Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-01-02

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E,,.tsr,9s,.A NAVAL ISCIDENT.sS, a
oe In Cooperss Naval Historysof theiUni.
ted States.swe find the following ,intefese
tting description of an appalling scene on
board an American ship Of war. |whiehili
illustrates inl q striking mannert adSan;
tages of discipline ON shipboards: ~, t-s
50 On the tenthsof April, the Newly ork.
John Adams and Enterprise. sailed TO
touch at Malta ION their wayslo dthelene:
myis port. While making this passage,
just, as the, music had been beating 70
grog. a heavy. explosion. was sheardslnear
the cockpit Of theh ag,shiP. and the low
eHpart of. the vessel was Immediately fill.
ed with smoke-a twas an appalling mo.
menh for every man on board, was aware
That q, quantity of powder, not far 'front.' the
magazine, must have exploded, that FIRE
was necessarily scattered in the passage,
that ship was in flames,s and Ilhat. in
all human probability, tfhe magazine
was in danger. Captain Chauneey was
passing the drummer when the explosion
occurred. and he ordered him 10 beat 10
quarters. q The alarm had notabeen given
minute. when the men were going stea>
Oily to their guns, and other stations. un.
der standing regulation, which directed
this measure, in the eysnt,of the cry, OF
fire, as the most certain means of giving
the officers entire means of the ship. aud
of preventing confusion. O The influence
Of discipline was we'll exhibited on this
trying occasion s. for, while lhere 10 moth
ing sofearful to the seamen as the alarm
Of fire, the people were to their quarters,
as regularly as in moments Of confidence.
{" The sea being smooth and the weR-
therl moderate, the Commodore himself
now issued an order to hoist out the
boats. This command. which had been
given under influence of the best feelings
of the human heart, was most unfortu-
nately timed. The people had no sooner
left the guns to execute it, than the jib.
boom, .bpwispriI spirit>ssil, yard. knight
heads and every'spot forward was lined
with men under the idea of getting as far
ms possible from the magazine. Some
even leaped overheard aud swan for the
nearest vessel. .,s.f pt slL g ss1a
4" The situation Of the ship was now ex-
ceedingly critical. With FIRE known to
be kindled near the magazine. and Grew
in a great measure disorganized, the
chances of escape wore much diminish
But Captain Chauncy rallied a few fol-
lowers, and reminded them that they
might as well be, blown up between three
decks as one. he ledithe way. below, into
passages choked with smoke and where
the danger was rapidly increasing. There
by means of wetted blankets. taken from
the purser' g store>room, and water tllrown
by, hand, hei5 began toy contendH With the
fire, Ina spot whereas spark scattered
even by the efforts made TO enlinguish
the flames, might, in asingle instant have
left nothing of all on board but their
names. Mr.. David Porter, the first lieu.
tenant who meets us in SO many scenes Of
trial aud danger, had ascended from the
warc-r room by means Of a stern ladder,
and he and the other officers seconded the
noble efforts Of their intrepid com n1apder
The men were got in from, The ispars for.
ward. water was sbuhdantlya Supplied.
and tho ship was saved. The accident is
supposed to have occurred in consequence
OF a candle having been taken from a
lanter, while the gunner was searching
for some object in a store,rOom that led
from the cock. pit A quantity Of marine
cartridges. and the powder horns used 10
priming the guns. wers lying about. and
it is thought some mealed powder explo.
ded. The doors leading to the magazine
passage were forced open. and nearly all
the adjoining buIkheads were blownd down.
Nineteen officers and men were injured Of
whom fourteen died. The sentinel al the
magazine passage was driven quite
through the filling room door," -
South Carolina Maids and widows of
OIden Times. sec =
In turning over the leaves of o very
delightful book, lately published. our eye
chaAced to fall on the following petition.
signed by sixteen maids of Charleston,
and presented to the Governor of that
province on March 1 ,l733.-Savannah
GeOrgiGn. ,fsasIr .a.g,.TA
To HIS ExcELLEEcr Gov JOHNSON: s7s
The humble petition Of all the Maids
whose names are underwrittenL ~ ia&
4