New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-12-19
STORM AT SEA.
Tho Cunboat Nunsemond Disabiod-Pas.
t;cuIars OF her Peril.

Ianison commanding. came into this por. tits morning
in disabled condition. having encountered on her was
from Fortress Monroe to Beaufort, ~ c. one OF the -
yerest gales ever known or the stormy coast OF Hat
teras. and having had Of the most miraculous -
capes from utter destruction ever recorded.
She ef. Hampton Roads on the morning OF the IT'D
inst. having come. day or two before rom Baltimore
where during the three weeks previous she had bose
thoroughly retted and repaired, and destined fos
the blockading feet off Wilmington n. c., there to -
sumo her most effective services bockader On the
evening Of the 2th before she had passed Hateras ths
wind began to blow very strongly from tho southeast
and continued to increase during the night to such an
extent that by morning II most violent gale The
course Of the Nansemond was directly Ia its face .,
that the and the winds spent the whole orcs d
their terrible fury directly upon her She bore 1t With
unexpected forti,ude till o'clock Sunday morning
when, with report Ike the discharge OF a cannon. .
gigantic struck her just forward Of her port beam
carrying completely away the officers galley with tbs
forward part Of the paddlebox and bulkhead to the
gangway and bulsa rks and breaking down all the pre-
lection to the engine and boiler TO the level OF the
main deck and tipping the pilot'house up and back
again to the distance OF four feet.
The engineer on.duty was disabled BY a blow from
the door Of the engineer which the se dashed upA
him. The gangway between the engine and the paddle
box was full OF men sleeping In hammocks. most Of
whom were taken up by tho sos and hurled violently
arnong floating timbers mess-chests. and movlbles
every description from side to side and were rescued
after being severely but dangerously bruised For
moment the whole vessel scene Of the Widest
confusion and most pathetic terror. The officers were
Immediately called. and they. with mat seifmasI'ry
GOODNESS and pronpttude which long experience At
and familiarity with dar er gave them. rallied the NEE
and went Immediately to the scene N disaster. aud
promptly applied such means OF saivston as were 10
their pOwer-n0t one however. with the iantest hops
Of success but each unwilling to dsscoureg MS com
rades y any expression Of his fears as t. TIE sasety
Of the vessel aud the lives OF ell on board; me iorce
the sea had stopped the engine. and for Few mcenI
the little NansemOnd seemed completely staggered
She lay heavily listed 70 port and SO perscty e'eS
and inmoyabie tha, no doubted thai she he'd re-
ceycd her deathstrok TIE towering waves sparkling
with phosrhoresoent Hight. seemed Ike 50 many moa'
-ters with fierce cleaning eyes, eager for victims
The protection to the boiler having been broken In
part OF the sea had gone into the hre-roon and at'ths
moment the greatest dangr lay IN increase
Of this water 10 submerge her mrs. ana DESTROY sss
steam power. Afer moment when the engine cn
move with painful slowness the yesse. fused oOsii
crce 10 her Helm and persisted In presenting her pro"
the storm in the most exposed position Attls lnno
ure au officer and one spTang forward aad ioessa
tie ih tie only sail she carries which slowly orough
her round before the wind In an attitude OF SUBMISSION
20 power she could not defy and thus saved he non
immediate destruction. IT, while she had fenainel for
the moment staggered. While she Teiuc einlly sors
round before the gale a wave OF more tSaD ORDINARY
size had struck her, 1t would have unquestlonaby ron
der.d her utterly helpless That such an event did no
happen viii forever remain mystery 70 those sa'sa
witt the Nanscmond except as e1p'anahs ny ths az.
rect inerposition q at Power which when prsonihSo
centuries ago said TO tie winds and waves Peace bs
still"
not been disabled dong their utmost to maze
temporary buiwark for the protection of the Furnace
room and en- giue They brought into reputation tue
mattresses and blankets Of oce.- and men. These they
ffsfN A
obstruction "a tie waves could De constructed NOV
wifhstaaGns these projections 10 required the inost
ygil,nt attention Of the officers for The succeeding
twelve hour. TO prevent the water With which toe depx
va. constantly covered from OVERLOOKING INTO tae mrs
room.
