The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-09-17
OUR IRoN-cLAD NAVY.
THE LEHIcH IN 4 TERRIFIC GALE
Another Triumph for the Mont
tor Batteries.
Intsrsstilg Details q th y. Trip TO-
Morris Island, -
-, a., H. -
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE BOSTON TRAVELLER.
UNITED STATES IRox CLAD LEHicu,
NEAR FORT SUMTER, Sept. I 1858.

UNITED STATES IRoN CLAD LKHGU, I
NEAR FoRr SUMTER, Sept. l, 1853. J
The United States iron.clad steamer Lshgh steamed
from the Brooklyn Navy Yard at harpast nve n. OF
Saturday evening, August %, in tow Of the steamer
Home amid the friendly cheering Of thousands Of hardy
North Carolina. Hartford, savannah, &C. Passing tho
boats. each and ALL crowded with passengers going homo
at tho close hot week TO their friends going by
and Caepns o. hands Of lie fair AND ia
cheers and tossed hats OF the sterner sex
The Home was obliged to return about midnight. after
had left Sandy Hook FAR astern In consequence Of
engines becoming deranged.
While waiting for a second steamer 70 DO prepared to
tow us southward anchored inside the Narfows, and
during Sunday were visited by the officers Of her metys
steamer Jason, 32 laying at anchor near and
were not allowed to come on board me Staten island
ferry boats were crowded with people who came down 10.
lovely Island and thus escape The heated city for brief
p'Sa tuesday 1sas ssS sa upon
voyage, In tow of the Star OF the South We
made good time, with nothing OF importance TO note
cept the sudden change in temperature leaving
temperature OF eghtys six degrees on the upper tlret
deck asthree p NJ. IL was but seventy DEGREES while
on the berth deck at the same time It ninety 1--WE de-
grees
III Wednesday night 26th after cloudy afternoon,
tho wind the northeast, began 70 blow hard about
six r. M with sea rapidly rising The storm Increased
hourly until eleven r. NJ the wind blowing perfect
gale, changing from northeast to southeast, thence to
northwest. .-.s ~
AZ eleven the wind subsidized It's force had been sucf,
as to subdue the almost entirely Now, however,
put forth its power and terrific agitation resulted The
burst forth through the drifting Clouds During
this time the Lchgh had been sraning and humping her
overhang upon the AZ earfu rate, making sleep
impossible SO rapid was the motion, so heavy and
tnuous the shocks OF the projecting and Overriding,
that all became alarmed for the safety OF the ship. The
solid shot beneath berth deck rolling about
adrift. efforts to check Thorn being OF avail Officers,
thronged the deck anxious ganceg
were upon the rubber raft which was inflated in
readiness for use preservers and broad and water
were sought for and the fate Of the gallant Of NE
About this time heavy sea- which covered the deck
from the bow 70 the urret with solid mass Of water,
lfted ships bell bodily out Of lite socket, sin
inches Deep and bore il of like chip overheard The
bell and tngs must have weighed about three hundred
and were fastened to the turret feet above
the deck.
The sharp topped combers, and repeatedly
br Ike the top or tho elevator, twelve feet high.
They broke over the turret top flooding the engine room
Several times large wave would roll the deck
GUS shock is COP striking officers in the back and sweep
ing them across the turret deck 70 It's other side
were now heading the sea- gu. oSsrs on the 'front.'
after part Our good snp would seemingly crawl up the
face OF big sea, like Cat crawling (the sensation Of
creeping upward was prominently up the steep
house 70 the ridgepok; and reaching It's summit look
side or fall back and descending would appear bo
diving 10 the bottom. With bated breath We waited,
the ships thrust into the second wave,
take deck much water but yet rise ~ before, and
again descending take tho greater part OF the third
and greatest upon Its deck. not being able to
rise quick enough to surmonnt IT, and thus every
ment gaining greater confidence In our noble though
heavy and ,Ocouth ironc0d vesse though sin fearing
hiatt some Of the powerful fell them would
force up our overriding, and once starring IL, sweep
moment our whole iron deck from the hulia
whcths scene was passing above the beax below was
moro provoking all night long infumcrsbe little inns
OF water, yellow with iron poured down upon
every thing 10 cabin, wardr0om dispeusary and berth
deck, wetng beds and bedding, wardrobes,
too 8, &c, &C. Numerous the contrivances meet
and accord reception 10 the unwecome visitor In tho
shape OF paymasters moss pans, dccors spoons and
empty meat caus, fastened up catch the water Vain
was the effort 10 sit In some spot in the officers ward
room where tho water did not drip constant shower
upon you. State flooded, no one escaped;
rubber boots became necessity In the cabin and TO day
we can oil show clothing wet ms II II had been thrown
overheard, books ruined, and boots thick with green
mould.
The gale the high and the night passed away togo
Their. Not 30 leaking deck however; and add TO
our comfort the necessity OF having matches and deck
lights down aud Shut causing resort 10 candle ighS
daylight being OF course excuded and tho heated foul
characterization being very imperfect when the hatches
loss OF appetite, &C
The temperature the berth dock at the wardro,m
door ranges between 95 degrees and l0 degrees day
day.
Arriving 10 sight OF fleet we repaid for curl
peril and discomfort by SEEING approached ihoI
Powhatan, Wabash, Canandaigua Seneca, &c and wei
the New ronsides and the Monitors withnI
the bar Anchorng for hour TO prepare for ion,
weighed aud stood In ~ Join fellow iron ships
and iron men, the guns OF tho ron-clads and replies Of
Sumter and Wagner cheering our progress