The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1857-11-12

Department, q letter in relation 10 the loss
OF the Central America, in which he bestOws
well deserved encomiums upon the galantry
OF the lamentci HEgSDos. We make the
following extract from the closing portion Of
Lieut.. MACgY's letter;
= During the lowering Of the boats. and the
embarkation Of the women and children,
there was IA much discipline preserved
among the crew u that ship, and as much
order observed among her passengers, as
waS ever witnessed on board the bestregu-
lated Bian-of war.
The law requires every commander in the
navy 10 show in himself good example Of
virtue and Patriotism and never was exam
pie more nobly stor beautifully followed
Capt. HerndOn, by those noble traits
which have 40 endcareI his memory to the
hearts OF bis countrymen, had won the re-
spect and admiration Of the crew and pas
scngers Of that ship in such degree a. to
require AN influence over them that was mar
vclOns in ia effects. The men yielded to it.
and even tho women felt its force; calm and
rcsolute themselves, they encouraged and
checred the men at the pumps and in the
gaDgways; and finally, TO lierndons last ap.
peal for one more effort they rose super.
Tor to their sex, and proposed TO go on deck
themselves and with fair hands and feeble
arms, there do mems work in battling with
the tempest.
There were many touching incidents OF
the most heroic personal devotion to duty
AMI TO him during that dreadful storm. -
Even after tine ship bad gone down, and her
passengers were left IN the water, cinging
by whatever they could lay hands on, Offices
OF knightly courtesy were passed among
them.
Az one OF the last boats was about to
leave the ship, her commander gave his
watch to passenger with "a request that it
might be delivered to his wife. He wished
TO charge him with message for her. also ;
but his uttcranoe was choked Tell her
- Unable TO proceed, he bent down
his head and buried his face in his hands for
moment, a. II in prayer for he was de-
vout man and true Christian.
In that moment, brief IA il was, he en-
dnrcd the greatest agony. But it was over
now. Ills crowding thoughts no doubt had
been Of friends and home--its desolaiion--
beloved wife and lovely daughter depend
| cnt alone for support upon him. God and
! Insecurity would care for them now. Hon
or aud duty required him to stick 10 his
/ ship, and he saw that shc must go down
/ Calm and collected. he rose up from that
short but mighty struggle with renewed
ard Nth l,yI,..
about the duties of the ship IA before. He
ordered the hurricane deck 10 be cut away
and RATS to be made The life-preservcrs
We're also brought up and distributed to all
who would wear them. Night was setting
/ in, aud he directed Frazer the second on
/ c'r, TO take charge of,hes arm chest and send
/ up rocket every half hour.
/ Van Rensselaer, his first officer, was also
/ by him. llerndon has spoken 10 me in
terms of esteem and admiration OF this oil
Ger; and Van Rensselaer, proved himself
( worthy to the last of such concentrations
side by side they stood at their post, and
persisted together with their harness on.
After the boat which bore Mr. Payne
10 whom llerndou had entrusted his watch
had showed oil, the captain went TO his
s,atc.room and put on his uniform The
gold band around his cap was concealed by
the oil-silk covering which he usually wore
/ over il. Tie took It of aud threw il on his
! cabin floor then walking out. he took his
| stand on the wheel house, holding on to the
/ iron railing with his leit hand A rocket
was ST al : the ship fetched her last lurch;
aud, ~ she went down, he uncovered
! \ cry arose from the sea but not from
/ his lips. The waves had clio ed about him,
! and the curtain Of the night was drawn over
one Of the most sublime moral spcctacles that
/ the SEA- ever saw,
Jus, before the ship went down. row.
boa, was heard approaching Herndon
hailed her II was the boa,swuins boat.
rowed by hard hands anil a gentle heart. ~
turning on board from the brig TO report
her disabled condition. II she came along
AIDE she would he cngulphcd with the sink
ing ship lIerndon ordered her 10 keep of /;
shc did So and was saved. This, 80 far as
hayc been able 10 learn, was hls last order
Forge,iul OF self. mindful of others. his life
was beautiful to the last and IN his death
he has added u new glory to the annals of
the sea.
|, docs not appear certain that her com.
manler was sccn or heard after she went
down by any Of those who survived the
wreck. Mr. Childs, one ot the passengers
thinks he conversed with him in the water
after mdnigh, of saturday, only little
while before he himself was picked up. hut
llcrndon was Of small stature, of delicate
frame and constitution, by no means in ro-
bus, health, lie was already suffering from
the inc.wSant labor and exposure of the last
two DAYS and tina, long Friday night His
fatigue mus, have bern great, and when the
waves closed over his ship he wns. in all
probability, too much exhausted to struggle
with the MS, in the pool OF drowning men for
floats and life.
: Everything tina, could be done by the
bcs, sea captains to save his ship was douc
~ save this one. Brave hearts and strong
Il.