Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-09-30
Loss of the Central America.

lHE NIGHT On The HAFkS--lHRlLLIh
SoENEs.-Not the least interesting feature
the narrative of this terrible catastrophe, is th
description of the night passed on the boson {
: the waves by those who were ultimately rescue
by the bark Ellen. Mr.. George, most intolli
gent passenger, has given US thrilling accoun
of the fearful scene. He was one of tn
hundreds who had supplied themselves witt
life.preservers, pieces OF plank, &C., and prefer
red to await the ships going down to leapin'
overheard in anticipation of her fate. Whel
she went down stern foremost, after giving tllre'
llurches that made every timber quiver, ant
which were to every quaking heart as the throe
that instantly preceded her dissolution, he wa
dragged with the rest on board of her some
twenty or twenty-five feet beneath the surface
He heard no shrek, nothing but the seethint
trush and hiss of waters that closed above her o.
| she rushed, almost with the speed of an ar
row, to her ocean bed. Night had closed in be-
| tore the vessel sank, and he was sucked in By
the whirlpool caused by her swift descent, to 9
| depth that in itsseeming was unfathomable, AND
into darkness that he had never dreamed Of
Compared to it, the blacklist night without moon
or star, was as the broad MONDAY. He was
rather stunned than stifed, and his sensations
on coming to the surface were almost as painful
from their reaction, as those which he endured
at the greatest depth he sank.
When he became conscious, after the lapse oi
minute or two, he could distinguish every OBJ
| iect around him for considerable distance
The waves as they rose and fell, revealed
crowd of human heads. Those unfortunates
whoshad lost their life.preservers orpanks while
under water, owing to the force of sthe whrl
pool, were frantically snatching at the broken
pieces of the wreck, which, breaking from the
ship as she continued to descend, leapt above
the surface, and fell back with heavy splash.
Their cries arose, that mingled into one artic-
ulate wall, and then the lustier and less terrified
shouted for assistance to the bark Marine which
was far beyond hsiling distance. The waves
dashed them one against another at trst, but
speedily they began'to separate and the last fare
wells were taken. One man called to anotherln
our nformant's hearing, "lf you are saved Frank
send my love to my dear wife" but the friend
appealed to, answered only with gurgle OF the
throat. He was washed off his plank, and per
isled as his companion spoke. Many were des-
rous of separating themselves as far as possible
from the rest, being fearful lest some des-
persteEstruggler might seize hold of them and
draw them under. Others afraid of their lone
illness. called to their neighbors to keep together
Generally, they strove to cheer each other, as
long as they remained within hearing, and when
the roar of the waves drowned oil but the loud
est shouting, the call of friendship or the cry of
DESPAIR was heard in the distance, and infused
confidence, or increased dismay in many fail
ing bosom. ~
1t was when he had drifted far from the COM
panionship of any of his fellows in misfortune,
that Mr.. George began to realize his situatlon.-
The night was quite dark. Occasionally, rs the
driving clouds parted and gave glimpse OF sky
star or two would be visible, but this was
very seldom and offered but the faintest CLEAN
of hope that the morning would dawn fair and
calm. The swell of the sea was so great, and
successively the poor foaters, holding on to their
planks with the energy of despair, were riding
on the brink of q precipice and buried in deep
valley of water. Our informant, like many OF
the rest was seized with the fear of sharks
Respiration was very difficult, owing to the
masses of water which were constantly dashed
nDon Them as waves rolIeu Uy. rOr Iwo OF Lnrce
hours the water was not unpleasantly cold, and
II was not until about o'clock on Sunday morn
inc. when they had been nearly five hours in
the water. and fresh chilling wind arose, that
their limbs began to feel benumbed.
Some of the incidents described to us as oc-
curing before or about the time, We're truly
thrilling. One man floating in solitude, and
terrified at his loneliness, after shouting him
self hoarse to find companion, saw at length
man with two life preservers fastened about his
BODY drifting towards him. His heart leapt
with ioy at the welcome sight, for the feeling
of desolation which had overcome him was ter
rible to endure. He called to the other to join
him, if possible, and make every exertlon to
meet him half way. There was no reply, but
the other drifted nearer and nearer. A wave
threw them together. They touched. The
living man shrieked in the face Of the corpse
The other had been drowned by the dash OF the
pillows, or had perished from exhaustion.
When rising and falling with the swell OF the
waves, the lights of the bark Ellen were nrst
discerned by the survivors in the water, the
thrill of hope that at once filled every breast o.
mounted, it may we'll be believed, almost to
ecstacy. Let Mr.. George speak tor all. lie
saws: "I never felt so thankful in all my life
never knew what gratitude was before. DC
not know whether cried or not, but know
was astonished to hear my own laughter ring
ing in nv ears do not know why laughed
That verse, "God moves in mysterious way,
kept passing in and out of me-through mt
rather as if it had been the pipes OF an organ. Il
did not come to me by my own volltion, bu
somehow made me remember it. When the
lights approached nearer, score OF voice!
sprang up around Inc, crying "Ship ahoy''
"Boat ahoy," and then / began to shout too
And had never any doubt that l should b'
saved till saw the lights pass by, at about nal
mile from where was and recede in the DIS
tance. Then began to give myself up for los
indeed. But slowly drifted toward her agall
till I could make out her hull and one of he
masts, and presently | fioated close to her, am
shouted, and was taken up. When got on th
deck could not stand. / did know till thel
how exhausted was"
Our informant, before he was thus happily
rescued, encountered six men cllnglng 10 q lo
of wood, two of whom were washed on IN sign
within short distance of the bark. The other
must have afterwards shared the same fate
thew were not taken on board the bark and wer
never again seen.
Psychologists probably will be able to accoun
for one fact that has come to our knowledge
connected with this night of terror. We hear'
a passenger describe his sensations in this wise
81 guess | had been about four hours in the wa
ter. and had fioated away from the rest, whe
the waves ceased to make any noise, and hear
my mother say, Johnny, did you eat sister
grapesa'
II hadn't thought of it for stwenty years
least; it had gone clean out of my mind. ha'
a sister that died of consumption more tina
thirty years ago, and when she was sick-l wa
a boy of eleven or so-a neighbor had sent ne
some early hot.house grapes. Well, thos
cranes were left in room where was, and
ougbt to have been skinned alive for it. littl
rascal that I was-I devoured them all. Moth
er came to me after had gone to bed, whe
she couldn't find the fruit for sister to moist
en- her mouth with in the night, and said, John
nv, did you eat sisters grapes9 did not ad
to the meanness of my conduct by telling d lie
| owned up and my mother went away in tears
but without Aogging me. 1t oceasloned me
ouaIrn of conscience for many a year after; but