Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-03-22
THE PRESIDENTS EATHEn.l
LAW.
A Chapter From The Past.

A Chapter From The Past.
THE HEROIC DEATH OF CAPTAIN HERSDoN-oF-
FIcIAL AND GRAPHIC ACCOUNT OF THE LOSS
OF THE CENTRAL AMERICA.
The following official account of the loss of
the steamer Central America in 1857 anc the
heroic death of her commander. Capt Herndon
u 5. n, was written by Lieut.. Maury, of the
United States Naval Observatory shortly after its
occurrence. 1t is vivid picture of heroism aad
danger:
- OBSERVATORY. WASHINGTON.
October l9. 1857.
SIR On the 18th day of September last. at sea,
the United States mail steamship. Central Amer
lea, with the California mails, most of the pas
sengers and crew. and a large amount of treas
ure on board. foundered in gale of wind.
The law requires the vessels of this line to be
commanded by officers of the navy and Com
mander William Lewis Herndon had this one
He went down with his ship leaving a glowing
example of devotion to duty, Christian conduct
and true herOism
All hopes of his having been picked up by
some passing vessel have vanished The sur
ylvors of the wreck have made their statements
OF the gale. the sinking of the ship and their
rescue. Those have gone the rounds of the news
paper press, and we are probably possessed of all
the particulars concerning that awful catastro-
phe that the public will ever know
The department has already been officially in
formed OF this wreck and disaster. and of how
nobly HerndOn stood to his post and gloriousy
persisted: how the women and children were all
saved and how he did all that man could do or
O1hcer should to save his ship and crew also
But the particulars have been given to the de-
partment only in perishable form of news
paper records
AS a tribute to his memory as material for
history. as an heirloom of the navy and leg
acy to his country. desire to place on record in
the department this simple writing and me-
mortal of him. We were intimates: L have
known him from bOyhOod; he was my kinsman.
Ihe ties of cOnsanguinity, as well as our pro-
fessed avocations, brought us frequently and
much together; we were close friends. Under
these circumstances ask your leave to file
report OF that gale and his loss. | aim to en-
body IN II simple narrative of Incidents de-
rived from statements which the survivors from
the wreck have made either publicly through
the prints of the day. or privately to his family
and friends These incidents. in the silent in
liuence OF the lessons they teach. constitute an
inheritance of rare value to his countrymen:
they are the heirloom of which / spoke, and
VIII. am persuaded, be productive of much
good to the service.
The Central America. at the time OF her
loss. was bound from Aspinwa via Havana. to
New 1ork. She had on board. az nearly as has
been ascertained, about two million in gold
and four hundred and seventy-four passengers
besides crew. all told. of one hundred and one
souls: total, 575. She touched at Havana on
the 18th OF September last and put to sea
again at 9 o'clock on the morning Of the
Sth The ship was. apparently. in good order;
the time seemed propitiOus; and all hands We're
in fine health and spirits. for the prospects of a
safe and speedy passage home were very cheer
ing. The breeze was from the tradewind quar-
ter at northeast: but at midnight of the 9th it
freshened to gale. which continued to increase
till the forenoon Of Friday. September 11th
when it blew with great violence from north
northeast.
Up to this time the ship behaved admirably
Nothing had occurred worthy Of note or in any
way calculated to excite suspicious of her PROV
ess. until the forenoon of that day. when it was
discovered that she had sprung aeak The sea
was running high; the ship was very much keel
ed over on the starbGard side and laboring
heavily. The leak was so large that bv pm
the water had risen high enough to extinguish
the fires on one side and stop the engine Bail
ing gangs were set to work. the passengers
cheerfuily assisting. and all hands were sent
over on the windwari side to trim ship. Being
relieved III a measure. she riThted and the fires
We're re!ie!ited. Bu there was very heavy sea
On. aiiti. IN spite OF pumps and bailing gangs
with their buckets. whips and barrels the water
gained upon them until it reached the furnaces
and eNtingushed the fires again. never to be re-
kinded. This was Friday
The ship was now at the mercy Of the waves,
and was wallowing in the trough of the sea
Ikea log. She was a side-wheel steamer. with
not Il little top-haIHper. and therefore an ugly
thing TO manage in such a situation. The
storm spencer had been blown away and the
fcreyard was sent down during the night At
telnpfS We're made to get the ship before the
wind. but no canvass was stout enough to with
stand the raging of the storm. After the head
sails had been blown away the captain ordered
the cleTs IF the fOresail to be dashed down to
z IL t,sy,Irs
little way, show canvass. and get her off, but
by the time the yard was we'll clear of the
bulWarks the sail was taken right out of the
bolt ropes, SO great was the force of the wind
and such the fury of the gale. The foremost
was then cut away. the fOreyard was converted
into drag and got overheard: bits of canvas
also were spread in the rigging aft. hoping bv
these eXpedents. as last resort to bring the
ship head to wind, but all to no purpose; she re-
fused TO come. Crew and passengers worked
manfully. pumping and bailing all Friday after
noon and night; and when day dawned upon
them the violence Of the stern was still increas-
ing. All that energy, professional skill, and
Seainanship could do to weather the storm and
save the ship had been done. The tempest was
still raging; resources were exhausted: the
working parties were tagged out. and the
captain foresaw that his ship must 90 down.
iotlll there was some chance for hope; ne
might save life, even if he lost the ship. mails
and treasure He was in freQuented part of
OSSesAA
the rescne of crew and passengers, if they could
but manage to keep the ship atloat until the
gale abated. He encouraged them with this
hope, and asked for rally. They responded
with cheers. The lady passengers also offered
to help. and the men went to work with a will,
whipping up water by the barrelful, to the
steady measure Of the sailors working song
The flag was hoisted ''Union down. that every
vessel as she hove in sight might know that they
were in distress and wanted help. Under this
rally of crew and passengers they gained on the
water for little while but they were WORT out
with the toll Of the last night and day; they had
not the strength to keep it under
Finally, about noon of Saturday, the 10Th. the
gale began to abate and the sky to brighten A
vessel hove In sight saw the signal of distress.
ran down to the steamer. was hailed answered,
and was asked for help. She could give none.
and kept on her course.
At about pm. the brig Marine. Captain
Burt. Of Boston, bound from the West Indies to
New York, heard minute guns and saw the
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