The Sun.
London, England, 1862-08-11 00:00:00

EXPLOITS OF THE CONFEDERATE RAM

AREANSAS.

(Ft om the Chicago Tribune.)

United States' Gunboat Flotilla, Wednesday,
July 15.
About 3 50 a.m. the gunboats Carondelet
and Tyler and the ram Queen of the West got
under way, steamed up the river a short distance,
turned and headed up the Yazoo. Rumours had
been rife for several days that the Arkansas was
preparing to come out, but a large majority hooted
it down and scoffed at the bare idea. It seems,
however, that those in authority placed some
credence in the report,
and consequently the gun-
boats and ram were sent to look up matters. Upon
entering the river the Queen shot up ahead of the
rest, the Carondelet following, while the Tyler
brought up the rear.

They had proceeded about five miles only when
those in the gunboats were startled by the appear-
ance of the Queen coining full speed down the river,
with evidently every pound of steam she could
make at work on her shaft. She flew by the
Carondelet with the words, " The Arkansas is
coming," and shortly after a long, low, mud-
coloured craft, with a short, thick, black smoke-
stack in her middle, puffing out huge volumes of
black smoke, came swiftly around the point and
made for the Carondelet. The river was too narrow
to turn back, even if Captain Walker had so
wished ; but the Captain is one who knows no such
words as " back out," and, swinging around broad-
side, to avoid raking shots, the Carondelet belched
forth a whole broadside on to the rapidly advancing
craft. Imagine the consternation produced when
the balls were seen to strike and fall harmlessly in the
water ! "At him again,,, was the cry, and another
broadside was poured into the monster at 50 yards'
range, but with no more effect than if so many
peas had been discharged. The Arkansas now ran
into the Carondelet's starboard quarter with a fear-
ful crash, pouring broadside after broadside into
the gunboat, which, passing through the wooden
casemate, raked the vessel from stem to stern. The
Arkansas showed no intention of leaving her victim,
but, remaining along her starboard quarter, raked
her fore and aft with pointed shot. The Caronde-
let's stern and after division of starboard batteries
kept up an incessant fire, but the huge solid shot
flew off like indiarubber balls. There was no tan-
gible spot to be seen ; a very small round hole, just
large enough to admit the gun, constituted her
ports, and on elevating or depressing the porthole
moved with the gun. Finding his guns were doing
no service, Captain Walker had his boarders called
away, and into the rebel craft they poured ; hut not
a man or a passage could be found. The boarders
now returned and the guns set to work, but it was
so much powder wasted. The Carondelet's stern
was now perfectly riddled, all the officers' quarters
shot away, and everything literally torn to pieces.
At length a shot cut away the steam pipe, and the
scalding vapour spread to every ....
part of the boat.
Many of the men jumped overboard. At this junc-
ture of affairs Captain Walker led a boarding party
on the rebel's deck, but could find no possible way
of getting below. `1 'he hatches were all secured
underneath, and the smallest kind of aperture or
hole was nowhere to be found. This discovered,
the party returned to give uptheir boat only when
the bottom of the river palled for her. The flag
which still floated from her stern was never to be
struck to the rebels as long as one board floated to
held it up. What men were left stood by what guns
could be brought to bear, and
worked them until
the Arkansas, thinking she had about finished her
victim, pushed along past her and stood for the
Tyler, which had stood by the Carondelet
through the whole fight. The Tyler discovered
her motive, and, knowing her thin frame would
stand no chance when brought in con-
tact with the enemy's invulnerable sides,
headed down the stream, keeping just clear of the
Arkansas and firing her stern battery. This chase
was kept up until the mouth of the river was
reached, when the Tyler, her boats shot away and
badly cut up otherwise, came into view of the whole
fleet. Not a vessel in the whole fleet,
from some
strange fatality, had steam enough to move. The

