The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1862-05-21

Point, the Msrrimse lay there watching tine course
of events She remained there all night aud ell the
NEXT day. About seven O'Clock In the evening o: the
day following the bcmbsriment, Commodore Tat
usn held council Of wsr. All hands, including
both officers and men. were called on the spar deck.
and told BY Commodore Tatnall that after due de.
liberation and crnsultsticn, he had srrived OF the
conclusion that the only chance of saving the vessel
Wa ~ tighten her and get her up James River.
The Commodore knew ~ this time that the nion
troops were In Possession Of Norfolk, aud knew al.
90 that our sunhosts were ~ the heed of james
river. All hands hsn went 70 work, and for four
hours were employed in tightening the vessel,
throwing overheard nearly all the coal and ballast
There was great quantity Of ballast on board, and
she labor Of tightening the vesssl Of very labo.
nous character. About twelve o'clock that night
the Commodore held . consutauon with the pil,sa,
and was informed by them that u was On utter
mposeibility 70 get the vessel into James RIVER ii
all Commodore Tstnall then concluded TO run
he vessel ashore And beach her
The veesel WAS then headed towards the shore,
about half n,ile shead Of Craney Island, her bow
heading toward the beach in oonscq ieuce OF her
guns being shotted.
pEsTsrcTIoS ov TuE sutr.
Her guns were run in. sni her port holes clo o.ed,
tnd pr,psr ations ms 10 desert the vessel prior l.,
her total destruction. Full three hours were con-
sumei ia landing tie men siua.l b ats being used
While the process of landing WAS going Oh, every
PREPARATION was being made 20 insure the utter and
entire destruction u the vessel. Tar, oil. fat and
grease OF every kiud, sud everything " a oon,bus-
the decks, snd in the ost ava ls 20 places VA order
that no posibiity could exist oft Vc.se s,,cAping
complete destruction.
About r oc,ock IN the morning. ef,r . u ght
frsu9m with hHr'' work and excitement, the Vessel
was hrtd all hands having previously LETT ior the
shore, with the exception %. Cunltupipre Iatnal,
First Lieutenant Jones and two of the crew, " tu
were o. FIRE tha cumhustihlcs Hrresd ~ prufusrly
around II was Just al this time, when the FIRST IN.
diUatiVns of tire emanatcl from the yessol, that
Stout forty OF the crew, who were nll Northern
men, and like our infornsnt pressed into the r,b,l
service. deserted. Daring the time elapsng from
tie deternnat on Of the Commodor, " burn the
vessel and the accomplishment of the set, u e W.
most confusion existed In all quarters on biard.
one half the OFF ,rs we're drunk and seemed !,
have but a s,iui- CONSEQUENCES Of what was goinl.
ON.
A. sbout FIVE minutes to Ave o'clock. AFTER the
vessel had teen burn.ng Tor shout an hour and
half the csplosion " * place, and 10 represented
as being All occurrence thst battles description.
The huge vessel was literally torn IN pieces Tns
air was thick with lar.e and small pieces Of uis.
bel. Huge st -tons OF rel Aut non lste were torn
n and v Liii,i through T.. air llkes much paper
The shore and water fcr miles around werc covered
with pieces uf the wreck, IN every conceivable -h ,rc
and s.X-. Tue lated vessel sunk iIIneiAt, " after
the explosion, not vest sc Of her u msiuin. above
ws,cr one minute after the explosion took place.