The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-21
THIRTKRSTH DAY.


THIRTRESTH DAY.
PHILADELPHIA, July 20 1854
The court et pursuant to adjournment and The very
long record OF proceedings being read and a
proved, passed midshipmRn De Haven recalled.
In regard 70 the charge of disobedence of orders,
he saA the United States steamer Water Witch
lowed the jamestown the asS below Buenos Ayres
distance OF eight or ten miles After this she returned
70 Buenos Ayres.
In relation TO the charge for running the jamestown
aground the witness gave narrative Of this accident
Aributlng II to the current After going the reef
che was In four fshoms water and sho continued at her
anchorage until channel out to deep water vas found
In reply 70 query by the cour, as to whether the
proper precautions we're taken prior to the vessel
grounding he stated that when in charge Of the deck
after passing Cape Augustine he discovered that there
was current cutting the vessel in shore reported the
sAme 70 Capt Downing and BY his order changed the
course Of the vessel to n ~ when took charge Of
che deck she heading north by east Lieut. Stsmbe
relieved at O'Clock, and officer Of the deck at
the tms she struck the cables not bent, and the
anchors slowed the bows with lsshings on;
there we're no soundings taken during my watch; We
we're In tho habit Of heayng leads In the chains on ap
preaching land and 1t probable they were there then
ent DO not know with certainty the land discover
ing my watch; l think that the taking Of sonndings
would not have prevented the vessel from going the
reef the witness verified the chart before the court
the same BY woich the vessel nsyigaed consider.
cd my duty watch officer to report all apprehen.
sions Of danger from approaching shoals s1d, having
reef there but not knowing tho strength OF the cur
rent did not consider her in danger until she struck
y wiodward of all the shoals, as ] thought;
q four clock judged the ship 10 be six miles from
not have INDICATED the approach 10 the shoaI the
soundngs are not gradual don't reccIect taking any
book; remember at o'clock putting down what
sdered the position Of the vessel; there was no
Che master to have leads in he chains and tie an
chors prepared for letting the land at the
exr;rat.oH Of my watch on that Gay did not think 1t
necessary 70 take crosshearngs bat kept the lpsia
aware from time ia time or the position Judging by the
eye Of her distance from the shore IL Capt Down
ings intention TO pass Pernambuco without snohorng;
the strength Of the current would have been
rately determined by taking bearings; think
Capt. Downing was ON deck several times during INV
watch observing the progress OF the s;n hat he Could
see the land from the quarter gallery ports without
leaving tie CABIN the ship the reef from tour to
Ave hours, touching occasionally, being anchored be
tween two banks part OF the time
tCapt. Cunningham was very enthusiastic in speaking
OF the quarter gallery port of the Jamestown which he
described being large enough for him TO si In with
arms akimbo, and that from look out ahead could be
kept without leaving the cabin.
movements OF the Jamestown but nothing Of I'm porance
was eoited He stated that at the time there bet
Ayree; Capt. Downing, to my knowledge, made in.
auirfes s to whether sho could have been cauked al
MontcvSdeo do not think II could have been doue at
Montevideo; the ship leaked then than when
Joined her the seams above the water along the bends
Ss &C @ seso AND ess
did not leak badly when her way to Rio the James
town could not have gone into Monteydeo for cauikng
veseols repairing; think Capt Downing determined
70 30 to Rio about week before he sailed Gains at
sx 70 eeven hours; during Gains the water was very
smooth; during the frequent heavy blows Off Buenos
BY taking advantage of Gains she might have bees
csuiked, but think there difficulty Of procuring
eaulksrs there certain intoneatiOns made IN the
log book BY Captain Downing in the presence Of the
watch officers, he having alleged that the original
ries not correct Of tho remarks signed by
At TO alter II the remark signed by Lieut. Deas should
have been signed by Lieut. Mcintosh but the latter OBJ
his objection was on the ground that the alteration
should have been made at previous time; the inter
neatioo made perhaps month after the
while on the way home; read the nteriinestion,
and cav 10 objection believing IL TO be correct; the
punps were sounded every two hours aud pumped out
cut every day her leaking about one inch Per hour
bad there been current the jamestown woal1 have
passed one and a half miles from the reef.
The examination by the accused elected the fol-
owng'-Ihe stream aud light anchors OF the jamestown
had been sent board the L. brig cambridge, by
der of Commodore Saitcr and uscd In buoyng the
channel the jamestown could net have gone down the
river without the assistance OF tue Water With the
Wind being then shesd; the jamestown had more than
once passed over the same ground Without the aid OF the
steomer, when the wind was fair.
The examination Of the witness closed and the mi.
nutcs read. The Judge Advocate commenced the
tas bat MADE the discovery that he had great difficulty
Ia reading his notes Cart Dupont relieved the Judge
Advocate AID read OF The remainder OF the minutes
Tbe heat in the court has been most intense and
the menters ave truly to be pited being required TO
swcer In theft heavy uniform coats and epauetts with
petition tailed Of to the Secretary of the Navy Tor
permission to strip TO the bun when the mercury rises
above ninety.l
John r. Hall passed midshpmsn on board the James
town. deposed in substance as foowsl WAS the Junior
sss s BOAR. se on tse
evening OF June 20, 1853, but know Of why
Capt Downing shoud suppose of that time that he had
been guilty Of treschery shortly after the ship an
chored at Montevideo in July, Coe board, and
remained until her arrival al Rio; aot on deck
when the ship the reef.
The Court herr adjourned.