The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-10-31

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There were some who he knew would not.
| 1t was not an occasion when the word might be
passed ior volunteers; for it was the post o.
safety not OF danger, but nevertheless Of great
| trust, that was TO be filed. The captain wanted
| trusty men that he knew well from long associa.
ton; and the crew fsuch vessels is not very per-
manent as to its personrel therefore he felt at a
| loss, for there was still u wanting i0r Black
| the boatswain's boat. A sailor, percciying the
captains dilemma, stepped up and modestly offered
| to 90. .t . ~
lie had not, il may be supposed, been long in
the ship, for Herndon evidently did not know him
| well, and replied in his mild and gentle way, " /
wonder if can trust you" ...-.... ... ...
The sailor instnctiVely understood this call for
Shibboleth and simply said, II have hands tha5
are hard 10 row, and heart that's soft TO feel"
This was enough he went and was true Not a
boat deserted that ship.
All the women and children were first sent TO
the brig, and every one arrived there in safety.
Each boat made two loads to tho brig carrying in
ali one hundred persons ..-a
BY this time night was settiu- in. The big
had drifted to leeward several miles away from
the steamer, and was so crippled that she cord
not beat up to her again. ".,
Black, the boatswain's boat alone returned Che
second time Her gallant crew had been buffet
ing with the storm for two days and a night,
without rest and with little or no food. The boat
itself had been badly stove while aIon gsiie with
the last load ot passengers; she was so much
knocked to pieces ns TO be really unservicaable;
nor could she have held another person; still!
| those brave seamen, true to the trust reposed in
them by their captain, did not hcsitqta to leave
the brig in her again, aud pull back through the
dark Tor miles across an angry sea, that they
might join him in his sinking ship and take their
chances with the rest.
Let no one call this rash, idle, or vain; it was
conduct the most logical, noble, and true The
names OF this brave crew have not been given,
else l should suggest the proprety of making
some formal acknowledgment OF the high apure-
citation in which such devotion to duty and such
conduct are held by the department.. l am
aware that these men do not belong TO the navy,
but they are American Seamen, n0bly doing their
duty under the American flag, and adding lusro
to it by their deed. Whether of the naval or Of
the merchant service, such conduct should NOT 60
unrequited by the Government.
During the lowering of the boats, and the en-
barkation OF the women and children, there was
as much discipline preserved among the crew Of
that ship, and as much order observed among her
passengers, was ever witnessed on board the
best regulated man-ofwar.
The law requires every commander in the navy
to show in himself good example OF virtue and
patriotism; and never was example more molly
set or beautifully followed
have so endeared his memory to the hearts Of his
countrymen, had won the respect and admiration
OF the crew and passengers Of that ship to such
degree as to acquire an influence over them
| that was marvellous in its cfiect'. The men
yielded to it, and even the women felt its force;
calm and resolute themselves, they encouraged
and cheered the men at the pumps and in the
gangways; and finally, to Herndons last appeal
for one more effort, they rose superior to their
sex, and proposed to 60 on deck themselves and,
with fair hands and feeble arms, there do mems
work in battling with the tempest
There were many touching incidents of the
most heroic personal devotion to duty aud to him
during that dreadful storm. Even after the ship
had gone down, and her passengers were left III
the water, clnging by whatever they could lay
hands on, Offices of kughtly courtesy were passed
among them.
As one Of the last boats was about to leave the
ship her commando gave his watch to pas.cn-
ger, with request that it might b. delivered TO
his wife. He wished 10 charge Him with mes
sage for her, also, but bis uttcrIncc was choked
Tell her =" Unable TO proceed, he bent
down his head and buried his face in his hands
for a moment, as if in prayer for he was a dcvout
man and true Christian.
In that moment, brief it. was, he endured the
great agony. But il was over now. His crowd.
ing thoughts, no doubt had been Of. iieuds aud
home-its desolaton-a beloved vile aud lovely
daughter dependent alone for support upon him
God and his country would care for them now
Honor and duty required him 70 stick to his ship,
and lie that she must 20 down
Calm and collected, be rose up from that short
but mighty struggle with renewed vigOr, aui
went with encouraging looks about the duties o!
the ship before. de ord red the hurricane
deck to be cut away and rats 10 hc made TIC
life preservers We're also Or0ugh, up aui dstrib
uted to all who would wear them. N-n. WIS
setting in, and hc directed Frazier, r1c second
officer, TO take charge Of the armchost and send
up rocket every half hour.
Van Rennsalaer, his first officer, was also ny
him. Herudon has +pokcn to my in torn. Of c3.
TEEN aud admiration of tbs officer; and Van
Rensselaer, proved himself worthy TO the last #
such commentators. Side by sid, they stood at
their post, aud peTlshed together with their bar.
ness on.
After the boat which boro NJ Psvuc--to whom
HeTndon had entrusted h's wIfCh--lad showed
OA, the captain went 20 lat. sl,gu.rOom aud pat
his uniform. The gold baud around his cup was
concealed by the oil..ilk covering w n hc usually
wore over it, He took Il off and threw it Oh hs
cabin floor; then walking out, he took bis stand
on the wheel house, holding on TO the iron IaiIirg
with his left hand rocket was set or; the ship
fetched her last lurch; and, as she wen. down, hc
uncovered.
A cry arose from the sea; but MOI from ms
Hps' IUc waves bau closed aDOut b!fu, aIl tie
curtain Of the night was drawn over one Vi the
most sublime moral spectaclcs that tue sea ever
saw.
just before the steamer won't down. rowbolt
was heard approaching lIer1lo0 hattie her. 1t
was the boatswain's boat, row 10y hard hands
and gentle heart, returning 0u board from the
brig 20 report her disabled condition. II she
came alongside she would be enguphcl with the
sinking ship; HcrndOn ordered her TO keep OF;
she did so, and was saved. This, 20 far a. have
been able to learn, was his last order FOrgs,,ul
OF self, mindful Of Others, his EG was bgaatiIa' 10
the last; and in his death he has added a new
glory to the annals Of the sea.
Forty-ninc Of tne passnngo'1 and c'"v were
picked up Heating or the water trat nj-bt and the
next morning by the Norwegian bUquG Elem
Capt. johnson, and broueh. acty into Norfolk.
On the 9th day after the wreck, the English brig
MARY picked up three otnevs, who mad drift ai
about $50 miles with the Gulf stream. ToJal
saved 1852.
' The " Central America sunk about +. W., OF
September IL, 1851, near the outer edge OF tho
Gulf stream and the parallel OF 81 deg 40 min. n.
lt does not appear certain that her commander
was seen or heard after she went down by any OF
those who survived the wrcc, Hr Ohllds, one of
the passengers, thinks be couversed with him In
the water after tnidupht OF SAtur law only IN lla