Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-12-24
The Sinking of the Weehawken ufT Charleston
f1arhor

The New York Herald, of Saturday, contains the
particulars of the sinking OF the monitor eehawkeE
of Charleston, On the 6th inst. Its correspondent
writes
Saturday had been bright and beautiful day. with
scarcely Dre1h OF air astlr and with aim, unrutt1ed
sea- During the night breeze sprang up, and the
wind, blowing freshly at daylight Sunday, increased
by noon to violent storm The iron clad feet was
lying meantime al its usual anchorage. The frigae
New Ironsides stationed off Morris Island, at
distance OF about mile due east from Fort Wagner
Or as IS called, Fort Strong North of the Iron
sides lay the flagship Philadelphia distant four bun
dred yards. The Weehawken next in line anchor
ed three hundred yards to the northward of the
flagship The Montank on picket duty be- ween
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie Astern ohthe Iron-
sides lay the Nahant aid Passaicthe latter furthest
away from the flagship, aid than any other
sci to the Morris Island shorl The South Caroina
and the Home rocking the restless tide some
FIVE or six hundred yards of the ironclads.
The above the ros Cn of the feet the first
signal Of distress WIS made from the WeehaWken at
few minutes before two O'clock. The signal seen
and answered at by the flag ship from which four
boats were dispatched to her assistance, and by the
South Carolina, which sent two Of her boats to the
WeehaWken's aid. fhe tugs Daudellon ard Iris were
also at called up, and with THEM Commander Dun
can of the WeehaWken vino Glanced to be toe fl g
ship, aud in conversation with the Admiral, when the
signal was made proceeded Immediately with the hope
of running his vessel the beach. He had scarcely
left the Admiral when the officer Of the deck made
from the WeChaWK2G new Slgnal, ana Immediately
reported her to be sinking.
A moment after she settled swiftly down by the
head, caTeenel slightly to starboard, and disap
peared beneath the waves.
1t is impossible to convey any idea of the appalling
nature If this disaster 1t with the suddenness
OF thundegbot. When the first signal of distress
was made GO one OWNED how ser0us was the danger
and when at length, tie vessi went down. it was diff
GUS for those whe her disappear 10 credit the
evidence Of their own senses. The confusion on the
flagship, arising mainly from the difficulty of launching
her boats and the desire Of both officers and men be
FIRST in them was most intense and painful The wind
was blowing with great fury, and the boats which
FASTENED rGm all sides to the encountered great
peril in picking up from The water the fsW who had
succeeded in getting away from the Weehawken be
fore she sank. Almost st the moment she went down
venty or more sprang to the boats succeeded
in getting away As many Others were rescued from
the surging waves by the launches of the flagship,
the Suuth Carolina aud the boats Dandellon and
Iris. Thirty persisted.
All day the Weehawken had labored heavily il the
sea- which kept her decks constantly submerged, and
winch frequently swept in huge volumes into her for
"aro hatch Towards noon the crew commenced pay
ing %! cn"n' to ease her but, accustomed as they
WERE ~ every gaze to the Shipping of such SEAS it is
believed that they had grown conf lint an careess of
danger, and paid no heed to the encroacbing waters
until 1t was too la to reast them They dreamed of
70 peril till The waves had fairly yawned to swallow
them. Then, when it was known for a Certainty that
the vessel was to be lost panic Of fright and fear be-
nuned them, and the terror stricken crew below had
little power to help themselves. There were men in
irons between decks, and the sergesnstaCms rushed
franticQly away to release them. Poor fellows, they,
ali went down. Tbsre invstids in the sick bay,
and to their relief the surgeon sent his steward, who