New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-12-08
NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

THE DISASTER TO THE UNITED STATES STEAMER
MASSACHUSETTS, Supposed Safety of the De-
catur.--An extract of a letter from an officer Of
Rio de Janeiro. Oct, IL, 1864, says;
You will have heard before this reaches you of the
loss Of our main and mizzen-masts seventy miles from
this port There very heavy swell at the time,
but not more than three-reef topsai gale The iron
band plate at the mastheads to which the rigging
shacked instead of going roua the masts parted with
the rolling of the ship and overheard went the mass-
the main first, and the mizen Tls foremass would
hawsers and pendant tackles These all that hsid
it, for the iron band at the fore had parted also 1t
some time before we got clear Of the wreck which
humping alongside at tremendous rate, endangering
our propeller, and threatening to punch hole in us
With the assistance OF considerable quantity Of cotton
waste soaked in oil got steam up in short time, and
pointed her for Rio Since return to BIC
pondent of the NewYork Herald shore here has writ
home that the Decatur lost in this gale This ID
unfortunate it will little distress The De-
catur in sight few moments before accident
looking quite snug and comfortable. mist coming up
at the time obscured her. and when lost masts we
before the wind while she held her course; and
nothing but moderate gale there the slightest
cause of apprehension for her safety have doubt
they looking for us now, as her master and had
agreed what route should take to the Strait of Maga
hanes, through which expected to the De-
catur Our masts were taken In yesterdayths rig
ging ready to SO over the mast-heads little
pairs to be made the hull and belieYews will be
ready the end of this month We will touch at
Valparaiso, but not, think, at oallao.a
The FnleATEB SANrEE FRANKLIs.-At the navy
yard this city the Sanee ID progressing very rapid
W though 1t would seem almost impossible to get her into
the ut the time fxed, the 18th Of December The
outside planking is all the caulking completed up
the water line and that part of the ship is nearly ready
for the copper The launching also being placed
under her With her additional length she il beautiful
and sharp ship The Franklin is progressing very fast
about thirds Of her frames being up She is probably
farther advanced than any Of the steamships except
that at This difference s accounted for by
the fact that the Merrmack is built under the six
steamship appropriation bin while the Franklin is built
under the general naval appropriation BILL which did
pass until several months after the first named The ad
don to the ship house in which the Franklin is building
is going we'll and when erected will make 1t tho
largest buildings at any Of yards Portsmouth m
Ii } Morning Chronicle, Nov, rs. -
United States surveying steamer Ribh arrived at the
Philadelphia Navy Yard on Thursday morning, from a
surveying cruise She is to lay up here the winter
The following is list Of hsr officers Lieut. Commanding
Henry $, stalwagen Lieutenant, Foyhall A. Parker ;
Master, Edward g. Stout Passed Midshipman W Tai
bot Truxtun Draughtsman, Edward Gords; Chief I'm
gneer James Nj. Adams; LIST Assistant R. Milne Bartle
man ID Assistant, ohas Schroeder Masters Mate, Wa
Budd.