Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1863-12-18
INC Los OF the WeehaWken.
UslrrD STATES TRANsronT Fu1von,

UNITED STATES TRANSPORT FULTON,
orr CHARLESTON, Dec 8, 1868.
AT two O'Clock on Sunday afternoon, while q
furious wind prevailed from the northwest, the
iron-cad Weehawken, lying Mt the entrance of
Charleston haibor went down at her anchorage
went suddenly, swiftly aud unaccountably to
The BOTTOM and carried with her, to horrible
death beneath the waves, fur Of her engineers
aud tweniy-six Of her crew
Saturday had been bright and beautiful day,
with scarcely a breath of air astir, aud with a
calm, unruthed sea During the night breeze
spraug up, aud the wind blowing freshly stdsy-
light on Sunday, increased by noon to a violent
storm.
The iron-oad fleet was lying meantime at its
usual anchorage. The frigate New Ironsides
was stationed oil Morris Island, at distance of
about one mile due east from Fort Wagner, or,
as il is now called Fort Strong North of the
lronsides lay the flagship Philndelpha, distant
about four hundred yards. The Weehawken
was next in line, anchored two or three hundred
yards to the northward Of the flagship. The
MOntauk was ON picket duty between Fort Sum
ter and Fort Moultrie. Aslern Of the Ironsides
lay the Nahnnt and Passaio--the latter farthest
away from the flagship, and nearer than any
other vessel to the Morris Island shore. This
South Carolina aud the 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 fleet when
the first signal OF distress was made from the
Weehawken, at q few minutes before O'clock
The signal was seen and answered at once by the
flagship from which four boats were despatched
to her assistance, nud by the South Carolina,
which sent two Of her boats to the Weehawkens
aid. The tugs DandeliOn aud Iris were also at
once called up, and with them Commander Dun
can, of the Wcehawkcn, who Glanced to be on
the flagship and in conversation with the Ad-
miral when the signal was made, proceeded i'm
mediately with the hope of running his vessel on
the beach, lie had scarcely left the Admiral
when the officer Of the deck made out from the
Weehawken a new signal, aud Immediately re-
ported her to be shaking,
moment after she settled swiftly down by
the head, careehed slightly over to starboard,
and disappeared beneath the waves.
1t IS impossible to convey any idea Of the ap-
paling nature Of this disaster. 1t came with
The suddenness Of thundorbolt. When the first
signal Of distress was made no one OWNED how
serious was the danger, and when, at length, the
vessel went down, it was difficult for those who
saw her disapf n to credit even 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 aud
men to be first in them, was most intense aud
painful. The wind was now blowing with great
Jury, aud the bouts which hastened from all
sides Of the scene encountered great peril in
picking up from the water the few who had sue
ceeded in getting away from the Weehawken be-
lore she sank. Almost nj the moment she went
down, some twenty.or more sprang to the boats
ana succeeded IN getting away. As many others
were rescued from the surging waves by the
launches OF the flagship, the South Carolina and
the tugboats Dandelon aud Iris. Thirty per-
ished
All day the Weehawken had labored heavily
IIaH
merged, and which frequently swept in huge
volumes into her forward hatch. Towards noon
the crew commenced paying out chain, to ease
heri but accustomed as they were TO every
gale, TO the shipping Of such seas IL is believed
that they had grown confident and careless of
danger, it was too late TO resist them. They
dreamed of no peril ill the waves had fairly
yawned to swallow them, Then, when it was
known for certainty that the vessel was to be
lost, panic OF fright aud fear benumbed them,
anu the Reconstruction crew below had little
power TO help themselves. There were men in
IRONS between decks, aud the sergeant alarms
rushed tranticaly away to release them. Poor
Fellows, they all went down. There were in
Valids in the sick bay, aud to their relief the
surgeon sent his stewart, who never returned.
There were iiremen ut the furnaces, to whom
vain shrieks for helping hand at tho pumps
were made. A few OF the confident were rush.
the timid on their way to the deck to save them
selves. II was in the midst of scenes like these
that the Weehawken went down.
believe that none Of the officers persisted
save the four Assistant Engineers, who were
overtaken by tue flood before they could make
any efforts to escape. Commander Duncan hat
only taken command Of the Weehawken OIL
Saturday, having been detached from the Pau
jones to relieve Commander Calhoun. The off
GERS clothing the paymaster'a rinda anil iii,
papers OF the ship sank with her.
The yeoman was brought alive on board III,
flagship, but died in spasms in few moments
afterward. Various parties were picked up aud
taken to the nearest vessels, where every provi-
sion was made for their comfort and restoration
Those Of the crew who were saved are now scat
tered in small squads throughout the fleet. It i
impossible to procure at present the names o
those who were lost
To Fleet Captain Bradford, Captain Ammen
and in fact all the officers and men of the flag
ship great credit is due for their heroic exertion
in their frail boats for the rescue of the unfor
tunate crew. They exposed themselves 10 erea
dangers in their efforts to render assistance t
others. Commander AmmeD, acting under III
orders of Admiral Dahlgreu, particularly riske
himself in tine conveyance Of orders and precau
uonary instructions to the remaining Monitors
performing the perilOus duty IN IL small boat.
The Weehawken is lying iu five fathoms o
water and will soon be raised. Until she i
brought up, no one eau tell with certainty VII,