The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1863-03-05
Loss Of the Monitor.
Full Particulars of the Disaster.
THRILLING SCENES.
Special CoryspoaIeuee q tie Baltimore American
FORTRESS MONROE, Jan. +, 1868

Special CorrespoaIsnoe q tie Baltimore Americana
FORTRESS Monroe, Jan. +, 1868.
In conversation with several Of the officers and
crew Of the Monitor. | gather the following mar
ratiTe Of the facts attending the loss Of this noble
little vessel, and the loss Of 20 many OF her crew
We left Fortress Monroe ON Monday, the 18TH
December, in tow Of the steamer Rh0ae ISl9td,
with the PGsSaic, in tow Of the steamer STATE 81
Georgia. In company, we passed cape Henry
on Monday afternoon, at hve o Clock with &"
smooth sea and hight wind. The PdSSGic was a
little wav ahead. The weather continued fine
until five O'Clock on Tuesday evening, when It
Commenced to blow from the southwest, with a
heavy sea running at the time, the sea making a
clean sweep over all.
At $50 Cape Hatreras light bore NNN. dis
tance twenty miles, the gale still increasing:
The vessel labored very heavy, the upper hull
coming down upon every sea with fearful violence.
Up 10 this time the Worthington pumps and
bilge ~iniectors were entirely competent 70 keep
the vessel free. At ten o'clock several heavy
seas struck the vessel in succession, when word
was sent from the engine rooms that the water
was gaining on the pumps. Orders were then
given TO start the Andrews centrifugal pump,
capable Of throwing three thousand gallons Of
water per minute. For Il while the water ap-
peared to be kept under. In a short time, how
ever, word was passed from the engine room that
the water was again gaining on the pumps, and
was at that time up to the ash pits, stopping, in
a great measure, the draft. The water at this
time was standing two feet deep upon the ward
room floor. All hands were then set TO work
with every bucket at hand TO bail. The water,
however, kept gaining upon the pumps until
within Il foot of the fires in the furnaces.
y COster's signal was then flashed TO call the
attention Of the Rhode Island TO our condition.
Alter much delay, consequent upon the heavy
sea running, a boat was lowered from the RhOde
Island and sent TO our assistance. After several
trials. she succeeded in getting alongside Of us.
The RhDn0 Island 1t the same time in GOING
astern caught her launch between her own side
and our own vessel, crushing the boat badly and
bringing her own counter very heavily down
upon our side. For n time she could not move,
getting her engine on a center. She finally start
ed ahead and the launch succeeded Smashed as
she was) in conveying safely TO the steamer thirty
of the crew Of the Monitor. After the departure
of the launch those remaining on board worked
at the buckets with a will. The gale at this
time ragged furiously, the seas making Il clean
sweep over the top of the turret.
The water at this j~uncture had now succeeded
in rising up to the great bars in the furnaces,
and was gradually extinguishing the fires. The
steam in the boilers consequently run down, and
the pumps could not be worked for want of suff-
cient steam. At this time three boats were dis
covered coming toward the vessel. Word was
passed that boats were at hand sufficient to take
all from the vessel. The Monitor was now slowly
sinking every pump was stopped and her deck
under water. Several in coming off the turret
were swept by the waves TO leeward, and must
have persisted, as no assistance could be rendered
them. The boats then moved off from the sink
ing vessel. Although several times entreated to
come down and get into the boats, several remain
ed standing upon the turret, afraid of being
swept from the deck, stupifed with fear. The
boats succeeded in reaching the Rhode Island in
safety, and all in them got on board.
\ picked crew, with Il gallant officer Of the
Rhode Island (AIr. Brown then showed off in a
launch to return TO the Monitor. The moon,
which up to this time had been throwing some
light upon the waves, was now shut in by dense
masses of black clouds. At n quarter to one in
the morning the Monitors lights disappeared
beneath the waves.
The Rhode Island was then started for the spot
where the Monitor was seen to 20 down. Cos
ter's signals were constantly kept burning, and
strict lookout kept up on all parts of the vessel
to catch u glimpse, if possible, of the missing
boat. At daylight nothing was seen on the
waves, and with Il heavy heart, we ran around
the spot as near as could be judged where the
Monitor had disappeared, until late in the after
noon. Several steamers and other vessels were
spoken, to learn, if possible, the fate of the miss
ing boat, but none could be had.
The survivors reached Fortress Monroe last
evening, in the Rhode Island. Nothing whatever
was saved except the apparel the officers and
crew stood in. The conduct of both the officers
and men of the Monitor on that night is beyond
reproach. Not a sign of a panic was visible.
Each stood to his post, confident in his cOmman-
der, and it was hard to prevail upon the men 10
get into the boats, each wishing to remain until
the last.