Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-11-22


NARROW ESCAPE or A DISABLED GuN
BOAT. A gentleman who was on board the
gunboat Belyidere, of the naval expedition,
which was obliged 10 put back TO Fortress
Monroe, disabled, gives the following ac-
count of the severity of the storm which
encountered -
On Friday we took another gale, which
lasted until Saturday night and terrible
gale it was. Never do | again wish to wit
ness such sight. IT was indeed awfuly
grand. We rode it out finely all day Fri
day, skipping good deal Of sea, and at
noon speaking the flag ship. At 4 o'clock
we passed the steam frigaie Wabash the
gale increasing, darkness came at last,
bringing its still heavier weather; the
ocean rose mountain high. the rain fell in
torrents, the lightning flashed, and the grand
old ocean looked like one vast field of fire,
each wave seeming anxious to smother us
IN its wild fury. We were now strayed
""~y ''oih thc neS', anu aionc Dattilng with
the storm. We shipped heavy sea which
stove all the bow in forward and started
the top deck. Immediately our first mate.
Mr.. Gator, the carpenter, and two men be-
longing to the dSth regiment, New York,
started for that point. They had hardly
got to work repairing the damage done,
when we shipped another sea, throwing
them into heap, Mr.. Gator saving his life
by catching hold of the pump handle; the
rest catching hold of him and such things
as would make them secure until the i'm.
mense volume of water had rushed out as
1t came in. They arose from their periIous
condition drenchcd through and in total
darkness. Their lantern having been swept
away, another light was secured, aud with
will not 10 be daunted, they again went to
work. But their attention was soon called
10 other and more important points. We
shipped another sea that stove in the mort
gangway doors, leaving breach through
which the sea dashed at every roll of our
ship which now labored badly Every man
was at his post. The New York bows
showed any amount of courage, and the
boys from Maine and New Hampshire
showed, by their exertions, that they. too.
we're on hand aud ready for duty in the
hour OF danger. The doors were again put
up as well as they could be, and braces
placed against them.
Great credit is due TO the men of COM
pany {, Ash regiment n. Y. ", they be.
ing placed at these braces and other peri,-
Gus points, and The next morning the nobl,.
fellows were at their posts, wet through and
cold, but still anxious to do all they co,la
Some of them have lost their overeoa,s and
blankets, they having used them TO step up
holes and thus keep the water from con-
stantly dashing in upon the horses. Next
the extra filler broke-a solid piece n,
wrought iron three inches square then the
engineer reported the machinery GU. of or
der; next the rudder chain broke leaving
US IN the trough Of the sea, and we were
now really in pitfalls condition. Our
brave captain, however, Was not at a less.
he sooa got up the main spanker. which
worked finely, keeping the ship before the
wind; the chain wrs reefed and temporari.
ly upraised. and with sponsors full If wa.
ter, machinery out of order. portions of the
bulwarks stove in and carried away, and a
number of other disadvantages of lesser
magnitude. we got along as best we could
before the wind, making for Cape Haiieras,
which We msde on Sunday afternoon at
hree O'Clock We signalled for pilot
md tug started but could no. get out Of