SS Central America
SS Central America, known as the Ship of Gold, was a 280-foot (85 m) sidewheel steamer that operated between Central America and the East Coast of the United States during the 1850s. She was originally named the SS George Law, after George Law of New York. The ship sank in a hurricane in September 1857, along with 425 of her 578 passengers and crew and 30,000 pounds (13,600 kg) of gold, contributing to the Panic of 1857.
| History | |
|---|---|
| United States | |
| Name | Central America |
| Operator | United States Mail Steamship Company |
| Builder | Webb yard |
| Launched | October 1852 |
| Fate | Sank September 12, 1857 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 2,141 long tons (2,175 t) |
| Length | 278 ft (85 m) |
| Beam | 40 ft (12 m) |
| Crew | Captain William Lewis Herndon First Officer Charles W. van Rensselaer |
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