Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-09-25

OF the passengers and crew of the Inflated
vessel in the midst OF the most appalling
dangers.
FROM the Baltimore American.
STATEMENT OF CAPT. THos W. BADGER.
Capt. Thos W. Badger, who is among the saved
and has arrived here in the Louisiana is able from
his experience as sea captain as we'll as from the
close connection in which his ezertions on board
the wreck brought him with Capt. Herndon and
officers, to give a more accurate and reliable &C.
count of the disaster than perhaps any other of the
saved. We have taken down from his dictation
the annexed full and interesting narrative:
We left Havana on Tuesday, sth September, in
company with steamship Empire City. Made good
weather until 10th. On the evening of the 10Th,
there was every appearance of gale or hurricane,
ship still going course and carrying full 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 II o'clock on Friday afternoon the engine
stopped, and on eDquirng OF the engineer, be said
IL 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 aud sent down 10 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
Wncu were tue maui dependence Tor keeping the
vessel free OF water, were also rendered useless.
The engine never made but one or two revolu-
tons after this I called the attention of the eng-
neer to the fact that the gaining the roll
ling OF the ship forcing it in through tie lee shaft
hole, and proposed and did organize a gang for
bailing. The deck pumps proving on trial to be
out of order, bailing was the only resource.
By this time the water had risen high enough to
extinguish the lee fires, and the men employed in
the coal bole 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
lion. The principal leak found to be around
the lee shaft. and at the lower lee dead lights The
ship was still staunch AID sound and not leaking ct
the bottom at ali, and would have been in no dan
ger If her machinery and pumps had been kept
going.
At o'clock on Friday we rugged drag, Ia spar
with anchor dashed to ir,) and paid It out to
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 kept the water at
bay, every man working with spirit and vigor.
At three o'clock on Friday sfternoonI assisted in
organizing aud putting to work battling gangs to bail
out if possible, the engine room and steerage. The
passengers joined willingly and cheerfuly in this
effort An attempt was made to raise steam on the
donkey engine to pump the ship out, using the
berths and other woodwork of the ship for fuel but
the engine would not work, from what cause was
not known. At five o'clock, after consulting with
Capt. HerndOD, assisted in cutting away the fore
mast which somewhat relieved the snip. The ship
had laid perfectly easy whilst the machinery was in
motion, but she was in the trough OF the sea, max
ing heavy lurches to leeward.
From II to O'Clock on Saturday morning the
water gained fast on u.s. as the men were fatigued
and worn out by incessant labor and exposure to
the storm. At O'Clock the gale somewhat abat
ed, but heavy sea continued, the water then be-
ing nearly up to the second cabin floor.
At daylight on Saturday morning, however all
haR with al viz tn lras
the ship. The water thus kept at bay for an
hour OF two more during which signals of distress
set, and vigilant lookout kept for sails The
ladies' were even anxious TO assist US in bsilng,
and cheered US up in our laoors by their calmness
in these trying times. At O'Clock another at
tempt made to raise steam in the donkey boil
er so as to work the steam pumps, but the attempt
again failed and all hope of relief from that quar-
ter was abandoned
At 10 o'clock on Saturday morning the N en- again
yielded to the severity of their labor, and the wa
ter again commenced to gain on US, but the bail
ing was still continued. At half past one O'Clock
sail hove in sight, to the windwRrd which proved
TO be the Marine of Boston. At o'clock she
rounded 10 AZ leeward Of the ship when boats we're
lowered, bailiDg still going on In lowering tire
boats two were stove by the heavy sea that still
prevailed, which left only three, and one of them in
bad condition. By O'Clock We succeeded in
putting on board the Marine all the women and
children, twenty-six in numherh during which the
male passengers mostly continued at their work.
The boats could not carry more than Eve six
owing to the high sea, and they made several trips
10 and from the Marine. When tho boat that took
the last two Of the ladies alonElide the chief
engineer jumped IN the boat, and was followed by
several other gentlemen. Two other boats came
alongside afterwards when there was rush to Jump
in them by the male passengers, involving great
danger BY this time the brig had drifted long
way to leeward, which made the trips of the boats
long, and by this time il dark that the boats
did not again return.
About dark, vessel believed to be the schooner
Sovereign of New York, ran down under our lee.
We hailed and told him that we we're IN sinking
condition, asking him to lay by us ell night which
he promised to do The bailing in the mean time
continued to progress, but the water had By this
time raised half way up the lower cabin, and
rapidly gaining on Us. There was, however no
cessation Of the boiling until one hour before the
ship sank, when all hope Of keeping her afoat IN
I'll daylight was relinquishsd. This was about
O'Clock Saturday evening.
should however mention that two hours pre-
viOus had conversation with Captain Herndon,
who after consultation agreed with that the
ship must go down, but it was still advisable 10
keep IL up as long % possible, and We did not
make known the result of our conversation, but
urged all hands to renewed effort. Captain Hern-
don requested that the second officer, Mr.. Frazier,
and myself should remain with him. and expressed
his determination leave the ship while there
was soul on board, but would rtmaiR until she
sunk from under him. Bis only regret Was his
iamily-and he died like brave man.
Al o'clock on Saturday night the water vas up
TO the hoor Of the dining saloOn and ell then went
70 work calmly to divise means each for their own
safety. A half hour previous to The ship sinking
there we're two lights seen some distance TO the
leeWaro, supposed 20 be the brig Marine and me
schooner that spoke to Us an hour or t9o prvvious
but having fresh breeze and hieh sea tbev Uers
unable 20 work up 10 the WindWarl
A quarter OF an hour before the steamer sanI
one OF our boats hailed as, aud voice.erled that
US SoS. vas stove ani ne could hot take any oae
90 ooafE, rus boat vas endeaEoring 20 return
from the Marine, but vas disabled Il vas Doubt
less the impression on board both the brig and he
schooner that the steamer would be able 10 ksen
up until morning, hence they did not keen as near
Us during the night as they might have done. In
deed lt vas the opinion OF many On board that re
would bold up ell night, aud ala not think that
she would 90 down before mianiaAt
At 10 minutes OF o'clock Cspiain Hernda, took
position on me "heethonses wish bis second OH
W alu nfeo rockets aasa7''eaTa, the usual signal
- eHe es's ahd schooner shat sc were sinking zap
my ais "as fearful moment, and must have
been also 20 the ladies on boari The Marine. No
understood the signal ell Of whom had husbands D.
friends on beard
! nov procured beard six feet Iong and six n,
eAes vide, tearing ls of the rogt Of berth. and
took my position on the taHran, and held % tbe
alter awning stauneheon. AZ thas tsns thers s,as
two o. three hundred on the qaarter deek. brestb-
lessiy wasting the 6nal sinking. There va two
sFas swept over the deck about 3ls tims. ths l4st
one sweeping nearly 81 the psssngers ca TIE main
aatk toto sue SEES. The chip imEsedistelS amer A
o'clock en- Saturday evening sank eoiow doTn