Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1857-09-26
ARnlvAL or rnE EMp1RE C1rY.

N New YoRK, Sept TO-
The steamship Empire City arrived here
last night from Norfolk, with Ninety one OF
passengers and crew OF the Central America.
Among the passengers is Alexander Gardner
Of Philadelphia. A
STATEMENT OF cart. rmos W. BADGER.
Capt. Thos w. Badger, who is among the
saved, and who has arrived here in the Lou
siana, is able, from his experience as q sea
captain, as well as from the close connection
In which his exertions on board the wreck
brought him with Capt. Herndon and officers,
to give more accurate and reliable account
Of the disaster than perhaps any other Of the
saved We have taken down from his dicta-
tion the annexed full and interesting nara
tive:
At three o'clock on Friday afternoon l as
sisted in organizing aud putting to work bail
ing gangs, to bail out if possible, the engine
room and steerage. The passengers Joined
willingly and cheerfully in this effort. An
attempt was made to raise steam on the dom !
key engine to pump the ship out, using the
berths and other woodwork OF the ship for
fuel, but the engine would not work, from
what cause was not known. At five o'clock,
after consulting with Capt Hsrndos, / assis-
ted in cutting away the foremast, which some
what relieved the ship. The ship had laid
motion, but she was in the trough Of the sea,
making heavy lurches to leeward.
From twelve TO four o'clock on Saturday
morning the water gained fast on us, as the
men were fatigued and worn out by incessant
labor ard exposure to the storm. AT o.
clock the gale somewhat abated, but heavy
sea continued, the water being then nearly
up to the second cabin floor.
AT daylight ON Saturday morning, however,
all hands took hold again with renewed vigor
to free the ship. The water was thus again
kept at bay for on hour or two more. during
which signals Of distress were set, and vigi-
liant look out kept for sails. The ladies were
even anxious to assist US in baiiing, and cheer
ed us up in our labors by their almness in
these trying times. At O'Clock another at
tempt was made to raise steam in the donkey
boiler so as to work the steam pumps, but
the attempt again failed, and all hope Of re-
lief from that quarter was abandoned.
| At 10 o'clock on Saturday morning, the
men again yielded to the severity of their la
bor and the water again commenced to gain
on US, but the builing was still continued
At half past one o'clock q sail hove in sight,
to the wiudward, which proved to be the NJ a
rine. Of Boston. AT 3 o'clock she rounded to
at leeward of ship, when boats were lowered,
bailng still going on. In lowering the boats
two were stove by the heavy sea that still
prevailed, which left only three, and one OF
them in a bad condition. BY o'clock we
succeeded in putting on board the Marine oil
the women and children, twenty SIX in num-
ber, during which the male passengers most y
continued at their work. The boats could
not carry more than five or six owing to the
high sea, and they made saveral trips to and
from the Marine When the boat that took
the last two OF the ladies came alongside, the
chief engineer jumped in the boat, and was
followed by several other gentlemen. Two
other boats came alongside afterwards when
there was q rush to jump in them by the
male passengers, involving great dangrr. BY
this time the brig had drifted long way tC
leeward, which made the trips OF tho boats
long, and by this time it was dark, so tha,
the boats did not again return.
About dark, q vessel. believed to be the
schooner Sovereign Of New York, ran down
under our lee. We hailed and told him that
we were in sinking condition, dsking him tc
lay by US all night, which he promised to do
The bailing in the meantime continued to
progress, but the water had by this time rails
ed half way up to the lower cabin, and was
rapidly gaining on u.s. There was, however
no cessation Of the baing until one hour be
fore the ship sank when all hope Of keeping
This was about seven o'clock on Saturday
evening.
| should, however, mention that two hour:
previous ! had conversation with Captain
Ilerndon, who, after consultation, agreed will
me that the ship must so down, but it wnt
still advisable to keep it ny as long as possi
bic, and we did not make known the result o
our conversation but urged all hands to re
newed effort. Captain ilerndon requested
that the second officer, Mr.. Frazier, and my
self should remain with him, and expressed
his determination not to leave the ship Will,
there was a soul on board, but would remail
until she sunk from under him. His only re
gret was his family-auG he died like brave
man.
At : o'clock, on Saturday night the wate
was up to the floor of the dining saloon ant
, all then went to work calmly to devise means
each for their safety. A half hour previou:
T to the ship sinking there were two lights seer
. some distance to the leeward, supposed to b'
the brig Marine and the schooner that spoke
US an hour or two previous, but having {
fresh breeze and high sea they were unable
to work up the windward.
Those who had succeeded in keeping them
, selves a1oat, soon scattered over the surface
of the ocean for distance of about mile
One hour after the ship sank / saw ligh
4 at the leeward, which was seen by most o
those rescued, supposed TO be that of thu
schooner Sovereign, but it soon disappeared
We knew that the ships to leeward could no
reach us and turned our gaze in the opposite
direction.
, At | o'clock on Sunday morning we sav
approaching us under full sail, with stron.
breeze, the Norwegian bark Ellen, ran int
, our midst, and those on watch were astounde,
+ with the cry of human beings. Capt. John
: son, the commander, Immediately hove hi
vessel to, under short sail, and commenced t,
rescue US. The steamer at this time hat
been down over FIVE hours. He launched hi
boat, and threw out ropes and buoys, and di'
everything that good seamanship and hu
/, name heart heart could dictate to save a
many as possible. was the fourth one res
cued, and witnessed the noble exertions o
: himself and crew throughout the night. III
continued his search among the drift wood
tacking backward and forward up to l.
o'clock on Sunday. but did not find any on
after Q o'clock in the morning, and conse
: quently relinqushed the search at noon.
STATEMENT OF Mr.. wM. BIRCH.