Louisiana shore was lined with our transports, ord- '
nance, boats, &c., while directly opposite them,
three or four abreast, lay Farragut's and Davies
fleet, scarcely two of which could fire without pour-
ing their broadsides into some of their own vessels.
All eyes were strained to see the cause of the Tyler's
commotion. The ram fleet which lay near the mouth
of the Yazoe, are scattering in every direction. A
moment more and the long-dreaded Arkansas steams
into full view, and heads right for the centre of our
fleet. Bang ! goes a gun at the ordnance boat Great
Western, while one from her port battery at the
rams, who are leaving in every direction. She now
passes the Richmond, whose splendid battery of 9-
inch Dahlgrens is held quiet by the J. H. Dickey,
who lies just opposite. Bang ! bang !go two more
guns at the ordnance boat. Passing down, she puts
balls into the Champion, while in the meantime her
port battery is busy with Farragut's fleet Steadily
she pursues her way, nothing daunted, nothing
checked. She is now more than halfway down. She
passes the Hartford ; but the noble old flagship is
situated like the Richmond, for the same broadside
which would have hailed on the Arkansas would have
annihilated the splendid hospital boat Red Rover,
burst Wenona
the reel and
with her cargo of human freight. The Oneida hits
rebel her with her 11-inch, but the ponderous missile
ha producesmed. nCea n nothing
effect.Th
engage her, but she passes their fire unscathed, un-
dubious shake of the head is the only monster
? A
n
icoahresponse, as
ball dicer ball drops from her sides into the water.
Steadily but surely she keeps on her way, firing
one broadside at the transports, and the other at
some vessel on the other side. She has nearly run
the gauntlet. One more boat only to dispute her
progress, and that the Cincinnati, which far below
the rest of the fleet is doing picket duty near the
point. All eyes are upon her, and a repetition of
her experience seems inevitable. On comes the
Arkansas, seemingly like Anteus of old, picking up
new strength at every step. She is sure of her
prey, and is making light for it. The Cincinnati
had not steam sufficient to tack on her or even
hardly enough •to bold her head up stream. She
slipped Lher cable, however, and headed for the
Mississippi shore, drifting down stream all the
time, her own motive power being insufficient to
stem the current. The Arkansas discovering her
intention, heads for her, when the gunboat openel
a brisk and galling fire on the advancing rebel at
short range, the rifled Parrots apparently piercing
her, the other shots dropping harmlessly off. The
ram fires heavily as she advances, and is rapidly
gaining on her opponent. When just as all were
expecting a collision the Arkansas suddenly
checks up, heads the other way, fires a parting
broadside, and rapidly leaves the Cincinnati behind
her. The gunboat bad drawn her into too shallow
water, who she had no intention of being caught in.
The Cincinnati, assisted by the Wenona, kept up
an incessant fire until she had rounded the point
and was in the arms of her friends. This unparalleled
audacity and boldness elicit unqualified admiration
of all. Such a thing never took place before, and
will probably never take place again. In broad day-
light, in the very teeth of a hundred guns, this craft
slowly and deliberately made her way, selecting
her own victims, and hurling the glove of defiance
at the combined fleet. It is an example of cool,
daring courage unexampled, and the name of
" Catesby Jones," her commander, will be awarded
by all men'as deserving a place among the list of
those " who know no fear." The fact of her success
is undoubtedly owing to the circumstances, under
which she caught us. Our position and everything
worked against us. The Essex had discovered a
burnt boiler the night before, and a new one was
being inserted at the time. The Louisville was
lying at the blacksmith boat repairing. The Sum-
ter had her waste pipe out and a new one being in-
serted. Everything worked in her favour. Those
boats that were all ready could not use their guns
fair fear of doing more damage to their friends than
their foes.

I will leave comments on this singular transac-
tion for other pens than mine. Different persons
will, of course have different opinions. All that is
left us is to say what might have been, and resolu-
tions what we will do. The Arkansas is safe for a
time. I won't answer for her being so long.
Killed.
•Wounded, Missing.
Tyler .. .. 10 .. 33 .. 10
Carondelet •• 5 .. 20 .. 13
Lancaster.. .. 18 .. 10 .. -
Benton 1 .. 3 • • -

34 .. 66 .. 23

Lancaster shot in her boilers ; Dickey struck
three times ; Champion struck three times ; Great
Western struck once.

31ETROPOLITAN UNDERGROUND

_RAILWAY.

On Saturday evening the completion of that por-
tion of the Metropolitan Underground Railway ex-
tending from Paddington to Gower-street Station
was celebrated by the contractors, Messrs. Smith
and Knight, giving a dinner to the men engaged
at work. A platform was thrown across from one
side of the station to the other, and there the tables
for the feast were laid. rpwards of 600 men sat
down to dinner, and were presided over by Mr.
Smith, the senior partner of the firm.

