Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1863-12-26


Correspondence y. Y. Herald.
UNITED STATES TRANsPoRT FULTos,
Orr CHARLEIToN, December 8, 1863
At two o'clock on Sunday afternoon,
while furious wind prevailed from the
northwest. the iron-ciad Weehawken, "
inc at the entrance OF Charleston harbor,
went down at acknowledgement sud
denly, swiftly, and unacconntab'y to tie
bottom-and carried with her, 70 a h0r-
rible death beneath the waves, four OF
her engineers ard twenty-six of her
crew.
Saturday had been bright aud beau
tiful day, with scarcely breath of air
nstir. and with calm, unruffled sea-
During the night a breeze sprang up,
and the wind blowing freshly at daylight
on Sunday, increased by noon to a vio-
lent storm.
The iron-clad fleet was lying mean
time at lis usual anchorage. The frigate
New Ironaides was stationed off Morris
Island, at a distance Of about one mile
due east from FortWagner-Or. as it is
now called Fort Strong. North of the
Ironsides lay the flagship Philadelph!a,
distant about one hundred yards. The
Weehawken was next, anchored two
or three hundred yards to The noithwa d
Of The flagship. The first sigma! Of dis
trcss vas made from the Wcehawken, at
few minutes before two O'Clock. The
signal was seen and answered at once by
the flagship, from which four boats were
sent to her assistance, and by the South
Carolina. which sent two Of her boats to
the Weehawken's aid. The tugs Dande-
lion and Iris were also at once called up,
and with them commander Duncan, of
the Weehawken. who CHANGED to be on
the flagship. aud IN conversation with the
Admiral. when the signal WAS made,
no eeicd Immediately with the hope of
running his vessel to the beech. He had
scarcely I, # tho Admiral. when the Of
ficer Of the deck made ont from the
Weehawk1n a new signal, and immedi-
atcly reported her to 10 sinking.
a moment later she settled swiftly
down by tie head, careencd slightly
over TO starboard, and disappeared be-
meath the waves.
1t is impossible to convey any idea of
the appalling nature of this disaster. 1t
came with the suddeuness of a thunder
bolt. When the first signal Of distress
was made 10 one OWNED how serious
was the danger, and when, at length, the
vessel we. t down, it was difficult for
those who sasv her disappear to credit
the evidence Of their own senses. The
confusion on tine flagship, arising mainly
from the difficulty Of launching her
boats, and The desire Of both officers and
men to be first in them, was most intense
aud painful. The wind was now blow
ing with great fury and the beats which
fastened from all sides to tie scene en-
countered great peril in picking up from
the water the few who had succeeded in
getting away. As maDy others were
rescued from the surging waves by the
launches Of the flagship, the South Car
DINA and the tugboats Dandelion
aud Iris. Thirty persisted.
All day the Weehawken had labored
heavily in the sea, which kept her decks
constantly submerged, and which fle-
quently swept IN huge volumes into her
forward hatch. Towards noon the crew
commenced paving out chain, to case
her; but, accustomed as they were, in ey
cry gale, to>the shipping Of such seas, it
is believed that they had grown conf
dent al d careless " danger, and paid no
heed TO the eucro.ching waters until it
was too late 10 sist them. They
dreamed of no peril I'LL the waves had
fairly yawned to swallow them. Then,
when it was known for a certainty that
the vessel was to be lost, paic of fright
and fear bsnumbed them, and the terror
stricken crew below had little power 10
help themselves. There were men in
irons between decks, and tic sergeant at
arms rushed frantically away to release
them. Poor fellows, they al went down.
There were iuyaiids in the sick bay,
aud to their relief the surgeon sent his
steward, who never returned. There
were fiemen at the furnaces, to whom
vain shrieks for helping hand at the
pumps were made. A few of the conf
dent were rushing to their quarters to
save iheir effects, jostling the tinid on
their way to the deck 10 save themselves.
1t was IN the midst Of scenes like this
that the Weeham zen went down.
| believe that none of the officers per
ished save the four assistant engineers,
who were overtaken BIZ the flood before
they could make any effort 20 escape
Commander Duncan had only taken
command Of the Weehawken on Satur-
day, having been detached from the
Paul Jones 20 relieve Commander Cal
hOun. The officers clothing, the pay
masters funds and The papers of the ship
sank with her.
The yeoman was brought alive on
board the flagship, aud died in spasms a
few moments afterward. Various par
ties were picked up and taken to the
nearest vessel, where every provision was
made for their comfort and restoration.
Those of the crew who were saved are
now scattered in small squads through
out the fleet. 1t is impossible to procure
n