Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-09-18
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

evening OF the total loss OF the CafIornia
steamer Central America, whose prolonged alb
sence has caused such anxiety. By telegraph
from Charleston we learn that the steamer
Thomas Swami, arrived at that port, spoke on
the 18th, off Cape Hatteras, the bark Eloise,
which had on board forty of the Central Amer
ica's passengers. They report that the steamer
foundered on Saturday, the 18th, and that of
her passengers but sixty were saved The &C.
count is very meagre, and we may hope that
further advices will mitigate the terrible fea-
lures Of the sad calamity.
The Central America left the harbor of Ha-
vana at nine O'Clock on Tuesday morning. the
9Th inst, under command of Lieut. Hernden,
of the United States Navy. She had on board
five hundred and twenty-five passengers, with
one million six hundred thousand dollars in
specie from California for New York, and the
California mails of the Goth of August She
left Havana in excellent time, with all well on
board and in good spirits.
Apassenger by the Empire City which steamed
out from Havana on her passage to New York
at 10 o'clock on the morning of the 9th instant,
but one hour after the Central America, says:
"We had the Central American in sight and
kept after her until the afternoon of that day 1.-THE
Sth inst when she outran so far that we lost
sight Of her. On the morning Of the 9th instant
"wednesday the wind was from the northwest,
and as the day advanced II increased to a very
severe gale, obiging Us to lay to and endeavor to
hold the steamer in during storm. During the
days of Thursday, 10th, Friday, 18th, and Satur-
day, 18th instant, the storm Increased very for
chilly, and blew perfect hurricane"
The Empire City, seriously damaged and short
of coal, managed to get into Norfolk by burn
ing her furniture and portions of the vessel.
The gale appears to have been severely felt by
all the steamers that encountered it. The
steamer Norfolk was sunk in the Chesapeake;
the propeller Caledonia was run down and dis
abled the jamestown was blown out to sea, as
far south as Hatteras, and shipped great deal
Of water, doing considerable damage to her
cargo; the Southerner reached Charleston almost
a complete wreck, with six feet of water in her
hold the Empire City put into Norfolk in dis
tress, having exhausted her coal, and the new
steamer Columbia arrived at Charleston ON
Monday, having had both her warehouses
carried away by the force of the sea which broke
over her during the gale.
The Central America was formerly known as
the George Law. She was provided with hori-
zontal double engines, and being an excellent
and staunch sea boat, but dull saiIer. which,
in this instance, was point in her favor, it
was hoped that she would be able to weather
the storm. The Central Americas treasure,
amounting to about 81 100000, is insured prin-
pally in London. The vessel is insured in New
York.
The New York papers state that the steamer
Daniel Webster, which sailed yesterday from
that port for Havana, and the Empire City
which left Norfolk on Wednesday for New
York, received orders to deviate from their
course in search of the Central America, but it
now appears that nothing remains of her within
the scope of human aid.
We hope to be able to annou nee, before going
to press, that the loss of human life has not
been so deplorable as the first reports indicate.
The news of the loss of the Central America
has created the profoundest sensation in this
city
PS.-We refer our readers to the telegraphic
head for further intelligence in relation to the
disaster, attording the gratifying information
that others have been saved
A TELLING SPEECH.-The speech upon the
issues involved in the current Pennsylvania
State canvas recently delivered by Senator
Bigler, the appearance of which in the Union
We mentioned day or two since, is having a
great run. Our Democratic exchanges from
all parts of the country, are coming to US
graced with it. During the last presidential
canvas, We were personal witness not only to
the effectiveness Of Senator b. s popular orato-
ry, but to the remarkable personal influence
he enjoys among the men of substance of all
PARTIES In his State as enviable as the influence
OF any other gentleman in the United States,
we care not who that other may be. There is
directness and simplicity in his manner upon
the stump, which, combined with the strong
and yet carefully balanced thought which dis
tinguishes his speeches to a remarkable degree.
that makes him one of the most effective orators
we ever listened to. He has the knack of being
able to say only just enough on any subject;
an oratorical qualification exceedingly rare in
these days Of verbosity, which keeps its pos
SCISSOR out of many political scrapes, indeed.
1t struck US, during the late presidential can
vas, that bis hearers were in the habit of re-
garding all falling from his lips on the stump,
as 90 much testimony from one in the witness
stand in whom all confded; reputation and
influence rarely possessed in these days of the
prevalence Of vehement denunciation, irs ea1
Of well tempered argument from the hastings
A THEATRE FOR WASHINGTON is really one
OF the greatest needs of the times That
we'll arranged and fitted theatre of moderate
size, well conducted in all respects, will pay
we'll here is past all question; for every year
the transient playhouse going population of
the Federal Metropolis increases enormously
Even in the midst of this comparatively dull
season Of the year there are twice many such
persons among US as are in any other American
city Of the population of Washington and when
Congress is in session we are rarely without
ten times as many here. The National Theatre
failed to be good property, only because of its
immensely. In size it was theatre for a city
Of million of souls. There were, therefore,
certain unnecessary contingent expenses of
lights, fuel, attendance, labor &c connected