Among those present were Mr Roebuck, the con-
tractor's manager ; Mr. Henchman, the secretary
to the company ; Mr. Johnson, the resident
engineer; and several ladies and gentlemen.
The several loyal and patriotic toasts were drunk
with musical honours.
The Chairman then said they had met that even-
ing to celebrate the completion of that end of the
Metropolitan Railway, and having spent three
years on the works they might say at that end
that they had done their work very creditably.
(Hear, hear.) He employed the best men that
could be found in England; and when he said that
it meant the best men that could be found in the
world. (Hear, hear.) He hoped that that line
would be considered, what it really was, one of the
best undertakings in the world, and that it would
prove highly remunerative to those who had so
liberally subscribed their money to so vast a work.
Cheers.)
Mr. Henchman said it had afforded him very
great pleasure to meet the men that evening, and
it was a congratulation to them all that that great
work had been brought to a conclusion without
the loss of a single life from accident. (Hear,
hear.) That result was owing to the great precau-
tions taken by their masters for their preservation.
(Hear, hear.) As long as that work hung together
it would be a credit to all who worked at it. (Hear,
hear.) He was sure he would have every man
with him when he asked them to drink " The health
of Messrs. Smith and Knight."
The toast was drunk with tremendous cheering
and musical honours. "
" The Healths of Mr. T. M. Johnson, the
engineer, and " Mr. Armstrong,,, the foreman
of the works, were drunk with great enthusiasm
and duly acknowledged.
was Sekveerpt Several
up othertill a
toalsattsefhololuhorwa.tedth, aensttlatthieonecantvGower-
street is in a tunnel
It may here be stated
aboutt 45 feet deep, and is
lighted
glazedby,
large
tiles. y
aperturesrfh on
arcso constructed
eitherside, lined
that
with
white
they admit sufficient light into thestation to enable
the company to do without gas during the day-time.

" The Pontifical Government," says the Inde-
pendance,4, appears inclined to revenge itself on France
by:
petty demonstrations. Amongst other things, it has
prohibited the use of the name Napoleon. The director of
a theatre of the Trantsevera, who is called Napoleon Or-
chum, has been ordered by the police to drop his Christian
same, and has changed it into that of Annibal. Among
the actors of the dramatic company of Belotti-Bon is ono
called Napoleon Colombino,and he has been ordered hence-
forward to take the wale of Giovanni Colorabina."

On Saturday an inspection of the gigantic works
constructed for the main drainage of the metropolis
was made by J. Thwaites, Esq., chairman, several
members, J. W. Bazalgette, Esq., chief engineer,
and the entire staff of officers of the Metropolitan
Board of Works; M. Maunier, prefect of the Seine,
and a large body of visitors.
The party started by steamboat from Hungerford
Market betwen eleven and twelve o'clock for Green-
wich, and upon landing at the pier they at once
proceeded to the immense sewer constructed by Mr.
Webster, extending from Deptford Creek to Cross-
ness Point, Plumstead Marshes. This sewer is com-
pletely circular, 11 feet 6 inches in diameter, 18
inches thick, except that part of it which passes
under Woolwich, where it is 2 feet thick, and 71
miles in length. The sewer was lighted by hun-
dreds of candles, placed at regular distances from
each other, and the effect, when viewed as far as
the eye could reach, was really marvellous. The
pumping station at Deptford was next examined,
by means of which the sewage will be pumped from
the low level to the high level sewer, and the mag-
nitude of the works excited the greatest surprise.
The whole of the company were then escorted to
the river side, where a steamboat was in waiting,
and they crossed over to the Bow and Stratford
branch of the Eastern Counties Railway, and on
it were conveyed to Old Ford. Here the completed
northern high level from Hampstead, a length of 9Q
miles, and the work of Mr. Moxon, was examined,
together with the penstock chamber and overflow
channels. Here is a junction of the Middle-levee-
each
9 feet in Sewer, 12 feet in diameter, and by the aid of the-
penstock and overflow channels the sewage can
either be continued on its course to the outlet, or
passed into the River Lea, which at present re-
ceives the sewage of the district. From this point
ei
the Northern Outfall Sewer is now in the course
of construction
terminate at Barking Creek. This work will be
5i miles in length, consisting'of double and treble
lines
ofsewers, by Mr. Furness, and
considerable distance they will be from 15 feet to
17 feet above the level of the surrounding land, the
resting
sewers themselves either and fowrilal
on an embankment
or brick arches. In its line there
will be seven
aqueducts over rivers, two aqueducts over railways,
and the materials employed in the construction of
the sewers, concrete embankment and substructure
of arches through the marshes, will consist of
20,000 rods of brickwork, 500,000 yards of concrete,
and 100,000,000 bricks. The contract price is
£625,000. These sewers at Barking will discharge
into a reservoir, which will cover an area of 12 acres,
and from this reservoir it will be discharged into
the River during the ebb of the tide. All these
works were minutely examined, the party proceed-
ing to Barking in the contractors' trucks on a rail-
way laid down to facilitate the carriage. of materials
from the River to different parts of the works.

Having arrived at the extreme point of the works
the party partook of luncheon in a pavilion.

