The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-09-24
THE NATIONAL ERA: WASHINGTON c. SEPTEMBER a. 1887
LOSS OF THE CENTRAL AMERICA"
140 Saved-477 Lost.

LOSS OF THE CENTRAL AMERICA"
149 saved-477 Lost
The startling intelligence, announced by tel
egraph, that the California steamer Central
America" which left Havana for New York
ON the 9Th inst, with some $4,000, 900 in spe-
che, the California mails, and 525 passengers,
making. with the officers and crew, a total of
shout 700 souls on board, had foundered at
sea, CREATED an immense sensation wherever it
was read
We publish below the particulars Of the dis
tressing catastrophe. The barque Ellen arrived
at Norfolk on the 10th, bringing forty-nine of
! the passengers, which she had rescued from
pieces of the wreck of the Inflated steamer.
They were embarked for New York in the EN-
pire City. They report that the steamer foun-
dered at sea at o'clock on Saturday night,
the 18th of September, and that all the officers
perished except the second mate, named Fra
zier. The chief engineer, named Ashby, it is
alleged, took the boat and deserted the ship,
an hour before she went down, and it does not
appear that he has been heard of since.
The barque Saxony also arrived on the same
day at Savannah, with five of the rescued pas
sengers, viz 81. 81. Childs and Daugherty, of
New York Jabez Howes, of San Francisco /;
George W. Look, of Maine; and Adolph Fred
ericks, of San Francisco. The Saxony reports
that the brig Marine of Boston, also picked up
part of the crew and women and children to
the number of 100, 80 that the whole number
known so far to be saved is as follows: On
board the Ellen, 100; on the Maria, 49-total,
/ l49.
There were on board the unfortunate steam
Passengers 525
Total 626
Saved by the Ellen 40
Saved by the Marine lO0-l49
Total number missing AT
|, Included in the 40 saved by the Ellen are the
s which we're put on board the Saxony, and sub
sequently arrived at Savannah.
The Central America was built in New York
in the year 1853, by William Ii. Webb, and
made her first voyage in September of that
year. Her construction was of the very best
description. She was diagonally braced with
iron from stem to stern, and was in all respects
as stapch and safe as any ship aHoat. In the
month of July last, she went upon the balance
dock, and was thoroughly overhauled. Her en-
gines and boilers were at the same time put in
perfet order, and the voyage upon which she
was l. at was the second one since her repair.
Her image was $500, carpenters measure.
! ment She had two marine engines, each IS
inche diameter of cylinder and ten feet stroke.
! Her Engines were built at the Morgan Iron
Worl !, and her last repair was at the Allaire
Work3.
Statement of Mr.. Henry H. Childs.
We. left Havana September 9Th, having had
delightful weather and calm sea from the
time Of leaving Aspinwall. In the afternoon
of the day of sailing from Havana, fresh
breeze sprung up, and on Wednesday morning,
the 9sh, it commenced blowing very strong.
. The gale continued all day, and at night it was
still decreasing, and raining in torrents.
Oe Thursday, the wind blew complete hur.
ricsbs, and the sea ran very high. Through
Friday, the storm ragged with undated fury,
and al eleven o'clock, A. M, it was first known
among the passengers that the steamer had
sprung a leak, and was making water fast. A
line was formed, and all the men went to work
bailipg from her engine room, the fires having
been already extinguished by the water.
After some hard work, we gained on the
wates. so much as to be able to get up steam
agaie, but held it 80 but for few minutes,
wheRthe water again rose on us, and the en-
gineS stopped then for ever Bailing was still
continued in all parts of the ship, and was kept
up until she finally went down.
During Friday night, the water gained grad.
ually, but, all being still in good spirits, we
worked to the best of our ability, feeling that
when morning came we might possibly speak
some vessel, and thus be saved.
The fatal Saturday came at last, but brought
nothing but increased fury! Still, we worked
on. About two o'clock. p. NJ, the storm lulled
little, and the clouds broke away, when hope
was renewed, and all again worked like giants.
At four o'clock, p. M, we spied sail, and fred
guns, our flag being placed at half mast To
our 10Y, we we're seen, and soon the brig Ma
rine, sof Boston, hove down upon us. We then
considered our safety certain. She came near,
and we soon spoke her, aud told her our con-
dition. She lay by about mile distant, and
we, with the aid of only three boats-all that
had been saved from the fury of the storm
placed all the women and children in safety on
board the brig.
AS evening was fast approaching, we discov-
cred another SAIL which responded to our sig
nsle, and came near US. Captain Herndon
told them our condition, and asked that they
would lay by, and send a boat, as we had none
left. He promised to do so, but it was the last
he saw of her, except at distance, which grew
greater and greater every moment.
At seven o'clock, we saw no probability of
keeping afloat much longer, although we felt
that if we could do SO until the morning all
would be saved. In short time, heavy sea
for the first time broke over her upper deck,
and all hope faded fast away from Responding
heasts.
L;fe-preservers were supplied to ali; and, as
we rent up two rockets to attract the attention
of soy sail that might still be near us, tre
meSdous sea swept over US, and in moment
mOhe the steamer scent dOacn
think some four hundred or four hundred
and fifty souls we're thus thrown upon the
ocean at the mercy of the waves. The storm
by this time had entirely subsidized, and we all
kept near together, and went as the waves took
US. There was nothing or very little said, ex-
cept that each one cheered his fellow-comrade
on, and courage was thus kept up for two or
three hours and think for that space of time
none had drowned, but those who could not
swim became exhausted, and one by one grad
ually passed to eternity!
The hope that boats would be sent to us from
the two vessels we had spoken, soon fled us,
and our trust was alone in Providence; and
what better trust could you or l ask for? /
saw my poor comrades fast sinking around me,
and at one o'clock that night was nearly alone
upon the ocean, some two hundred miles from
land.
/ however still heard shouts from all that
could do 80 that were not far from me, but |
could not see them.
Within an hour from this time saw a YES
sci, judged about one mile from me. Taking
fresh courage, struck out for the vessel, and
reached it when nearly exhausted but l was
drawn on board by ropes as soon as perceived.
The vessel proved to be Norwegian barque
r,ov, Ra1. f0r 20, Nufh