The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1857-09-24
LOSS or THE CENTRAL AMERICA,

LUDD VI lHu U1Ntulu AMnulOnt
Total Reported Saved, One Hundred and One.
Leaving as Lost, Fiue Hundred and TiOen-
ty Five-Total Loss of ths Treasure
Statement Of Henry III. Childs.
The following is the statement of Henry
H. Chlds:
81 left Havana in the steamship Central
America, for New York, on September 9Th.
The weather was delightful and the sea was
calm on the passage from Aspinall. On the
afternoon ofthe day Of sailing from Havana,
fresh westerly breezes sprung up. On the
following morning the wind blew. very strong
the gale continuing to increase In violence
| as The day advanced. At night there was
no abatement in the fury Of the gale. and 1t
commenced raining ia torrents. On Thurs
day it blew hurricane, the sea running
yey high. On Friday the storm ragged fear.
fully. At II o'clpck in the morning of this
| day, 1t was first known umoag the passen-
gers that the steamer had sprung aleuk and
was mas making water fast. A line Of men
was Immediately formed, and they went 10
work baiing out the water from the engine
rooms, the fires having been already extin-
pushed. We'guined on the water 80 much.
that We were dbIe to get up steam again,
! but We held it but q few minutes, and then il
stopped forever. Bailing continued, how
ever, and was kept up in all parts OF the ship
until she finally went down.
During Friday night the water gained
gra.lua Ily, but all on board being in pretty
good spirits, they. worked to the best of thef
ability, feeling that when the morning came
they fDight speak some vessel and thus be
saved, The fatal Saturday came at last but
brough nothing but increased fury of the
Nguc Still we worked on, and at about q
clock in the afternoon the storm lulled q
little, and the clouds broke away. Hope
was renewed, and all worked away like
giants. At P. NJ, we spied sail and fir
ed gurs, and placed our Jag at half mast -
1t was seen, and the brig Marine, of Boston
bore down upon US. We then considered
safety certain. She came near US, and we
spoke to her and told her our condition.
She laid by about mile distant, and we, in
the only three boats saved, placed all the
women and children, and they were safely,
put on board the brig. AS evening was fast
approaching, we discovered another call,
hch responded to our call and came near
US Capt. Herndon told our condition, and
asked them to lay by and send boat, as we
had none left. She promised to do so, but
that wus the lac. We saw Of her, except at a
distance, which grew greater and greater
every mcment.
At seven O'Clock we saw no possibility OF
keeping afoOt much longer, although we all
felt that if we could do SO we should be saved.
In short time, heavy sea for the first time
broke over the. upper deck OF the vessel, and
then all hope faded away. life. preeerVefs
were now supplied to. all and we sent up two
rockets, when tremendous sea swept over
US and the steamer in moment went down,
think some four hhndred or four huntred
and fifty souls were launched upon the ocean
at the mercy of the waves. The storm at
this lime had entirely subsided. We al!
kept near together aud went as the waves
took US. There was nothing or very little
said except each one cheering his comrade
on. Courage was thus kept up for two or
three hours, and | think for this space ui
| time none had drowned, bat three who coud
not swin became exhausted. After This
gradually, by one passed away to eternity
! HUpC tuul "Uu.u DC SEM " US
| from the two vessels we had sp ken soon
! h from us, and our trust was aone in
| Providence-"and what better trust could
you or ask fora" | saw my comrades sink
taSt, and at one o'clock that ni!ht | WIS
nearly alone upon the ocean, some two hun.
! dred miles from land.
heard, however, shouts from ali that
could do so that were not far from me, bu |
c, I'D not see them. Within an hour from
this time, saw vessel which judged to
be about ope mI!e from me. liking fresh
courage, struck out Tor the vyssel, and
reached it when 9early exh adsted, and th ey
drew me on Board Of it by ropes. l proved
to be a Norwegian bark from Bei;z", Hon
duras, bound tor Falmouth, Engluud. |
found on board Of her, sope ,hree qf my COM
r des, and at half past nine O'Clock the next
morning we had forty nine noble fellows on
board, and these are all know OF having
en- saved. We stqyed about the place un.
til we thought that all aliSe had been res
cued, and then set sail. We found the bark
short of provisions, aud the crew living OH
Cruel. We had some tea and coffee to re
fresh ourselves, and at mon Oh Sunday we
spoke This American bark, (the Saxony.)
bound for Savannah, which supplied US with
provisions and took five of us on board.