New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-04-25
From NORFOLK.
GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE CITY
r,on Tae Norfolk Herald Of Monday.

rom
ON Saturday and Sunday the greatest excitement
prevailed in the city. Troops were hurryl0g TO ana
fro, and every one anxious to Know "hst was W oo
done but unable 10 obtain the desired Information;
inc rpor was that the Cumberland was about to saul
from the Navy-Yard, and preparations were made 10
prevent her. ,,,
a flag Of truce and was conducted TO Gen. Iaaierros
head1ua rters at the Atlantic Hote where consula-
ton was held which resulted in a promise from the
Commandment of the yard, Com. Macauiey, that none
Of the vessels should be removed, nor shot nred ex
cept in s defense This quoted the excitement, but
it was reEewe at later hour when II was a,'eraIeu
that the Germantown and Merrnac bad been sent
tied and that the heavy shears the wharf at when
the e.. was |, ing Lad been cut away, and allowed 10
fall mdshps her decks carrying away the NAM
toprnasts and yards.
IL WIS also perceived that the were busly on.
gagged in Destroying and throwing overheard side ana
email arms Sc, md other property and boats were
almost constantly passing between the Pennsylva
Cumberland and other vessels The surance OF the
Commodore given BY his officer at the truce interview
however epded 10 sllay the apprehensioO oil an I'M
mediate collision. But the continued .stirting move
neuts al The yard rendered 1t certain thai ~ WAS
the intention of Macauley TO destroy all the buildings
and other property lhere-snd 1t was therefore, win
not much surprise that about midnight, ner TWO or
three slight explosions, the g1t Of serious comma
grafton was obterved at the yard.
This continued 10 increase, and before daylight tue
demon work If destruction extended 10 The I'm
nsnse ship-houses known and the former con-
tanning the entire framework Of the New York, "a,
which had been on the stocks unfinished for some
tbiryeght years, and also to the long RAJ ges OF Two
stor offices and stores each eide Of the main gate OF
the yard. The flames aud heat from this tremendous
mass Of burning material was se by southwest wind
directly toward tue line Of vessels moored or the edge
Of the channel opposite yard aud nearly all OF these
too, speedily enveloped in flames.
The at this tine grand AID terrible beyond
description The roar Of the confagration loud
enough ~ be heard at the distance OF three or four
a Il i..la fa.a.H s-t
from the heavy guns of the Pennsy lyania, shp-ofthe
line as they became succcssvey heated. These guns,
il il asserted, were double sho ted, and directed at diff
ieren parts OF The Yard for the purpose OF ensurng lie
complete establishment. This, however, ls certain
that if ali her bad been thus prepared and directed
TIC aurnt district could not have been moro COM
pletely cleared of appurtenances.
THE CUMBERLAND AND PAWNEE.
As soon rs the torch had been successfully applied 10
the ship-bouses, the Pawnee, which hal 0een kept
under steam from the moment oil her arrival about
nlghtfall Saturday, pat in potion and taking
the Cumberland Inflow, reiterated down The harbOr out
of the reacl o dau/er-ireSUed with great portion
OF valuable mun.doI etc. from the yard, and the
Con modore -hd Other oiicers who had won for them
selves Tue ngoIlDus distinction OF destroying devils in
accom-, fishing such a yandal work. The ships pro-
c'.eded fssTown the barrcades at the narrOws,
where tba Cumberland was left at anchor, and the
pawnee continued ON 10 Fort Monroe.
THE PROPERTY DESTROYED.
Az far as we could Judge from cursoTy observation,
the property destroyed embraced, beside the ship
houses and contents, the range of buildings on the
north liGe If the yard except the Commodore and
Commanders residences which were gnhurti, the old
| marine barracks and two workshops, the inn
uense lifting shears, the ships Pennsylvania, Merri-
mac, Rarilan, Columbia, and brig DVphiG-purnt to
the water edge; the sloop Germantown, broken and
sunk; the Plymouth, Scutjled and sunk even with her
deck; and vast amount Of small arms cbrcnoueters,
and valuable engines aud machinery III the ordnance
and other shops, broken up and rendered utterly
! useless.
THE DRY DOCK.
Appearances indicated that it intended 20 Grip
Die tbiH admirable and useful work by blowing up the
gntes but from this was not done, and the
| do was found to be altogether unhurt.
We cannot bring ourselves TO believe that any officer
OF navy, distinguished hitherto by high sense OF
| honor and cbyalrous courage, could willingly con-
descend to such ingorous mode of warfare MS tins.
We rather regard an emanation from the wretch
ed clbal at Washington, and practical carrying O
If lie tactics laid down by the villainous Sumner and
other orators OF the Black Republican party. Bum,
| sink, and destroy, is the word with them.
OTHER MATTERS.
One thousand troops from Boston were landed YES
terday morning. in addition 10 those Landed Satr-
| day. lar-e steamer ia the Horseshoe, with a
supposed number of 100 and another transport with
her decks completely llned with troops.
Yesterday morning Lieut.. Spottswood, VI the Navy,
| Nirginln by birth run up to the flagstaff in the
| Maryland the flag Of the Old Dominion, with its
wellknown arms, the figure of Liberty tramplinS on
Tyranny, with the glorious motto SIC Semper Igraa-
aisind there il continues to tutter in the breeze.
Six Of the ried Parrot guns recently purchased for
the use of the State, have been brought from Rch-
mond to Norfolk, by order Of the Governor. The cam
non spoken Of are of the most effective kind known.
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.
We learn further from Capt. Pearson that the Vir-
gnians had taken possession Of Fort Norfolk, where
they secured large quantity of powder, shot ana
shell. These were shipped TO Richmond.
The Naval Hospital had been given up by the Gov
crnmeLt officials en-.
The United States steamer pswnee landed about 5oo
men at the Navy-Yard 20 assist in the destruction OF
The Government property. All the spirit stones Were
destroyed but the citizens secured immense quantities
of provisions, guns, powder, and ball.
Al the guns at the Navy Yard were spiked by the
Government officials but in such bnnging manner,
that all but eight or ten have already been made good
for service by the citizens and many of them mounted
at prominent points for defence.
fhe Pawnee has sailed for Washington, and on
Monday evening the Cumberland was lying opposite
Old Point.
steamer supposed to be the Baltic arrived off Old
Point on Monday evening with about 1000 Northern
troops on board. Captain Pearson passed another
steamer this morning, with troops, of Annapolis.