The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-09-23
The Loss OF the Steamship Central
a America.

Inc details confirm the reported salvation of all
tie women and children on board, whose lives
were hrst cared for by common consent, when
the illfated vessel began to sink It is especially
painful, however, to know that over five hundred
lives have, OF truth, been thus suddenly lost
embracing men Of all classes, as well as many
distinguished for their virtues and mental cabre
STATEMENT OF CAPTAIN THOMAS W. BADGER.
We left Havana on Tuesday, September 9Th, in
company with steamship Empire City, Made good
weather until the 10th. On the evening of the
10th there was every appearance of gale or hur-
rcane, ship still going on course and carrying fun
head OF steam. The storm increased during the
| night and until Friday morning at 10 o'clock the
ship still making fine weather and keeping on her
course. At ~ o'clock ON Friday afternoon the
engine stopped, and on enquiring of the engineer,
he said it was caused by the coal passers not
passing the coal into the fire room with sufficient
| rapidity to keep the steam up. The walters and
stewards were then called upon and sent down TO
assist in. passing coal When the engine stopped
the ship fell off in the trough of the sea, and
was at the mercy of the waves. The pumps
worked by the engine, and which were the main
dependence for keeping the vessel free of water,
were also rendered useless
The engine never made but one or two revo-
lutions after this. l called the attention of the
engineer to the fact that the water was gaining,
the rolling of the ship forcing it in through the
lee shaft holds, and proposed and did organize
gang for bailing. The deck pumps proving on
trial to be out Of order bailing was the only re-
source. -t> a.s.-.. . ..-aa
BY this time the water had risen high enough
to extinguish the lee fires, and the men employed
in the coal hole and engine room were driven out
by the steam and hot water. There was no longer
any hope Of again getting the machinery in opera
ton. The principal leak was found to be around
the lee shaft, and at the lower leo dead lights.
Tha 1lts aNsn ata
leaking at the bottom at all, and would have been
in no danger If her machinery and pumps had
been kept going. $500. s
At 3. o'clock on Friday we rigged drag, Ia
spar with ar anchor lashed to it,) and paid il out
| 70 windward, in the hope of bringing her head to
the wind, but this had little or no effect. From
o'clock until in the evening we kept the water
at bay, every man working with spirit and vigor.
From IL to o'clock on Saturday morning the
| water gained fast on us, as tho men were fatigued
and worn out by incessant labor and exposure to
the storm. At O'Clock the gale somewhat
abated, but heavy sea continued, the water then
being nearly up to the second cabin floor.
At daylight on Saturday morning, however, all
hands took hold again with renewed yigor TO
free the ship. The water was thus again kept at
bay for an hour or two more, during which signals
of distress were set, and viglant lookout kept
for sails. The ladies were even anxious to asst us
in bailng and cheered us up in our labors by their
| calmness in these trying times. At s o'clock
| another attempt was made to raise steam in the
| donkey boiler so as 10 work the steam pumps, but
| the attempt again failed and all hope OF relief
| from that quarter was abandoned.
At 10 o'clock on Saturday morning, the men
again yielded to the severity of their labor, and
the water again commenced to gain on us, but the
| bailing was still continued. At haEpast o'clock
a sail hove in sight, TO the windward, which provd
| to be the Marine, Of Boston. AT 3 o'clock she
rounded TO at leeward Of the ship, when boats
were lowered, bailing still going on. In lowering
| the boats two were stove by the heavy sea that
still prevailed, which left only throc, and one OF
them in bad condition. BY o'clock, we sue
ceeded in putting OIL board the Marine all tho
women and children, twcnty-six in number; dur
ing which the male passengers mostly continued
at their work. The boats could not carry more
/ than five or six, owing TO the high sea, and they
made several trips to and from the Marine. When
the boat that took the last two of the ladies came
| alongside, the chief engineer jumped in the boat
| and was followed by several other gentlemen
Two other boats came alongside afterwards, wheT
there was rush to jump in them by the male pas
sengers, involving great danger. BY this time tn,
brig had drifted long way to leeward, which
made the trips Of thcsboats long, and this time il
was dark, so that the boats did not again return.
About dark, a vessel believed to be the schoone
Sovereign, Of New York, ran down under our lee
We hailed aud told him that we were in a sinking
condition, asking him to lay by all night whicl
he promised to do. The bailing in thesmeantim
continued to progress, but the water had by thi
time raised half way up the lower cabin, and wa
rapidly gaining on us There was, however, n
cessation of the bailing until one hour before tn
ship sank, when all hope of keeping her aflou
until daylight was renquished This was abou
seven o'clock on Saturday evening
should, however, mention that two hours pre-
vious, had conversation with Captain Herndon
who after consultation, agreed with me that tn
ship must go down, but it was still advisable Il
skeep itup as long as possible, and we did no