Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-05-03
BEDFORD. PA. FRIDAY. MAY 8. 1861.
From the N. Y. Courier
Burning Of the Norfolk Navy Yard.
NOTHING LEFT FOR TRAITOR USE.


The steam tug Yankee, Capt. Charles Ger
main, which was one of ths supply feet that
went TO Charleston, arrived hero yester,l,y
aeon Through tho p0liteness Of Russell Sur
ges, Esq, the owner, and Capt. German, our
reporter learned tae following facts:
Thl Yanke put into Norfolk in distress and
short of coal on the 18th inst, and had soon 70
leave her moorings on account of the rebels,
who where about to seize her. She bad kept
steam on, expecting them, aud went over to
The Navy Yard for protection. Here the cap
tain found Oomodore MeGauley, 10 charge Of
the Yard, with about City Marines. His otii
GERS b ad ali resigned, but still hung around
acting as spies for the Secessionists, whilst re-
bels we're making every preparation to take
both yard aul ships.
Tbe rebels had erected bltteries ia tie
woods near tho yard, as well as along the river,
and on Craay Islal aai Sewllps Point
The Yapkee, after taking on twenty Eve
IONS Of coal prepared to aid the Commodore
ont Of his critical position. Tue rebels had
laid all their plans to seize the yard and war
vessels. The Pawuee fortunately game into
Norfolk on Saturday, with 500 men, aud alt
Saturday night, with the aid of the Mariues
under directions of Commodore McCauIy, de-
ssroying the arms and all property that could
not be moved as the only alternative to prevent
its filling into the eacmy's hands. The rebels
bad Toe night before broken into the magazine
and stolen most Of the powder.
The forces above mentioned, after spikiug
the guna, chipping tho fuse &a., Sd tl,. they
never could be used, threw them aud ali the
cannon balls overheard. They then tFoke the
engines of the frigate Merrim4o and scutiiel
her They blew up tue greuite dry dock, and
simultaneously set Gre to the Merriinae, James-
town, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Columbus,
aud left them burning. The Pswnee started
ahead, and the Yankee immediately followed,
towing The Cumberland, Captain Pendergrssi,
after her. Bolb fugates moyeIaway with gans
pointed toward the city, threatening 70 leses il
should the rebels FIRE from their 5a,tesies. 81
effective was the whole movement, however,
that thaAigAlry were sse.sifieBen
They stood along the whsrves like so iasBg
statutes. with musketa oa their shoulders. hut
they did not attsmpt to fire. Their batteries
kept silence, and, although they had seen most
Of the work of destruction progressed with, they
knew better than 10 even make remonstranee,
The forces left nothing behind ;bai would be
/ of any service to the rebels Several Of the
houses in Portsmouth, near the Navy Yard,
caught dre froin the ships aud aero burning,
adding TO the conservation IF the rebels.
The plan to seize The yard and vessels had
evidently been on foot long before The Sc
cesslon of Virginia, aud were it not for this
prompt action of the Commodore, aided By the
Pawnee and the Yankee, the rebels would nave
succeeded. II was providentisl oeepTranee
/ that tie Yankee put into Norfolk. for the
Pawuee would not probably have been atle to
tow the Cumberland oat.. The Captain of the
Yankee is one Of those determined men who
would have allowed his vessel to be blown up
rather than the rebels should capture her.
On going over the bar, the Cumberland
struck the supken vessel placed there BY the
rebels to obsiruct tho ebannel, and completely
tore OF her deck. The remainder Of the hull,
strange to SAT, stuck t. the Cumberland, aud
WAS thus towed off into deep water aud sunkcn.
The Pawa=e helped to tcw her parG of the
say, eains shoad wi, bswses. The Key
stone St4te, which had landed Massachusetts,
troops 1T Font Mcilenry game to the assis,
t4nce OF the vessels, but agt unti they bad got
ever Che bar
Captain Gernaia left the Cumberland an
chored in Hampton Roads, ana the Pawnee at
Old Poilt Comfort, awaiting orders, he sup
poses, as we'll as to act as a blockade OF Nor
folk The Aierrimac was first class frigate;
the jamestown aud Peunsy lyania, old vessels,
and the Delaware au1 COLUMBUS, We are IN
formed, were almost past doing service,