Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-05-02

tide was not yet favorable for the escape of the
sells, and would not be at food until day-break Mean
while men were kept busy all night transferring every
thing Of value from the Pennsylvania and the Navy
Yard TO the Pawnee and the Cumberland, and both
vessels were loaded to their lower ports.
At length O'Clock came, and with it food tide A
rocket shot up from the Pawnee and then almost in an
instant the whole front of the Navy Yard seemed one
vast sheet of fame The next minute streaks of fame
flashed along the rigging of the Pennsylvania and the
other doomed ships, and they completely
wrapped IL the devourng element The harbor was
one blaze of light. The remotest objects were dis
tinctly visible. The ring flames eaped and roared
with mad violence making their hoarse wrath heard at
the distance of several miles, The people of Hampton
and even those who lived beyond the red light and
thought all Norfolk fire. 1t was certainly
grand though terrible spectacle to witness, such
as it is not given TO than in life time
to behold In the midst of the brance of the scene
the Pawnee, with the Cumberland in tow, stole like
guilty thing through the harbOr, fleeing from the des
truction size had been sent to accomplish.
But the work of vandalism only half performed
The most valuable portions of the yard still un-
touched and are now the property of the State of Vr
ginia. The only buildings destroyed are two ship
houses, the officers quarters, sail loft filled with cord
age, the marine barracks and few sheds All the
valuable workshops, with their machinery, the boat
houses spar houses timber houses with their costly
tents, are all now in our possession.
The dry DOCK constructed at much expense, and
the finest in the world, doomed but not destroyed
Forty barrels of powder introduced into its cham
bers and slow match applied But, as it would seem
by the interposition of Providence, this magnificent
work was spared. The fire after burning few teet
nt out, and did not ignite The powder The dry dock
ours id perfect condition The machinery in the
snops also perfect the cutting of few belts being
the extent OF the damage in cted it, The stores Of
costly timbers that it has been the work of years
cumulae, all safe. Fifteen hundred pieces of the
finest ordinance in the world, comparatively unhurt
s true that the greater number of them were spiked
but then the work cumsily performed that the
spikes for the most part be removed without the
least difficulty. Some of them can be picked out with
the fingers Forty two were unspked yesterday IN the
course of an hour.
The shipping destroyed, except the Merrimac-which
was tirst-cass steam frigate neary new-was of no
great value. The PennSylUGnaan is no loss, every
body knows. The Plymouth, Puritan and Dolphin had
been condemned unseaworthy The Germantown
| though old was fine trigate She can, however, be
easily rasd as all the Others without any great ex
pense. The Pennsylvania is utterly destroyed. The
others burnt only to the waters edge, having been
previously sunk The Plymouth was not burnt at all.
Two officers made prisoners this morning, Com
Rodgers, of the Navy, and Capt. Wright, of the En-
gineering Corps OF the Army They were much fright
eDed when brought ashore fearing the violence of the
mob which instantly surrounded them. But being
placed under the protection of company of soldiers
they taken to the Generals Headquarters at this
hotei-the Atantic-without any demonstration of vio-
leuce insult the part Of the citizens They now
nave Tue privilege or tne nOtel on tner pGfCte 1hey
denounce the destruction of the property barbarous
and 'vandal but say they were Obliged to obey the
orders of their government. They declare that the
utter demolition of everything that could not be
removed was in their orders, and but for the appre
hension of immediate attack by an ~overpowering
force, the command would have been carried out to
the letter. 1t IN contemplation to ruin the dry
DOCK the machine shops and other structures and whem
everything in one common ruin. But this plan could
not be carried out for want of time Accident pre-
,kok4
the marines named Myers, knowing what was to take
place. and not wishing to be carried Oft with his
pany set fire to the barracks before the appointed me
and endeavored to escape in the confusion. He
ceeded but shot at several times while scaling the
walls This circumstance created lack of confidence in
their men, and fearing attack from without they
discontinued the preparations for firing the buildings but
marched the aboard the ships and waited for the tide
thus property to the value of several millions saved
Officers Rodgers and Wright were separated from their
commands when the cOnhagratiOn started and rush
ing to the landing found communication with vessels cut
Off They then made all haste to the main entrance way
which, when they reached, they found enveoped in
dames through which they had to make their way at
the risk of their lives. Going down to the river they
seized boat and started in pursuit of the retreating
ships but passing the ferry landing at Portsmouth, they
were beaded off by boat from shore, which fired on
them and they then made for Ferry Point where they
were captured The utmost confusion it prevail
ed in the yard all day yesterday and all last night The
caulay the cOmmandant down.
The Commodore was so drunk as to be incapable of
any duty, and had to be borne to the ship litter
Nearly every officer it is reported having high
old time. 1t seems have swi!lDg set opposed to
US, those filling the highest stations. A gentle
arrived here this morning who, with several Others
arrested while passing through Washington for be-
ing Souherners, and taken into the presence of the
august Baboon He declares that Lincoln was 80
drunk that ne could scarcely maintain his seat in the
ooI1 fhoth ho bod
been in state of beasty intoxcation for than
thirtysix hours The man is scared nearly to death,
and few people in that city in any better condition
| All day yesterday soldiers and citizens were busy
erecting batteries on points below the city.
The Naval Hospital VAS been taken possession Of and
there the South Caronians to be quartered Some
twenty sick in it, who suffered to remain, and
will be properly taken care Of At this point iron
battery is t. be erected.
Sand batteries are in process of construction there
now.
Guns were mounted at old Fort Norfolk and pre-
paratons are making for constructing batteries, on
CraDey Island. In few days, with the now ct
command, this harbor will be efficiently protected.
The Petersburg companies take their share OF the
| Iabors, and work with cheerulness and spirit.
All well. More MEDICUs.
Destruction o Buildings and Property Harper's
| Ferry.
We learn by passenger VINO arrived in Richmond
on Saturday that John Seldom Esq, (member of the
Virginia Legislature from stafford county, had been
detailed with body of Virginia troops to visit Harp
ers Ferry and proceeded to that place Friday last
When Mr.. Seddon arrived at Harpers Ferry, the
citizens Of that place. under the impression that the State
authorities were about to make an unlawful seizure
their property, the number of two hundred and
fifty three hundred opposed the supposed invasion o
their rights On the arrival of three hundred Virginia
troops the Federal troops fearing they would be over
powered, fired the armory and evacuated it. AS soor
as this was done the citizens of Harpers Ferry the
mistake they had made and with the State troops rush
ed forward extnguish the fire and the property
within the armory, which they succeeded in dong in
great measure. t- 5.
All OF the machinery was saved unnjured, and 5000