Weekly Trinity journal., 1857-10-31
ARRIVAL OF THE
p A N A M A.
LOSS OF THE STEAMER CENTRAL AMERICA
AND OXER 100 PASSENGERS.
ARRIVAL OF THE
Atlantic md European Intelligence.


cisco on the 22d ult. bringing news of one of the
most fearful disasters we have ever been called
upon to chronicle, the particulars of which are
given below together with resume of the latest
Atlantic and European news received.
On Saturday, the 18th of September, the steam
ship Central America formerly George Law
from Aspinwall for New York having on board
the passengers and treasure shipped from San
Francisco by the steamer Sonora, on the goth of
August, foundered in gale of wind off Cape
Hattaras BY this calamity, over 400 persons
and about two millions Of treasure were lost. The
women and children and in all l73 persons were
rescued. OF the officers of the steamer only the
second mate, boatswain. chief and second assist
ant engineers were saved. The events of this ter
rlble disaster, succintly stated, are as follows:
On the morning of Tuesday, September Sth
the Central America left Havana with fair wea-
ther In the afternoon of that day a heavy storm
arose. which, in the course of few hours in
creased in fury until it became one of the wild
est hurricanes which for years has been experen-
ced The steamer labored hard but no fears of
danger were entertained by either the officers or
passengers, until the afternoon Of Friday, tn
September, when the engines ceased working,
owing to the vessel having sprung leak, which
prevented the men from passing coal forward to
keep up the fires Having no steerage way. the
steamer fell off into the trough of the sea- caus-
ing her to labor heavily
On inspection ofthe pumps, discovered them to
be wholly unserviceable. and lines of men were
formed during the afternoon to keep the leak
down by bailng Their efforts in baling were
successful until eight o'clock in the evening of
the same day, and though after then the leak
gained on them. they did not cease their efforts
until within short time before the steamer was
carried down. The morning of Saturday, Sep
tember u. 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 useless. About two o.
clock in the afternoon of Friday, sail was dis
covered to windward, and in half an hour she
hove to under the stern of the Central America
She proved to be the brig Marine, of Boston
Two of the five boats of the steamer had been
stove by the seas the others were at once lower
ed with the view of removing the passengers to
the brig. The first was placed under the com
maud of the boatswain Mr. Black. and the second
under Mr.. Ashby, the Chief Engineer. at his re.
quest and on his promise to return for the others
of the passengers. The ladies and children we're
conveyed in safety to the brig after which forty
one Of the men were also transferred to her. At
this time it was dark and the boats were com
PEELED to cease their trips. Added to the dark
ness, the brig had fallen off to the leeward, ow-
ing to her own disabled condition. She contin-
ued, hewever, to lay by. At s o'clock, =. NJ, the
steamer was struck by heavy sea. She gave a
lurch, and sank stern first. engulphing for a mo-
ment all who were on board. Within a brief
time the surface Of the ocean around the spot
was covered with the fragments of the vessel.
which had become loosened from the deck, and
hundreds Of human being were eagerly grasping
for them, in hopes to save their lives.
STATEMENT OF JAS. NJ. FRAZER, SECOND OFFICER.
AS near as l can recolcct we left Havana.
Sept. s, at 1925 A NJ. aud proceeded to sea steer
ing for Cape Florida, with fine weather, moderate
brecZes and head sea.
Sept. 9-Begins with fresh breeze and heavy
sea; at $50 A. NJ. Cape Florida bore west distance
l5 miles, seen from alOft IL NJ, had fresh breeze
and head sea had a meridian observation but
don't recollect what latitude or longitude. As
near as can remember. We ran the first twenty
six ana haH hours, 2S6 miles. steering about
n. W., following the Gulf Stream.
Sept. l0-Begns with strong breeze and head
sea- Wind from the northward and eastward,
and inclined to haul to the eastward. Had au
observation this day, but do not recollect the
latitude or longitude: but the distance run UP to
the time Of observation at The meridian was 2lj
miles, still steering north or very nearly so, by
compass. At s p. NJ or tbereabouts. Mr. Van
Rensselaer,, the first officer, handed a slip of
paper with the courses for the night--a usual
practice when the course had TO be altered often
through the night. The courses to be steered
were \. n. f., n. e. ! n, and n L. } T.. at diff
tcrent hours of the night, but the time for such
courses to be taken do not recollect but the
ship at that time was in the bend of the Gulf
Stream. The wind continued to blow heavy all
night
Sept l1-Thursday-I came on deck at four
o'clock A. N. 1t was blowing fresh. with a Nm.
j. sea and wind the sea was running high, with
heavy rain. AT o clock A. M, ] was relieved
by the third officer. 1t was still blowing very
heavy, but no rain then. At about 10 o'clock A.
he ept tha or
spanker and kept it on until the sail blew to
pieces He also sent down the fore yard. The
gale and sea were now increasing. He also
spread canvas, bolts. sails, &C. in the main and
mzzen rigging, but to no purpose, as the ship was
so high out of the water that she could not head
TO the wind and sea- a II o'clock NJ. ! came on
deck and relieved the third officer; it still contn-
ued to blow heavily, but there was not so much
sea as in the forenoon. | had been in the for
ward part Of the ship for about half an hour when
the Captain came forward and spoke to him about
trying to bring the ship head to wind. lie re-
piled that it was no use to try, as be had tried
all the forenoon and could not effect it. ] then
proposed to keep of before the wind. and he told
me to do what could in keeping her away Mr..
Van Rensselaer, then came forward and told me
TO rig the forward and after deck bilge pumps
which was done. We then started to set the fore
staysail with the helm hard to port, but before
the staysail was hoisted and the sheet hauled aft
the staysail blew away. We then manned the
downhaul and hauled down the remaining can
vas and bolt ropes then Mr.. Van Rensselaer, pro
posed shifting the Jib. and bending it on the fore
stay for saysal. The Captain said. we will try
the foresal by reefTng it and ashing the clews to
the deck and heave mp the yard with the yard
tackles with the fore lifts. So soon as we got it
started UP, the sas% blew TO pieces. The Captain
then said that there must be drag put over
board to try and bring the ship head to wind
We went at it Immediately and rugged the fore
yard with heavy kedge anchor hanging to it,
The foreyard had a seven or nine inch hawser fast
to it, and paid out about forty fathoms at first
it was then abou $50 p. NJ, the ship still in the
trough of the sea. The Captain then ordered us
to cut away the toremast and see if that would
help to right the ship. She was then listed over
to the leeward, SO that people could not walk the
deck.
CUTTING AWAY THE FOREMAST AND RIGGING OF THE
STEAMER.
j may say that she was almost on her beam
ends Myself, the bOaswain, and Capt. Badger,
passenger, cut away the rigging, and let the