New-York daily tribune., 1857-09-26
THE LOSS OF TIE CENTRAL AMERICA
THE SCHOONER THAT CAPT. HERSDoS
From III, BOSTON Trareier. Sert q.

Galveston 22d ult reports that on the llth inst lat.
30 40, lon. 7So 90, experienced hurricane from
N L. to NJ w. and lost fore ana mainsais, with oher
damage. On the 10Th, a. so p. m, lat 81 ., lon.
~ l0, spoke steamer Central America, the wind
blowing gale from the northwest with heavy sea
running. Leid under her lee uLtil 9:30 a. IN. Her
lights disappeared at 7:i5 p. m. on the 18th. Wore
ship aud ran az near the place as possible, but
nothing either from the deck alOf, though went
abou. every two hours. At daylight SAW three other
vessels one of them the bark Saxopy, before reported
We passed within one hundred feet of the Central
America at $50, and was about two miles distant
at 9:4J.
This is undoubtedly the schooner near the
Central America when that vessel vert down and
which It hoped had picked up Capt. Herndon and
some of the passengers struggling in the water The
hope tha, Others were saved in addition to those a.
ready reported must now be abandoned The report
Of tie FL Dorado gives very nearly the place where
the Central America went down, which must be inn
portant in any attempt to recover her treasure.
As our readers-especialy those who had friends
board the Central Arner.A-@il be interested in the
full particulars Of the experience Of the captain Of the
FL Dorado, we have obtained from Capt Stone the
following statement:
STATEMENT OF CAPTAIN STONE.
The schooner III Dorado, of which am commander,
il vessel of 2l2 tuns, belonging in New-iork. A4
O'Clock p IN. Of the 18th inst, blowing heavy with
high sea "a nty deserted. with my glass, vessel,
but could not at the time make out her character she
was my weather bow. As kept on, In aoou. naif
sn hour saw that she was a steamer, with oil her
oolors set as signals OF disress AS soon as saw ts
| hauled my wind and shaped my course for the dis-
tressed vessel could that she was disabled, and
was eeep in the water; yed what he might want,
and gave orders to stand by the main sheet to heaye
our vessel to the man at the wheel Steered within
fifty feet Of the steamer and q. $3.50 m. Ihaed her
in the following language: "Can l render you any
assistance" !" The reply was-"Lay by me until
III rn.pg for ain in sinking condition"
Immediately gave the order TO put the wheel hard
down and haul aft the main sheet, and hove to, di.
rectly under his lee say about gunshot distant;
warned him 10 commerce at once putting his passen-
gers on board, supposing that he had good boats,
while bad but one, small Jolly boat, which would
not live in the high sea then running for moment ne
again said: d" Lay by me until morning. L supposed
bis to be for thus delaying that he thought
adv sabls to await daylight, he might it being then
awaiting daylight perhaps all might be saved then
said " Set your lights" BY that time had drfted
out Of hailipg distance, and ordered my lights set
mnediately.
During the time that was talking with The captan
| could hear the passengers crying and halOcng,
soul ding like Simultaneous burst OF shouting; one
voice that | heard above the rest cricd "Send rs
your boat; but as / have before stated, my small
ing, but was not more than two miles distant when
the lights of the steamet-wbch up TO that time had
been plainly yisble--st 7:30 p. m. disappeared.
Immediately ship and sailed over the spot,
hoping that | might save some, IA l at that time
feared that che had sunk. could discover ve..ige
of toe steamer; made sail, although blowing fresh,
for fear that mi ght fall to leeward, and wore ship
every two hours during the night could not at day
light have been than from half a mile to a mile
from the spot where she went down.
At dawn Cf day placed two men at my mast head,
with strict niuncfiops TO look out anything that
belonged to the steamer; the men themselves took
dee interest in locking out for her. aud had rather
be aioft looking out then below. myself with my
elsss kept a close look euS until 50 g. IN. AT the
same time after Wight three other vessels were in
sight hove 10 the same ourselves, OF which
brig aud the other barks the brig squared away
soue two hours before i did, the bark SsXony stood
southwaid. / supposng that he was bound souta,
tried TO speak him, that he might be on the look out
for ANY pait of the steamer; | set my colors and
signal 10 speak him, but he did not bear down aud
was too far to eeward TO reach him. the other bark
appe ared to be e6gng C on her course at The same
time that kept away. From the time that missed her
lights until sailed away from toe spot did not dis,
cover yesge Of the wreck of the steamers supposed
at the time that she must have sprurg new leak and
suddenly gone down with all on board as it was not
so | suppOse that the remnants OF the wreck mus
have dTitted away from me. l LETT the spot WIN
heavy heart while lying TO awaiting the movements
Of the commander Of the steamer in regard 10 sending
his passepges on board, went forward and gave the
mate orders to get ready for throwing over our cargo
adding that with the help of the passengers would
throw all Owe bC ard, in Older to give them roomi
told the steward in presence of the ships company 10
be careful Of every drop Of fresh water and also oil the
provisions, as shCuld have that whole ships com,
pany board in the morning; all on board appeared
anxious TO render the steamer every assistance; had
40 idea that the other vessels In sight had on DoarS
peisons saved from the wreck.