Ths N,r,e,nond was now headed for Hampton Rosis,
and the wind though increasing continuing isyorsss
In direction there was for the FIRST time si1ce me
accident sight hope - saving the snip The engine
though II had received some shocks which slightly In
tcrfcred with It's free movement worse Vel ana gave
It's encouragement; 10 that hope lui the vessel secm-d
heavy and did mind the holm With her usual prompt
uude. At O'Clock. tie wind rGYrG continued on ths
increase and the waves having become higher ana
more expressive u vindctycness and terror heavy
g., dashed IN ON the sarh0ard side dong nearly tas
sne damage that part ~ the vessel ~ Al beth doh,
a few hours before tie opposite SIDE thus donphhs
the danger Of having the fires eNing'nshed IN Tue
same manner. and with the same tromNiuie wa :
temporary defense Of bedding aud boards constructed
Zone 20 FOUNDER PARROT II = and l2pounder howit
ityer and AL but few rounds of her shot ani saelt
yith ,enewcd courage md buoyancy Very so1n ster
the wind subsidized aste and IS time passed cur hops
was siren iheucd for each h1rr safely passed SaVe
/ pr.mlse of another hour safely ~ be passed.
BY ~ O'Clock the storm seemed So much su'ilh an
the Nansemond had borne herself 20 brayey tha' every
filing seemed favorable FOR ultimate safety. except pos
sblt change Of wind and limited supply Of coal whies
was only enough TO take the vessel 20 HAMPTON loans
under the most favorable circumstances her eo1ts'
va, changed ri the shore In the hope tha' DEITY
night land misht he discovered the appearance vhca
would show Ia those on board where the. were rs ,.
vessel had been so long ~ the mercy o, wiha ait
wave that all reliable reckoning to her lltsude ana
longitude had been lost Darkness overlook her before
she discovered land. and Il 10 o'clock noY a'hs mas
Cape Henry light, and fearing size Mgr Yo's.ra,
northward ~ the 90 Hampton koads sne ~
into shallow and came % an anchor 10! tne
hoping that the morning would reveal fttll'i na-
marks But when morning cam' me- ,s reyesl
everything that had been hoped dayhgAt "Vuu ia
At O'Clock. sail having been reported s'bnl b.
were fired and the ensign raised union ~ s
ofds,gess; but the fog thioAenihs honns ss,si
seen %. tho sill At 10 O'Clock. theioy ha'Nlg ensr
away iand was which showed the 's'ss' ~ .
teen miles too 1r TO the norhwsrd she hau !lss
enough To take her 10 the ras ship Mhnesoss ,nrps
10 the Admiral who WAS glad 10 see her SAFE, u.n.
On examination IL was found thht She WIS mo-, -.
onsly nud yitally injured than bad been sHpis
Of her heavy timhcrs ARE cracked sprung W ..
She will remain IN this port for month or SIX wees
be thoroughly strengthened ana repaired 500
sea again. The work upon her wal De pus'u, ., Tie
with the greatest dispatch OF the oV' ,r,,ioa
sacricc probably Of other vessels Us as and
Of what she has done aud can !o, 90 ~ ,p 1edectiys
destro,ng c0ntraharL vessels and r.husi WI on
,hs pocIsdc OIL wilmington " e., throas, wn n,,
port tho Rebel GOyernmsa, receives t ~ Il. essencs
portion OF It's supplies aud necessis 50 the officers and
roT pn mSa the former ntTspd sd ss
with which they aS@Tsa ter and possbs.
NapsCmoad sacn nr1spt,s and detsrmnedy met Oaa
hs, srpr sstanced hssty Or coasdsrsa
DO ou' 80, 9yoben hy angle officer during tae 'at
word was sPoAssn rytsment and suspense but Tiers
twelve hours o, ali firm belief that through inc
seemed 70 reroSnton OF the Power that looess tas
| hep anu 'vsue go hut % do His almighty biduin&