Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-11-07

We find, in the National Intelligeneer, letter to
the Secretary of the Navy, written by Lief Maury
giving IN detail the order of events come cted with
the loss of Tn" St amer Central America Lieut.
Maury, who wssa brOther-in law to the brave Herp-
don, in the Introduction, says:
AS tribute to his (Herndon's) memory AZ ma
terial for history, as an heirloom of the NAVY and
legacy to his country d. sire to place on record
in the Department this simple writing md memorial
of him.
The letter gives the history of he disaster as
gl'aned from the most authenti, sources, and is
thrlinely beautiful. We make one extract, which
we know will draw tears from eyes unused to weep
ing. The letter says:
There were many touching incidents of the most
heroic personal devotion duty and to him during
that dreadful storm. Even aftt the ship had gone
down, and her passeDg rs were left in the water
clingng by whatever they could lay hands on, Off
ces Of knighty courtesy were passed among them.
81 As one Of the last boats about TO leave the
the ship, her command' gave his watch TO pas
seBgers with quest that il might be delivered to
his wife. he wished TO chargr him with a mesa &c
for her also, hut his utter4nce was checked ETeTl
her -" Unable to proceed, he bent down bis
head and buried his face in his hands for a moment
as i in prayer, for he was a deVout man and true
Christian.
H. that moment, brief as it was, he endured the
great agony. But it over now His crowdipp
thoughts, no doutt, had been of friends and hom ;
its desoatiOn beloved wife and lovely daughter
dependent alone for support upon him. God and
his country would care for them now Honor and
duty required him to stick to his ship, and he saw
she must 90 down.
Calm and collected he rose up from that short
but mighty struggle with renewed vigor, and went
with encouraging looks about the duties of the ship
as before He ordered the hurricane deck to be cut
away and RATS to be made. The life preservers
were also brought up and distributed to all who
would wear them. Night was setting in and he
directed Frazer, the I'd officer to take charge of
the arm-chest, and send up rocket every half
hour.
Van Rensselaer,, his LIST officer was also by him.
Herndon spoke Of him to me in terms of esteem
and admiration, and Van Rensselaer, proved himself
worthy to the last of such recommendation. Side
by side these two stood at their post aud perish ed
together with their harness on.
After the boat which bore Mr.. Payne, to whom
HerndOn entrusted his watch, had showed off, the
captain went to his state room and put bis uni
form. The gold band around his cap was concealed
by the oil silk covering which be usually wore over
it. He took the covering off and threw it on his
cabin floor; then walking out be took bis stand on
the wheel house, holding to the iron railing with
his left hand. rocket was set off the ship
fetched her last urch and as she went down he I'M
covered.
A cry arose from the sea, hut not from his lips
The waved had closed over him, and the curtain of
the night was drawn over of the most sublime
spectacles that the ever saw.
just before the steamer went down a row boat
Wss heard approaching. Herndon hailed her. 1t
was the bOatswaDs boat, rowed by 'bard hands and
gentle heart" returning board from the brig
to report her disabled condition. If she came
alongside she would be engufed with the sinking
ship. HerndOn ordered her to keep of. She did
so, and was saved. This, so far as l have been
able TO learD his last order: Forgetful of SILT
mindful Ct Others bis life was beautiful to the last;
and in his death be has added a new glory to the
annals of the sea.