Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1857-09-25
$50 Lives Lost!
wreck Of the Central America

Childs, one Of the rescued passengers,
states that the Central America left Ha-
vana on the Sth inst, having had de-
lightful weather and calm sea from As
pinwall to that port. On the afternoon
Of the day of sailing from Havana, we had
a fresh breeze, and on Wednesday it blew
very strong. At night it increased, and
rained in torrents. On Thursday the
wind blew hurricane, and the sea ran
very high. On Friday the storm ragged
with unabated fury, and at ii o'clock, A.
NJ, it was first known among the passen-
gers that the steamer had sprung leak,
and was making water fast. A line of
men was formed who went to work in
bailiDg the water from her engine room,
the fires having been already extinguished
by the furnaces being OverAowed. We
gained upon it SO much that the fremen
were enabled to get up steam again, but
this continued for only few minutes,
when the fires were again extinguished,
and the engines we're abandoned. The
bailing, however, was continued in all
parts Of the vessel, and kept up until she
finally went down. During the night, the
water gained considerably, but all being
in good spirits, we worked to the best of
our ability, feeling that when morning
came we might possibly speak some vessel
and be saved.
The fatal Saturday came at last, but
brought nothing but an increased fury Of
the storm. Still We worked on. About
. o'clock, p. NJ, the storm lulled little
and the clouds broke away, SO that our
hopes we're renewed, and We all worked
like giants. At 4 o'clock, P. NJ, we
spied sail and fred guns. Our flag be.
ing at half mast it was seen, and the brig
Marine, Of Boston, bore down upon u.s.
We then considered our safety certain.
She caue near and we spoke to her, and
explained our condition. She laid to
about mile distant, and We, in only
three of the boats, saved all the women
and children, and they we're safely put on
board the brig.
As evening was fast approaching We dis
covered another sail, which responded to
our call, and came near rs. Capt. Hern.
den told our crippled condition, and asked
them to lay by, and send = boat, as We
had none left. She promised to do so,
but this was the last we saw of her, ex-
cept at distance, which grew greater
every moment.
All o'clock, We saw no possibility of
keeping aaoat much longer, although if
We could do so until morning, all would
be saved in short time. A heavy sea
for the first time broke over her upper
deck, and our hopes faded away. Life
preservcrs we're then furnished to the pas.
sengers, and we sent up two rockets. A
tremendous sea then swept over US, and
the steamer in moment went down. l
think that some four hundred or four hun.
dred and fifty souls were launched upon
the ocean, at the mercy of the waves.
The storm at this time had entirely subsi-
ded. We all kept near together, and went
as the waves took US. There was nothing,
or very little said, except each one cheersd,
and courage was 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 gradually passed into eternity.
The hope that boats would be sent to US
from the two vessels we had spoken to,
soon fed from us, and our trust was alone
in Providence; and what better trust
could you or l ask for. saw my CON-
rades fast sinking, and at o'clock that
night, I was nearly alone upon the ocean,
some POO miles from land. l, however,
heard shouts from all that could do SO,
that they we're not far from me, but l
could not see them. Within an hour
from this time l saw a vessel, and judged
about one mile from me. Taking fresh
courage, I struck out for the vessel, and
reached it when nearly exhausted, but was
drawn on board by ropes. Improved to be
a Norwegian barque, from Balize, Hondu-
ras, bound for Falmouth, England. l
found on board of her some three of my
comrades, and at nine o'clock the next
morning, We had forty.nine noble fellows
on board, and these are all know Of hav-
ing been saved. We cruised about the
scene of disaster, until VIC thought that all
alive had been rescued, and then set sail.
We found the barque short Of provi-
sions, aud the crew living on cruel. We
had some tea and coffee to refresh our.
selves, and at noon on Sunday spoke this
American barque, the Saxony) bound for
Savannah, who supplied US with provisions
and took five of US on board. Our names
are B. II. Ridley, Of Maine; Jabez
Haiues, of San Francisco; Samuel W.