, 1857-12-04
About thc Central America.
STATEMENT OF THE CHIEF ENGrNEl

ClAlEhtNl Of lhE NilEf ENhlNEEk.
The Portsmouth Transcript publishes tn,
following exculpatory statement from th,
Chief Engineer of the Central America
PoRTsMoUrH, Va, Sept. 8, 1851.
Editor of The Transcript:
Erroneous statements having gone fortl
in connection with the disaster to tn
steamer Central America as to my conduc
as chief engineer, desire to correct then
through the medium of your paper, anC
place my conduct before the public in it
proper light.
1t hos been alledged that the loss OF the
steamer was solely attributed to my neg
Iect Of duty in permitting the fires Of the
engines to unnecessarily 60 out, and thus
rendering the vessel manageable The
statement is entirely false. The fact is
that the steamer filed with water SO rap.
idly from leaks and the boisterous charac-
ter Of the sea, that the fires could not be
kept up, though every remedy which sug-
gested itself was employed for that purpose
Another statement is that acted pre-
maturely and unadvisedly in quitting the
steamer. The assertion is equally false
with the FIRST. After consultation with the
commander, Capt. Herndon, and the first
officer of the ship, Mr.. Charles Vanrensa-
lear, it was our unanimous opinion that the
Central America could not live till midnight
of the evening on which she foundered, and
the JUSTICE Of the conclusion is sustained by
the fact that in much less space Of time
than predicted the steamer went down.
Previous to the melancholy termination
of the struggle, however, aud at the solici-
tatioD, or rather direction Of Capt. Hern-
don, did get one Of. the ships boats rea-
dy, and in her placed all the ladies and
chrildren aboard the steamer. The brig
Marine was then coming down TO the assist
ance of those in the boat, and after long
effort they were safely landed on the brig.
II was after this, however, that Capt.
Herndon saw the necessity Of closer com
mnnication with the brig, rs also the nee-
essity Of a larger number Of boats, in which
to transfer the passengers from the steam
er, and by his direction left in the next
boat from the steamer for the brig, TO ef-
feet the desired arrangements. On my ar
rival aboard the brig, / communicated with
her captain, who informed me he would
bear down 'as fast as possible, but that It
would necessarily have to be with caution,
as he was himself in q disabled condition,
having lost his main yard and some sails.
Captain Burt offered tho use Of his own
boat, a yAwl, but denounced her as entirely
unsafe-that she would not live three min.
utes in such sea. In the meantime two
boats arrived from the steamer with pas
sengers and portion Of her crew, who, on
being landed, deserted their conveyanees,
leaving them along side Of the brig, with
only one quartermaster in each Of the boats.
/ ordered aud entreated the crew to mann
the boats aud return with me 70 rescue 9th
ers, but they positively refused to comply,
as oil on board the brig can testify. Twas
thus left powerless, aud had no other alter
native but to remain on board the " Ma
rine." t t,., b,
This brief, but impartial narration Of
facts, which will be confirmed as soon .as, ]
arrive in New York and full inVestiga-
tion can be had. Until this shall occur, Il
is but Just that public opinion should be
suspended, as It will vindicate my eharae-
ter as On officer and gentlemen from the
aspertions attempted TO be cast on It.
/ am, very respectfully,
GEoRoE Z. AsHBY,
Late Chief Engineer Central America