CURIOUS DISCOVERY OF A MISER.

A most remarkable case has within the last day
or so come under the notice of the authorities of the
Bank of England. A few nights ago a policeman,
named Donovan, in the H division, had his atten-
tion drawn to a wretched-looking old man who was
walking along a street in the neighbourhood of
Whitechapel. His appearance bespoke the most ex-
treme destitution, he was dirty and literally clothed
in rags, and he was apparently borne down by some
heavy weight which he had about him. The officer,
thinking that the poor creature had some lead or
stolen property in his possession, asked him what he
had got round his body. The old fellow wished to
know what business that was of the officer. The
constable replied that he must know, and that if he
did not satisfy him, he must take him to the station.
The old man still declined to enlighten the police•
man, and he was accordingly walked off t o the Leman-
street police station on suspicion of having some-
thing not his own concealed about his body. At
first the inspector was almost induced to remons-
trate with the officer for bringing such a dirty,
wretched outcast to the station, for his filthy rags
gave off such an offensive stench as to render his
presence quite unbearable. However, the officer
had a duty to discharge, and the inspector told the
old man, who had a considerable stoop and totter,
that he had better let them know what it was. The
old fellow at length muttered out "money." The
officers if anything were more perplexed, and the
very unpleasant task was then gone through of un-
burthening him of his precious load. From round
his body were taken several bundles of dirty rags,
which were found to contain gold and silver and
five Bank of England notes to the amount of nearly
£2OO. There was about £lOO in silver. The old
man was asked to account for the possession of the
money. He replied that it was his own, that he had
been saving it for upwards of 20 years, that as he
accumulated the gold and silver he secured it in the
bags which he placed round his body for safe keep-
ing, and never took them off. The officers were still
dubious about his story, and they asked him how
he had earned such a lot of money. He answered
that he had been a hard-working man, that for
many years he carried clothes for the Jews in Petti-
coat-lane, doing odd jobs and running errands in
the streets. He was asked whether he could name
any person who had so employed him, and he men-
tioned several persons, some Jews. They, on being
applied to, confirmed his statement; they had oc-
casionally employed him for years, and he was
always of dirty and penurious habits, and they
expressed their astonishment that he should have
had so much money about him. As there was now
no doubt as to the treasure really belonging to
the old man, the police thought of the best way of
protecting him, as some of his old employers in
Petticoat-lane suddenly became very much inter-
ested in his behalf, and proffered their assistanceTh
in taking care both of him and his money..
officers suggested that it would be
ivery imprudent
for him to continue to carry so
or sged that at
money about with him, and proposed
least he should get rid of thedsi Ncpr, and deposit
creature thought
it at the Bank. The poor ol
he could as well take care of it as the Bank. How-
ever, he was at last persuaded to go to the Bank
of England, but his wretched and offensive ap-
pearance, and the process of turning the large
amount of silver out of the dirty rags, had such ail
effect upon the cashiers that they declined have any_
thing to do with the old man or his cash, probably
fearing that that there was something infectious
about him.
The city detectives, who Were in at-
tandance, tried their good offices, and the cashiers
were at length induced to receive the silver (there
being only one bad half-crown amongst the mass),
and to give the old man notes for the amount.
After some further persuasion he was induced to in-
vest the whole of his long earned savings. He was
taken to the office of Robert Cardensand the worthy
alderman kindly undertook to do the best he could
for him, and received about £192 from the old man,
for which he had a receipt. The police then further
advised him to have a good wash, and he returned
to his abode, but evidently not so well at ease as to
the security of his money as when he carried it about
with him.

GRAND TRUNK RAILWAY OF CANADA.—The
official declaration of the results of the voting on the reso-
lution approving of "The Grand Trunk Arrangements Act,
1862," which bad been proposed on Friday by Mr. Craw.
ford, M.P., at the meeting of shareholders, was made on
Saturday afternoon, at the London Tavern. Mr. Thomas
Baring, M.P., presided. The following is a copy of the
document which was handed to the representatives of the
press, it being accompanied by an intimation that there
would be no speech-making on the occasion :—" Persons,
1,311 for the motion ; 9 against ; shares and Londe,
3,788,601 for the motion ; 48,48.5 'list." From this it I
will be seen that the majority for the resolution is 1,302 on
persona and 3,740,116 on shares and bonds.

" 'E. VAN DORN.
- A lotto.- from Washington says:—
" A rebel officer has just been arrested
Maryland who has been recruiting for the "rebel
army for two weeks past in Washington and
Frederick counties. He met with poor success.:
Several arrests for disloyalty have been wade
here yesterday and to-day."