The New York herald., 1862-03-05
Disaster to the U. 5. snip yermont.

The following extract is taken from private letter to
friend of Acting Assistant Paymaster and Storekccrer
OF the United States ship Vermont, which sailed from
Boston on Monday February "a, for Port Royal giving
the particulars Of the disaster which occurred to th
ship
At about seven O'Clock, Monday evening" while
going along comfortably tow Of the Ecnsngton the ship
was suddenly overtaken by violent gale from the
The Kensngon Immediately of hawsers, and in
half an hour was out Of sight astern. Tho Vermont,
undor double reesed topsails edatey G at the
rate Of about knots. We kept before the wind
until about eight O'clock when she gradually fell or
soon after broached to the port tack. BY this
the gale had increased to hurricane. Breakers
reported TO leeward aud orders given let go both
bowers. Tho starboard one went nrst carrying with u
althe chnin tho port next, which brought up with
some seventy-fv fathoms The carpenters S gang,
having been mustered stood by, ready away the
mss but that found unnecessary the report Of
breakers proved mistake.
The ship now labored heavily and shipped considerable
water Ono OF the ports in tie SICK bay got open and
much water in that the decks flooded nearly
vast deep. Tho pumps manned and tn, were
busy all night clearing her. Tho sick oil removed
from the sick bay the ward room whore Of them
died next day One poor fellow having already departed
This life the previous evening" it found impossible to
furl the sails all of which blown into shreds
cep foresail and mizentopsn which had been furled
before the gale The noise created by the wind
and the Tapping Of the sails terrible Orders given
could not bo heard. and all confusion accordingly
The generally inexperienced many Of whom
seemed perfectly parayzed and good for nothing During
the night gun got adrift the spar deck which was
finally secured with difficulty. On Tuesday moru.
ing-tho gale as yet unabated-the sccno alott
and throughout tho ship beggars description Or
the sails, nothing bit fragments remained, and
tho docks covered with ice and debris.
Below everything portable adrift and in ruins Tho
we're engaged in plmping ship, clearing tho wreck
and bending sails.
Wednesday was moro moderate, and the crew were On
gagged getting the ship TO rights Early In the morning Of
this day tho iron tiller broke, and while getting
other the ruddsr broke to pieces and got adr Had Il
forced the stern posts, which feared might be the
case, would have all gone 10 the bottom. Providen
TALLY that not ths case.
Thursday morning bent hawscr TO the cable,
led it through ths starboard quarter port slipped tho
chain set head sails and tried To ship but she
would not pay off, parted tho hawser and lued up again.
tho wind on tho starboard beam. At two clock r. NJ
this day deserted sail. fred guns and made other
signals of distress Tho schooner Flying MIST thus at
tracted, bore down for Us. A boat was manned
and boarded the schooner with orders the
practical port and communicate with naval
stations by telegraph After a tedious passage reached
Chatham saturday afternoon; could no. make tho
harbor In consequence OF the gale, but Up on the
town and hosted the colors at f must, union
life ba. put OF 70 us, by whi communicat d, and
from there telcgraphcd to tho Boston and New York
stations the condt OF the vcrm mt wien left her.
questirg that assstanc might b. sent ho- without de-
lay Having effected this We bore away Tor Gloucester,
from whence reached this city by RAJ. When left
Vermont she under he I'd sails having rugged drag
steer by, drifting northwest by she then
seventeen fahoms water but gradually deepening;
she free Of and tight, and by to-day March 81
at twelve ~ suppose her 10 be in ccsp two hum
drci and sixty miles southeast Of Cape Cod, Highland
i,ht The STEAMERS which have gone in search will,
apprchcnd have no difficulty in finding her, and sho may
be expected to arrive at this port Boston New
York.
BOSTON, March 4, 1862.
The steam tug Board.,au from New York, arrived at
Provincetown oday and reports;-spoke fisherman
who tho frgate Vermont March /, at anchor
| Georges Bank, with her masts cut away.