The Washington union., 1857-09-19

53l
This would leave 53l to be accounted for and it
is therefore safe to infer that at least ue hundred
lives were lost by this terrible calamity.
Conjecture is at fault and comment unsafe in the
absence Of all particulars in relation to the fearful
and narrowing events which must have preceded
the final catastrophe but as the case now stands,
the simple, naked fact that the chief engineer de-
serted the steamer one hour before she went down
warrants the belief that the laundering, although
the work of few moments, had been foreseen and
that some time had been afforded the officers and
crew to make available at least few of those life
saving appliances which form nconsiderable fea-
ture in the advertisements put forth by the agents of
most of our steamship lines
Inquiries were made at the War Department yes
terday for the purpose Of asceraining whether the
department had been advised of the intention of
any officers of the army to take passage on board the
ill-fated steamer The inquiries were also made
at the Navy Department; and to both inquiries neg
atye answers, we understand, were returned. 1t
may not be out of place here to state that soon
the Postmaster General was apprized of the news,
he promptly sent despatch TO Charleston for the
purpose of obtaining for his department and the pub
lie all the additional intelligence that could be pro-
cured No further news, as the inquiry showed,
could be obtained from that point, the survivors
had been taken to Norfolk and Savannah
In addition to our regular dispatches in another
column, we give below two special dispatches,
which we find in the Baltimore Patriot of last eve
ming:
60 yfof foJ bara that Tho Tan
trail America took board previous to leaving Havana
specie to the amount of 100000 this be and the
amount already on board receved at Panama be cor
rectly reported, Isl 00O, she would have total on
freight alone of 81 200 000 Add to this $30O00O, as
the amount in the hands of passengers, and the grand
total would reach two and half millions.
The greater portion of the specie board the Central
America is understood to be insured in England The
vessel itself is heavily insured in this city.
NEW YoRK Sept, l8.--It is ascertaned that three
fths of the gold board the illated steamer Central
America is insured in London The balance with vessel
and cargo is insured here The underwriters here pro-
pose to pay the insurance on the gold at once
The calamity is the principal topic of conversation here
to-day and it is truly melancholy occurrence Stocks
| are lower in consequence OF the disaster
The New York Courier and Enquirer of yesterday
morning has the following:
"Elwood Walter esq, secretary of the board of
derwers received last night despatch from Charles
ton in substance the the above Ihe despatch
from Charleston published in yesterdays Union For
further information concerning the fearful disaster
shall probably have to wait the landing of the passengers
saved by the Elose, and whose full report will be looked
for with anxiety The Central America is the first Cali
fonia steamer to this port that has been wrecked and
her treasure, if lost will be the first California treasure
for this port that has met such fate The treasure is
probably lost although there may be the shadow of
hope that it is not The greater part of it, however is
insured understand, in England and the pecuniary
loss therefore will be small part Of the disaster 1t is
the fearful loss of human life before which all will be
appalled, that will cast the deepest gloom the
munity While deeply sympathize with those whose
hearts will be bowed in mourning, but hope that
there may yet be alienation to the utter hopeless
nature of the brief despatch from Charleston"
Several of the survivors took passage on the En-
pire City, which sailed from Norfolk for New York
yesterday. The New York papers of Monday next
will, in all probability, contain the full particulars Of
one of the greatest ocean disasters on record.