The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-09-26
Another Steamer Lost!
Loss of About 500 Lives!

The California steamer Central America
foundered at sea on Saturday evening, the
l2th:instant,l when four days out from Ha-
vana. There were on board j25 passengers
and lO4 officers and crew. The steamer had
6 or 700 life preservcrs, and six life boats,
capable of CARRYING at least 80 men each.-
Two of them were Francis's metallic boats,
and others: were wooden b:af: with alright
tanks.
The aggregate of loss will b. near two an
a quarter millions of dollars OH treasure. and
vessel. about two thirds of which is insured in
London. The loss to our market will. there
ore, consist mostly in the delay of settlement,
iAad this is already provided against to a
great extent.
STATEMENT OF HENRY II. CHIIIs, ONE OF TIE
PASSENGERS SAVED.
AUGUSTA Ga, Sept.-lS.
The following is the statement of Henry
ii. Childs, one of the passengers of the Cen
trail America rescued by barque Saxony:-
| left Havana in the steamship Central
America for New York, on Sept. sth: The
weather was delightful. and the sea Calm on
the passag from Aspinwall.
On the day of sailing from Havana. fresh
westerly breczes sprung up. On the follow
ing morning the wind blew very strong. the
gale continuing to increase as the day adj
vanced. At night there was no abatement
in the fury of the gale, and it commenced
raining i'll torrents. ...
On Thursday it blew hurricane. the sea
running very high. On Friday the sto:m
RACED fearfuly At l I O'Clock in tie morn
ing of this day it was first known among the
passengers that the steamer had sprung aleak
and xay 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 already been extin-
xuished. We gained on the water so much
that'we were able to get up steam again, but
We held it but few minutes, and then it
stopped-forevcr.
The bailing continued. however, and was
kept up in all parts ofthe shipuntil she finally
went down.
During Friday night the water gained
gradually but all on board being lii pretty
good spirits, they worked to the best of their
ability feeling that when the morning came.
they possibly might speak some vessel and
thus be saved.
The fatal Saturda, came at last. but brought
nothing but increased fury in the gale. Still
we worked on. and at ahout.2 COCK in the
afternoon the storm lulled a little. and the
clouds broke away. Hope was rene:7ed, and
all now worked like giants. At i J.. VI. we
spied q sail. and fired guns. and placed our
flag 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 to,;F Cur
condition. She laid by about mile distant
and we in the only three boats saved placed
oil the women and children. and they were
safely placed on board the brig.
As evening was fast approaching. We dis
covered another sail. which responded to our
rall and came near us Capt. lIcrndon told
our condition, and asked them to lay by and
,end boat. as we had none left. She
promised to do so. but that was the last we
Jaw of her. except at 4 distance. which grew
greater and greater c',r. moment.
At o'clock We saw no, possibility o. keep .
ing atloat much longer, although we all felt
;iaI If We could do so. until morning. III
would bo saved. T.. a short time heavy sea
Tor the first time. broke o,.. a., ..,,.er deck
Of the vessel, and then all hope faded away.
] life preservers were near. and @apilIcdto all.
and We sent up two rockets when tfemcn-
dous sea swept over us, and the steamer in
q moment went down.
think some 400 or 40 souls were launch
cd upon the ocean, at the mercy OF the waves.
The storm at this time had entirely subsidized
We all kept near together, and went as waves
took us.
There was nothing or very little said ex
cept that each one chccred his fellow comrades
on. Courage was. thu: KEEP. up for two
hours, and think for this space of time none
had drowned hui three who could not swim
because exhausted.
After this gradually one by one passed
away to eternity.
The hope that boats would be sent to us
from the two vessels We had spoken soon fled
from.us. and our trust was alone in Provi-
dence-and. what better could YOU or ask
for. -:
saw nv comrads sink fast. and at o.
clock that night was nearly alone upon the
ocean. some 200 miles from land. heard
lS&eyer, SHOUTS froin all that could do so,
t!.a; wcrc no. far from me, but could not
SEE them
Within an hour from this time l sa
tsssel which judged to be about mile
from me. Taking fresh courage, struck
out for the vessel and reached it when nearly
exhausted, and they drew ME on board Of it
by ropes.
Tht:.vessel proved to be a Norwegian barque
from Becize, Honduras, bound for Falmouth
England. I found on board of her some 3
Of my comrades, and at halfpast 9 O'clock
the. next morning We had forty-nine noble
fellows OH baani, and they are all know of
having bee saved:
We strayed about the place until we
thought ell alive had been rescued, and then
set SAT- We found the barq,io short of
p;pvi.iopa,. and the crew living 5h gruci.-
We had some, tea ana coffee, 10 refresh our
selves, and at noon On Suhd,iS *: ~r6kc tie
American barqae Saxony, bound for Sas:.n
nah. which supplied us with provisions, ant.
took five of US on board.