The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-05-03
THE WEEKLY PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT.


IMMENSE DESTRUCTION OF GOVERNMENT
PRoPERTY-GREAT EXCITEMENT AND
INDIGNATION OF THE SECEssIONIsTs.
On Saturday and Sunday the greatest
excitement prevailed in the city. Troops
were hurrying to and fro, and every one
anxious to know what was to be done, but
unable to obtain the desired information.
The rumor was that the Cumberland was
about to sail from the Navy Yard, and pre-
parations were made to prevent her.
At II o'clock an officer came from the
yard bearing flag Of truce and vas COM
Quoted to General Taliaferro's headquarters
at the Atlantic Hotel, where consultation
was held which resulted in promise from
the commandant of the yard, Commodore
Macauley, that none OF the vessels should be
removed nor a shot fred except in self
defence.
This Quoted the excitement; but it was
ascertained that the Germantown and Mer-
rimac had been scuttled, and that the heavy
shears on the wharf at which the George
town was lying had been cut away and
allowed to fall midships across her decks,
carrying away the main topmasts and yards.
1t was also perceived that the men were
busily engaged in destroying and throwing
overheard side and small arms, &C., and
other property, and boats were constantly
passing between the Pennsylvania, Cumber-
land, and other vessels. The assurance of
the Commodore, given by his officer at the
truce interview, however, tended to allay
the apprehension of an immediate collision.
But the continued stirring movements at
the yard soon rendered it certain that it
was the intention of Macauley to destroy
all the buildings and other property there /;
and it was therefore with not much sur
prise that, about midnight, after two or
three slight explosions, the light of seri-
GUS conaagration was observed at the yard.
This continued to increase, and before
daylight the demon work of destruction
was extended to the immense shiphouses
known as A and B, the former containing
the entire frame of the New York, "a,
which had been on the stocks unfinished for
some thirty.eight years, and also to the long
ranges of two story Offices and stores on
each side of the main gate of the yard.
The flames and heat from this tremendous
mass of burning material, was set by a
southwest wind directly towards the line of
vessels moored on the edge Of the channel
opposite the yard, and nearly all of these,
too, were enveloped in the flames.
The scene at this time was grand and
terrific beyond description. The roar of
the conaagration was loud enough to be
heard at three or four miles distance-and
to this were added occasional discharges
from the heavy guns of the old Pennsyl-
vania," ship of the line, as they became
successfully heated. These guns, it is as
serted, were double shotted and directed at
different parts of the yard for the purpose
of insuring its complete destruction. This,
however, is certain-that if all her guns
had been thus prepared and directed, the
sburnt district" could not have been more
completely cleared of its appurtenances.
AS soon as the force had been successfully
applied to the ship houses, the Pawnee,
which had been kept under steam from the
moment of her arrival on Saturday, was
put in motion, and taking the Cumberland
in tow, retreated down the harbor out of
the reach of danger-freighted with great
portion of valuable munitions, &C., from
the yard, and the Commodore and other
officers who had won for themselves the in
glorious distinction OF destroying devils in
accomplishing such vaudal work. The
ships proceeded as far down as the barri-
cades at the narrows, where the Cumberland
was left at anchor, and the Pawuee cons
tinued on to Fort Monroe.
AS far as we could judge from cursory
observation, the property destroyed en-
braced besides the ship houses and contents,
the range of buildings on the north line of
the yard Except the commodore's and com.
manders residences, which were unhurt,)
the old marine barracks and one or two
workshops, the immense lifting shears, the
Pennsylvania, Merrimac, Britain, Columbia,
and brig Dolphon-burnt to the waters
edge; and sloop Germantown, broken and
sunk; the Plymouth, scuttled and sunk even
with her deck; and vast amount of small
arms, chronometers, and valuable engines
and machinery in the Ordinance and other
shops, broken up and rendered utterly USE
less.-Norfok Herald, 22d.