, 1857-10-30
WRECK OF THE CENTRAL AMERICA.
LOSS OF 44O LIVES.
$50 Persons Rescued.
ABOUT TWO MILLIONS or TREASURE LOST.
Other Wrecks on the Coast.

particulars of one of the most appalling
disasters that has ever transpired in the
history Of our marine. On Saturday, the
18th Of September, the steamship Central
America, from Aspinwall for New York,
having on board the passengers and treas
ure shipped from San Francisco by the
steamer Sonora on the goth Of August,
foundered in a gale while of Cape HATTIE
ras. By this calamity over 400 persons
and about two millions of treasure were
lost. The ladies aud children, and, in all,
$50 persons we're rescued. OF the officers
Of the steamer, only the second mate, the
boatswain, the chief and second-assistant
engineers are saved.
The events Of this terrible disaster, sue
cinctly stated, are as follows:
On the morning Of Tuesday, the Sth Of
September, the Central America left Ha.
Vana with fair weather. On the afternoon
Of that day heavy storm arose, which, in
the course Of few hours, increased in fu-
ry until it became one Of the widest bur.
ricanes which for years has been expert
enced on our coast. The steamer labored
hard, but no fears Of danger were enter
tanned by either officers or passengers until
the afternoon of Friday, tho llth, when
the engines ceased working, owing to the
vessel having sprung a leak, which pre-
vented the men from passing coal forward
to keep up the ires. Having no steerage
way, the steamer fell of into trough OF
tho sea, causing her to labor heavily. An
inspection Of tho pumps discovered them
to be wholly unserviceable, and lines Of
men we're formed during the afternoon to
keep the leak down by bailing. Their ef-
forts in bailing were successful until eight
o'clock in the evening tFriday,) and
though after then the leak gained on them,
they did not cease their efforts until within
short time before the steamer was car
ried down. The morning of Saturday
brought With it slight abatement of the
violence Of the gale. Further efforts were
made to use the pumps, but they were
found to be so out Of repair as to be val
ueless. About 2 o'clock in the afternoon,
(Saturday,) q sail was discovered to the
Windward, and in an hour and half she
hove to under the stern Of the Central
America. She proved to be the brig Ma
rine Of Boston. Two Of the Eve boats Of
the steamer had been stove by the seas.
The others were at once lowered, with
the view Of removing the passengers to
the brig. The first was placed under the
command Of the boatSwain, Mr.. Black,
and the second under the command of Mr..
Ashby, the Chief Engineer, at bis request.
and on his promise TO return for the others
Of the passengers. The ladies and chill.
dren were conveyed in safety to the brig,
after which forty-one Of the men were also
transferred. At this time it was dark, and
the boats were compelled to cease their
trips Added to the darkness, the brig
had fallen of the the leeward, owing to
her own disabled condition. She continu-
ed, however, close by. At 8 o'clock in
the evening the steamer was struck by a
heavy sea; she gave a lurch, and sank
stern first, engulGng for q moment, all who
were on board. Within brief time the
surface Of the ocean around the spot was
covered with the fragments of the vessel
that had become looSened from the deck,
and hundreds of human beings we're ea-
gerly grasping for them, in hopes to save
their lives. Many were killed by being
struck with the fragments as they rose.
Others were in the cabin, and were carried
down with the vessel About one o'clock
in the morning Of Sunday, the Norwegian
bark Ellen was observed approaching.
Those who were yet alive halloed 10 her,
and she at once hove to, and commenced
TO pick up the survivors. By O'Clock on
the morning of Sunday, she had rescued
49-all the survivors Of the disaster within
sight. On Thursday the 18th, she arrived
at Norfolk, where she transferred those
whom she had saved on board the Empire
City, which steamer had also been com.
PEELED to put in there in distress. As the
Empire City vas coming out, on Saturday,
the 10th, she fell in with the brig Marine,
with the other rescued passengers, and
took them also on board, and arrived in
n. York on Sunday the goth.
FIRST PASSENGERS ARRIVED IN NEW YORK.
The first persons saved from the Central
America, who arrived in New York were
MIR. X. L. Brown, dealer in clothing in this
city and California, residing at No. l67
Hester street, and Mr.. f. Ayulo of Lima,
Peru. They were saved by the Ellen, and
when that vessel arrived at Hampton
Roads, they, with three others, hired pi.
lot-boat to take them up to Norfolk, reach.
ing that city in time to get aboard the Bal.
timore boat Of Friday night, taking the
New York train Of Saturday morning, and
arriving at the Metropolitan Hotel in this
city in the evening.
OF course they were besisged by crowd
Of anxious friends and overwhelmed with a
thousand questions at once. Mr.. Browns
statement is interesting as the first oral mar
ration Of the terrible disaster.
STATEMENT OF MR.. R. T. BROWN.
We left Aspinwall on the afternoon Of
September 3, at 4 o'clock; arrived at Ha-
vana on Monday evening, the 9TH inst
Left Havana the next morning, about Q o.
clock. did not go on shore at Havana.
The weather was fine. Sept. 0, Wednes-