Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-09-23

the wheel house with Capt. Herndon, whose
last orders were-''Now buckle on your life
preservers. We are going down."
Among the ladies saved by the Marine, was
Mrs. Ann Small of Newburyport, Mass, who
was returning to her relatives, after burying
her husband at Panama. This lady and her
child, little girl of twenty three months,
were in the special charge. of Capt. Herndon,
to whose assiduous care they owe their safety.
Mother and child arrived at New York in the
Empire City. When Mrs. Small was getting
into the boat, Capt. Herndon said to her :
''This is sad l am sorry not to get you home
safely"
Mr.. Fraser states that two men saved in the
Marine, one of them, Mr.. Jones, told him they
saw Capt. Herndon two hours after the vessel
was wrecked. He was then hopeful, talking
with others, and encouraging those around
him. lie had two fe-preservers on-one
certainly, and that believed to be cork one.
The vessel which was seen to be near the
Central America on Saturday, and which then
gave no assistance, and now believed to be
blown of, was seen on Saturday morning,
and it is thought she may have picked up
passengers. 1t is possible that Herndon and
others may have been saved in this unknown
vessel.
THE cowARDlCE OF THE ENGINEER.
The conduct of the engineer, Ashby, is
condemned by nearly every passenger who
has made detailed statement. The follow
ing is one of these statements =
t'Mr. Douglass Rutherford of Oakland, JEFF
fersom county, Wisconsin, stood near Capt.
Herndon and the chief engineer of the Cen
trail America at the time the latter proposed
to leave the steamer, and overheard their con-
versation on the subject. From the statement
of Mr.. Rutherford it appears, that while one
one of the boats was lying by the side Of the
steamer nearly filed with passengers from the
sinking vessel, the chief engineer (Ashby)
went up to the captain and intimated that he
was going In that boat; Capt. Herndon re.
pied that he had no right to do so, and that
1t was his duty 10 stick 10 his post I; when the
engineer, Ashby, said, IF you will let me
go, will bring back the two boats (then en-
gagged in conveying passengers to the brig
Marine,) land all the boats that Gnu be spared
from the brig Capt Herndon expressed his
fears to trust the engineer, but the latter
again pleaded SO hard to be allowed to go, and
promised to exert himself in securing assist
ance from the brig, that Capt. Herndon final
Up consented to let him go when Ashby inn
mediately seized hold of a rope and lei him
self down into the boat, and was followed by
passenger No sooner had the latter reach
swore that he would stab the man unless he
would jump overheard. Capt. Herndon,
hearing the'remark made by Ashby, said to
him, Stop there you must not do that AS
soon as the boat pushed off, Capt. Herndon
walked forward on the steamer and called af-
ter the engineer, Now will depend on your
returning with the boats, and the engineer in
reply SAID, Captain, you may depend your
life on my returning But he failed to SO
do
VIM. Geary and Joseph Bassford furnish the
following:
81 was passenger on board the Central
America, and left the steamer in the same
boat with Chief Engineer Ashby, for the brig
Marine. After we got on board of the brig,
the engineer (Ashby) told me that had got
to go back to the steamer with the boat. |
told him that l was not able to do SO be-
sides l was passenger, and had as much
right to remain where 1 was as anybody else,
He again insisted upon my gong back, and
the late Chief Engineer of the steamer Golden
Gate, who was with him, said, with an oath,
Make him CO. Ashby then ran round after
me on board of the brig, with determination
to make me 60 back to the steamer, and, as l
was told by the captain and mate of the brig,
that he had dirk in his hand at the time he
was chasing me round on board of that vessel.
and as it is supposed, in order to prevent the
officers Of the brig from interfering with him.
he told them that 1 was a runaway sailor from
the steamer. AT this juncture, Alexander
Gardner, boatsw ain, told the engineer that
ne did not want me-that l could be of no
service-when was relieved Of further t1ou-
ble."
Mr.. Joseph Bassford, of Benicia, CAL, who
also left the sinking steamer in the same boat
with Engineer Ashby, Mr.. Geary and Mr..
Rutherford, witnessed the occurrences re-
ierred to in their statements, and corroborated
the same in every particular.
AT Norfolk, the feeling against Ashby, was
intense, and the passengers were several times
about to pitch him overheard. Captain Nc
Gowan refused to let him come on board the
steamer Empire City, and he was forced to
remain at Norfolk.
CONDUCT OF THE CHIEF ENGINEEE.
Mr.. George E. Ashby, late chief engineer
of the Central America, whose conduct dur
ing the late disaster has been so severely COM
mented upon, arrived in New York on Mon
day evening. He is, says the EUeniag Post,
fine, stout built man, about thirty years of
age, of medium height, firmly knit frame,
clear, sparkling eye, voice and action quick,
prompt, and energetic, and like anything but
FAoN Va POibAOOht AAAS A~SPfOoo puJo llO ID the
person who distinguished himself SO much
during the great riot between the natives and
Americans at Panama, as the leader of those
Americans who fought SO brayely. He still
bears marks Of that fight upon his body.
The feeling in his favor was very general
on Monday, particularly among number of
the engineers of ocean steamers, who
have sailed with him, and know him
well. They all speak Of him as brave and
accomplished officer, and as one who was
not likely to desert vessel while all the rest
OF the officers and crew stood firm. Among
those who speak tavorably of him, are the fol.
lowing Chief Engineer Graham, of the
steamship Hermann, and Messrs. Durham
and French, who were formerly chief engi-
neers of the U. s. M. steamship Company on
the other side. These gentlemen say that
they have sailed with Ashby number of
times, and that more efficient officer could
not be found. Tkey state that on two occa-
sions, passengers in the Central America have
presented him with tokens Of their esteem
for his gentlemanly and officer-like conduct.
Mr.. Durham says that no man acquainted in
the least degree with Mr.. Ashby viii call him
coward, as he has proved himself contrary
on several occasions OF danger.
Mr. McCarty, Chief Engineer of the Golden
Gate, states that Ashby lowered the first boat,