Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1857-09-23
Loss of the Central America.
from the Daily Delta.l

crew. California malls, nearly S2,OO0,OOU IN
gold and a large number of passengers.
SAVANNAH, Sept. 18.-We are indebted 10
Henry H. Childs, Of the firm of Childs &
Dougherty, of New York, one Of the hive
survivors from the Central America who arrived
here this morning on the bark Susan for the
following history of that awful event:
Mr. ChiId's Narrative.
We left Havana on the morning of the 9Th
Of September. We had experienced delightful
weather and a calm sea from Aspinwall to Has
vana.
During the afternoon of the day we sailed
from Havana, (the 8th) a fresh breeze sprung
up, continuing all night.
On Wednesday morning it blew very strong.
The gale continued throughout Wednesday
and at night had increased to a hurricane.
The sea ran very high at this time, contlnu"
ing through Thursday.
On Friday the storm still ragged with unaba-
ted fury, and at III o'clock in the morning the
| announcement was made to the passengers
that the steamer had sprung a leak, and was
making water fast.
A line was formed, and the men went 10
work with a will, baiIing the water from her
engine rooms.
The fires were already out, the watet having
come in sufficiently to extinguish them.
We gained on the water so much, however,
as TO be soon able 10 get up steam again but
| unfortunately, held our vantage but a lew minis
| ntes. when the engines again stopped working
| and this time forever.
The bailing was continued in all parts of the
| ship, and kept up until she finally went down,
During Friday night the water gained grad
| ualIy, bat we were all in good spirits, and
| worked to the best of our abilities, hoping that
! when morning came, we might possibly be
| enabled to speak to some vessel and be saved
| from the fate that was staring US in the face.
The fatal Saturday came at last, but instead
| of succor, brought nothing but an increased
| fury on the part Of the storm.
We still worked on with beating hearts un"
| til about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, (of Sat
| urday, the l2th,) when the storm lulled a little
| and the clouds began to break away
Hope was again renewed in our breasts, and
we ali worked like giants until 4 o'clock in the
| afternoon, when to our great joy we spied a
sail.
Our flag was at half-mast. and we fred our
| guns 10 attract the attention of the vessel TO US.
The welcome arrival, which proved to be the
brig Marine, of Boston, bore down upon US,
and as we watched her nearing we considered
safety certain.
The brig came near enough 10 speak us,
/ and, having learned our condition, laid by at
! about a mile distant.
We had only three boats saved now, and in
these we placed all the women and children,
and had the satisfaction to see that they were
safely put on board the brig
So far so good, but evening was fast ap-
preaching. :,
At this time we discovered another sail
which responded to our call and came near us.
Capt. Ierndon explained our condition, and
asked them to send us a boat, as we had none
left, ours having all gone to the Marine with
our women and children.
She promised 10 comply with our Captains
request, bui that was the last We saw of her
except at a distance, which grew greater every
moment.
At seven o'clock in the evening we saw no
possibility of keeping her afoat much longer,
although we knew if we could do so until
morning we would all be saved soon after it
became light.
About this time a heavy sea, for the first
time, broke over her upper deck, and oil our
hopes faded away.
Life preservers were Immediately supplied to
all. and We sent up two rockets.
Very soon q tremendous sea swept over US,
and the steamer went down in a moment.
think that there were at that moment four
hundred and fifty souls launched upon the
ocean and placed at the mercy o. its waves.
The storm had by this time entirely subsis
ded.
We all kept as near together as possible and
went with The waves.
There was nothing, or, at least, very little
said, except that each one cheered his fellow
comrades on, and our courage was thus kept
up for two or three hours.
During this time | think none had drowned
but those who were unable to swim, from ex-
haustion; but now, one by one our party
gradually passed into eternity.
The hope that boats would be sent to our
rescue by the two vessels we had spoken, and
which had kept US up, soon fed from Us, and
our trust was alone in Providence. What bets
Ter trust could we ask with Eternity looking
US in the eyes?
saw my comrades fast sinking, and at /
o'clock that night | was nearly alone upon the
wide ocean, some two hundred miles from
land.
/, however, heard shouts from all that were
still strong enough TO make themselves heard,
and who were near enough TO me, but could
not see any one.
About 2 o'clock | saw a vessel, which liudgS
ed to be about a mile from me.
Taking fresh courage, I struck out for the
vessel and reached it just as ! was nearly ex-
hausted, and was drawn on board by ropes.
The vessel proved to be a Norwegian bark
from Belize, Honduras, bound for Falmouth,
England.
4 found on board of her three of my cons
rades. and through the exertions of the captain
and crew we had, at half past nine o'clock next
morning, saved 10 all forty-nine noble fellows.
These are all know of having been saved.
We remained near the scene of the fearful