was got up in the donkey boiler, on
the upper deck, 10 work the donkey pumps. Soon
after this the water below extinguishsd the fire in the
starboard boiler, and the machinery ceased TO work.
During the morning, the engineer being informed
by the doctor that something was giving way in bis
room, discovered that the Btar.board wheel house
and guard had settled several inches, causing an eI.
ira leak round the shaft. This was promptly stopped
with blankets inside, and outside with a large sail
Reported progress to Capt. Herndon. BY his orders
another gang was set TO bailing in the lower cabin.
and one in the forward s,eerage, and pork barrels.
milk cans, Ao., rugged into hosting buckets, by
which 4o gallons OF water per minnie were thrown
out OF ths ship. In all these proceedings th. engi.
neer recognizes efficient service in Mr.. McCsrty,
chief engineer Of the Golden Gate, who was on board;
Capt. Badger, Mr.. John V. Dobbiu, and one or two
Others, whose names he does not know.
All hands worked all night at battling, and in the
morning found a perceptible gain on the leak. Oh.
tanned wood, consisting of bulk boards and other ma.
tet'al from steeraSe, aud az soon as it Wa possible to
start hres got up steam in larboard boiler, and the
worked for some time. At the .ame time
Capt. H.. aud officers were trying to get the ship be. |
fore the wind, but failed. They lowersd the fore.
yard on deck, constructed it into q drag, and got i,
overheard tor the purpose of bringing her head tie, i
but without success. Cut away her foremost and got |
sail on the m;zssu, bat it was blown away. At last
got canvass and mizzen rigging.
At this time the ship had laid over so much that
Capt. H. with the engineer had TO crawl along the
lecks to reach the after pumps for inspection. Every.
hing that experience coald suggest or the extremity
II their condition devise was discussed by Capt. H.,
he mates and tina engineer. The fires were e1tin.
;uished by the increasing leak, and early on Sstur.
lay it was clear Ia the experience OF all that there
vas no hope for the ship. In the course Of the morn.
NJ found a severe leak from the headlights from the
This was stopped BY bIapkets. Nothing !