The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-09-23
STATEMENT OF HENRY CHILDs

TOTAL LOSS OF THE TREASURE.
STATEMENT of HENRY III CHILDs.
The following is the statement of
Henry II. Childs
~ left Havana in the steamship Cenl
trial america, for New York on Septem-
Der 9th. The weather was delightful
and the sea was calm on the rassage
from AspiDwall. On the afternoon of
the day of sailing from Havana, fresh
westerly breezes sprung up. On the
following morning the wind blew very
strong, the gale continuing to increacs
in violence as the day advanced. At
night there was no abatement in the
fury of the gale, and it commenced rain
ing in torrents. On Thursday it blew
a hurricane, the sea running very high.
On Friday, the storm ragged fearfully.
at III o'clock in the morning of this day,
it was first known among the passengers
that the steamer had sprung aleak and
was making water fast. A line of men
was Immediately formed, and they went
to work bailing out the water from the
engine rooms, the. fires having been al
ready extinguished. We gained On the
water so much that we were able to get
up steam again but we held it but a
few minutes, and then it stopped forever.
Battling continued, however, and was kept
up in all parts of the ship until she
finally went down.
During Friday night he water gained
gradually, but all on board being in
pretty good spirits, they worked to the
best of their ability, feeling that when
the morning came, they might possibly
speak some vessel and thus be saved
The fatal Saturday came at last, but
brought nothing but ii creased fury in
the gale. Still we worked on, and at
about2 O'Clock in the afternoon the storm
lulled a littlr, and the clouds broke away.
Hope was renewed, and all now worked
like giants. At 4 P. NJ. we spied a sail
and fred guns, and Ilaced our flag at
half mast. 1t was seem 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 a mile distant, and We in the only
three boats saved, placed all the woman
and children, and they were safely put
on board the brig. As evening was fast
approaching, we discovered another sail,
which responded to our call and came
near US. Capt. Herndon told our con-
dition, and asked them to lay by and
send a boat, as we had none left. She
promised to do SO, but that was the last
we saw other, except at a distance, which
grew greater and greater every moment.
At seven o'clock VI saw no possibility
of keeping afoat much longer, although
We all felt that if we could do so until
morning, all would be saved. La a short
time, a heavy sea for the first time broke
over the upper deck of the vessel. and
then all hope faded away. Life pre-
servers were now supplied to all and We
sent up two rockets. when a tremendous
sea swept over us and the steamer 10 n
moment went down. think some -four
hundred or fonr hundred and fifty souls
were launched upon the ocean at the
mercy of the waves. The storm at this
time had entirely subsidized. We all kept
near togeather and went as the waves
took US. There was nothing or very lit
tie said except each one cheered his fel
low comrade on. Courage was thus kept
up for two or three hours, and | think
for this space of time none had drowned
but three who could not swim became
exhausted. After this, gradually, one
by one lassed away to eternity. The
hope that would be sent to US from the
two vessels We had spoken soon fed from
US, and our trust was alone in Provi-
dense-'and what better trust could you
or I ask for ?" I saw my comrade sink
fast, and one o'clock that night l was
nearly alone upon the ocean, some two
hundred miles from land.
l heard, however, shouts from all that
could do 30 that were not far from me,
but I could not see them. Within an
hour from this time. I saw q vessel which
I judged to be about one mile from me.
Taking fresh courage, l struck out for
the vessel, and reached it when nearly
exhausted, and they drew me on board
of it by ropes. 1t proved to be a Nor
wegian bark from Belize, Honduras,
|. bound for Falmouth, England. fouuc
on board Of her some three of my com
rades, and at half past nine o'clock th'
next morning we had f%orty-nine noble
fellows on board, and these are all
' know of having B en- saved. We staye'
about the place until we tho't that al
alive had been secured, and then set sail
We found the bark short of provision!
and the crew living on Cruel. We hat
some tea and coffee to refresh ourselves
land at BOOT on Sunday we spoke tni
American bark, 1.-THE Saxony, bount
for Savannah, which supplied US will
provisions and took FIVE of US on board
Our m are: l3-. 1901 a
B. H. Ridley, of Maine.
f Jabez Howes, of San Francisco.
Samuel W. Look, of Maine.
. Adolph Frederick, of San Francisco
! Henry H. Childs, of New York.
a The Norwegian bark set sail fo
Charleston with the balance of the forty
y nine passengers, whose names unfortu
nately 1 cannot give. The few that
. have recollected are as follows:
: Capt. Badger of Baltimore.
Mr.. Frazier, second officer.
r. F. Brown Of Sacramento.