The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-12-18
The Loss Of the msaItor WoehaW-
KEN



Dor, went down at her anohorage-went
Suddenly swiftly, and unaeountably to
the bottom-And carried with her 10 q
horrible death beneath the waves, four OF
her engineers and twenty-six Of her crew.
Saturday had been bright and beau
tiful day, with scarcely > breath Of air
astir, and with . calm unrufflsd sea,
During the night the breeze sprang up
and the wind, blowing freshly At day
light on Sunday, increased by noon to =
violent storm.
The iron-clad feet was lying mean
time at its usual anchorage. The frigate
New Ironsides was stationed of Morris
Island, ct distsnee Of about one mile
due east from Fort WAgner-or, as il is
now called, Fort Strong. North Of the
Ironsides lay the flagship Philadelphia,
distant about four hundred yards. The
Weehawken was next in line, anchored
two or three hundred yards to the north
ward of the flagship. The MOntauk
was on picket duty, between F,rt Sam
Ter and Fort Moultrie. Astern Of the
lronsides lay the Nahant and Passaic-
the latter furtbeSt away from the flag
ship, and nearer than any other vessel TO
the Morris Island shore. The South
CArolina and Home were rocking on the
restless tide some five or six hundred
yards astern Of the iron-clads.
The above was the position Of the feet
when the first signal Of distress was
made from the WeehaWken, at 9 few
minutes before two O'Clock. The signal
was seen and answered at once by the
flag ship, from which four boats were
dispatched to her assistance, and by the
South Carolina, which sent two of her
boats 10 the Weehswken's aid. The tugs
Dandslion and Iris were also at once
called up, and with them Commander
Duncan, of the Wsehawken, who CHANGED
10 be on the flagship, and in CONVERSE
ton with the Admiral, when the signal
was made, proceeded Immediately, with
with the hope of running his vessel on
the beech. lie had scarcely left the Adj
miral when the officer of the deck made
out from the Weehawken 9 new signal,
and Immediately reported her to be sink
ing.
A moment after she settled swiftly
down by the head, carsered slightly over
to starboard, and disappeared beneath
the waves.
1t is impossible to convey any idea Of
the appalling nature Of this disaster.
1t came with the suddenness Of thun-
derbolt. When the first signal Of dis
tress was made, no one OWNED how seri-
Gus was the danger, and when, at length,
the vessel went down, il was difficult for
those who saw her disappear TO credit
even the evidences of their own senses.
The confusion on the flagship, arising
mainly from the difficulty Of launching
her boats, and the desire OF both officers
aud men TO DC 1rst IN them, was mcss
intense and painful. The wind was now
blowing with great fury, and tie boats
which fastened from all sides to the
scene encountered great peril in picking
up from the water tha few who had sue
ceeded in getting away from the Wehaw-
ken before she sank. Almost at the mo-
ment she went down some twenty or
more sprang to the boats and succeeded
in getting away. As many others were
rescued from the surging waves by the
launches of the dag ship, the South Gar
olina, and the tug-boAts Dandelion and
Iris. Thirty persisted.
All Day the WeehsWken had labored
heavily in the ses, which kept Der decks
constantly submerged, and which fire.
auenily swept in huge volumes into hsr
forward hatch. Toward noon the crew
commenced paying out chain, to ease her
but, accustomed as they were, in every
gale, to the shipping Of such seas, it is
believed that they had grown confident
and careless Of danger, and paid no heed
to the encroachiDg waters until it was too
late 10 resist them. They dreamed Of no
peril till the waves had fairly yaWned 10
swallow them. Then, when it was
known for certainty that the vessel was
to be lost, panic of fright and fear be-
numbed them, and the terror-stricken
crew below had little power to help
themselves. There were men in irons
between decks, and the sergesnt-at-arms
rushed franticAlly away 10 release them.
Poor fellows, they all went down. There
were invaIids in the sick-bay, and 10
their relief the surgeon sent his steward,
who never returned. There were hremsn
at the furnaces, 10 whom vain shrieks for
q helping hand at the pumps were made.
A few Of the confident were rushing 10
their quarters 10 save their effects, 1Ost-
ling the timid on their way 10 the deck
to save themselves. It was in the midst
Of scenes like these that the Wsehswken
went down. r--
| believe that none Of the officers per-
ished save the four Assistant Engineers,
who were oyerisken by the food before
they could make an effort to escape.
Commander Duncan had only taken COM
mand Of the Weehawken On Saturday,
having been detached from the Paul
Jones 10 relieve Commander Calhoun.
The officers clothing, the PaymaSier's
funds, and the papers Of the ship, sank
with her.
The yeoman was brought alive on
board the flag ship, but died in spasms
a fsv moments afterWard. Various par
ties we're picked up and taken TO the
nearest vessels, where every provision
was made for their comfort and restOra-
ton. Those Of The crew who were saved
are now scattered in small squads
throughout the feet. Il IS impossible TO
procure at present. the names Of those
who were lost.
To Fleet Captain Bradford, Captain
Ammsn, and In fact all the officers and
men Of the flagship, great credit il due
fox their heroic exertions in their frail
boats for the rescue Of the unfortunAts
crew. They exposed themselves 10 great
dangers in thsir efforts to render assist
sncs 10 others. Commander Anmsn, act
ing under orders Of Admiral Dahlgren,
particularly risked himself in the con
yeyancs Of orders and precautionary in
struetions 20 tbe remaining Mentors,
performing The psri0us duty h . small
boat.
The Wsshawken 10 lying IN fse faith.
orns Of water, and will soon be raised.
/ Untii she IL brought up no one can tel
with certainty Why she sank. Il was
through DO faait Of her -ovsrhang," FOR
she apparently took IA no water sxeepl
At her forward hatch and hAwssr-hol
| Il was, 70 tbs best Of ny knowledge,
Through the inattsation, Esglees, or bsd
management Of those on board, that The