Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-05-01
Graphic Description of the Destruction at
'.,', q, las Ra Norfolk.

AtfA ~.iA .
The following graphic account of the deslruc,
ton of the Navy Yard at Norfolk is from
correspondent of the MY. Times:
The Pawnee made fast to thetdock, and Col.
Wardrup marched out his regiment, and sta
toned them at the several gates OF the Navy
Yard to oppose the entrance of any forces from
without, in case any attempt to enter should be
made. Having adopted this precaution, tie
Commodore set the marines on the Pennsylya-
MIA, the Cumberland, the PaWnee, and in the
Yard, to work. All the books aud papers, the
archives Of the establishment, were transferred
to the Pawnee. s+s.
Everything of interest to the Government
to preserve on the Pennsylvania, was transfer
| red to the Cumberland. On this latter, it was
also said, large amount Of gold from the Gus
ltom-house at Norfolk, had beenin good time
placed. Having made safe everything that was
| 20 be brought away, the marines were next set
to work to destroy everything on the Pennsyl.
yania ION the Cumberland and in the yard that
1 might be Of immediate use in waging war upon
| the Government. Many thousand stand Of
arms we're destroyed. Carbines had their stocks
lbroken by blow from the barrels, and were
thrown overheard, A large lot of reyolvers
shared the like fate. Shot and ehell by
thousands went with hurried plunge to the
bottom. Most of the cannon had been spiked
1.-The day and night before. There were at
least l 500 pieces 10 the yard-some elegant
Dahlgren guns, and Columbads Of all sizes.
a II is impossible 10 describe the scene of des,
truction that was exhibited. Unweariedly 1t was
continued from O'Clock until about IL, during
which time the moon gave light to direct the
operations, But when the moon sank behind
the western horizon, the barracks near the cen.
tre of the yard were set on fire, that by Its il
Elimination the work might be continued. The
cracking flames and the glare Of light inspired
, With new energies the destroying marines, aud
havoc was carried everywhere, within the linn
Its Of orders. But time was not left to complet.
the work. -Four o'clock on Sunday morning
CAME. and the Pavnee was passing down from
,GospeRt harbof with the CuDlberland,l the GOV.
eted prize of the Secessionists, in toW--eyerl
soul from the other ships and the yard beinI
aboard Of them, save two. Just as they left thei
inoorings, rocket was sent up. fror
1.-The deck of the PaWnee. 1t sped high in ali
!, paused q second, and burat in shiyers of man
: colored lights. And as itdid so, the well-se
: trains at the ship.houses, and on decks Of th
! fated vessels left behind, went of as IL lit sin
I ultareousy by the rocket. One of the shiI
/. houses contained the old New York, ,shi
= thirty years on the stocks, and yet unfinished
The other was vacant; but both houses and th
! New York burnt like tnder. The vessels fire
were the Pennsylvania, the Merrimac, the Ge
. mantown. the Plymouth, the Rsritan, the Ct
: llumbia and the Dolphin. The old Delaware an
!, Columbus, worn out and dismantled sevent,
fours, were scpttledand sunk at the upper docl
a on Friday, ~ 1919 rl1a filei ,tsa asiii
d / need not try 10 picture the scene of il
d grand confagration that now burst, like th
q day Of Judgment, on the startled citizens |
"A Norfolk, Portsmouth, and all the eurroundn
: country. ANY zone who has seen shi
d burn, and knows how, like fiery serpent, Ii
, fame leaps from pitchy deck to smokin
q snrouds, and writhes to the very top, arouu
a the masts that stand like martyrs doome'
/ can form some idea Of. the wonderful displs
0 that followed. II was not thirty minutes frol
d the time the trains were fred, till tho conhagrl
ton roared like hurricane and the flames frol
ir land and water swayed, and met, and mingled Il
j. gether, and darted high and fell, and Ieaped U
z again, and by their very motion showed the
!; sympathy With the cracking, crashing roar I
II destruction beneath. But In all this magnt
!. cent scene,. the old ship Pennsylvania was q
ns sIeentre.piece. She was . very giant IN death,
d ehe had beenin life. She was q sea Of fame, az
Dr. Wnen ''tue ifuu huu cutetcu INV n[s pptp 81
~ her bowels were consuming, then did she spot
~ from every .pofthole Of every deck, torten
20 and cataracls Of FIRE, that to the mind Of Miltt
i would have represented her ffigate of he
% pouring out unremitting broadsdes Of intern
o. FIRE. Several fher guns were left loaded, b
or not shotted, and as the fire reached them, th'
sent out on the startled and morning air MINI
Il. guns of fearful peal that added greatly 10 II
,ut alarm that the light Of the conhagration hi
IT, spread through the surrounding country, ~
We Penps5l yani9 burnt like d volcano for ave bou
~ and ahaIf before her MppriAss fell Sllst0