CHAPTER IX.
Exploration of the Amazon by Captain Herndon—Loss of the 'Central America'—Maury's official report of the shipwreck, and the death of her gallant commander—Monument to Herndon at Annapolis—Maury's Steam Lanes—Present of $5,000 and a service of plate from the merchants and underwriters of New York—Part of an address to the University of Virginia.
In consequence of his Inca Papers, and because of Maury's urgency on the subject, the Navy Department organized an exploring expedition for the Amazon and its tributaries, and placed it under the command of Lieut. William Lewis Herndon, U.S.N., who on his return from South American wrote a most instructive and valuable book, entitled, "Exploration of the Valley of the The Amazon".
This gallant officer whom Maury loved with a love "passing that of a woman" went down with his ship, the unfortunate 'Central America' in a storm off Cape Hatteras in 1857.
He lost his life in his devotion to duty, and while saving the women and children and passengers entrusted to his care. Maury being ordered by the Secretary of the Navy to prepare a report of the loss of this brave officer and his ship, wrote as follows:—
| U.S. National Observatory, Washington, D.C. | |
| Sir, | Oct.19th, 1857 |
On the 12th day of Sept. last, at sea, the U.S. mail steamship, 'Central America,' with the California mails, many of the passengers and crew, and a large amount of treasure on board, foundered in a gale of wind.
The law requires the vessels of this line to be commanded
