Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-12-18
The Monitor Weehawken Sunk.
THIRTY LIVES LOST.

News from Port Royal, S. c., to the
9Th is received by the Fulton, which ar
rived at New York, Friday evening
The Monitor Weehawken suddenly sunk
at her anchorage, off Morris Island, dur
ing gale, on the 9th inst. Out of her
crew thirty were lost, including four as
sistant engineers. Her captain was on
board the flagship when the accident &C.
Cured. All the other officers, except
the above named four, were saved. No
damages were sustained by any of the
other ilon-clads. The Herald's cores
pendent gives the following account Of
the disaster -.
Saturday had been bright and beau
tiFul day, with scarcely a breath of air
astir, and with calm unruflled sea.
During the night breeze sprang up,
and the wind, blowing freshly at day
light on Sunday, increased by noon to a
violent storm. The iron clad fleet was
lying meantime at its usual anchorage.
The frigate New Ironsides was stationed
off Morris Island, at distance of about
one mile due east from Fort Wagner
or as it is now called, Fort Strong.
North of the Ironsides lay the flagship
Philadelphia, distance about four hun
bred yards. The Weehaken was next
in line, anchored two or three hundred
yards to the northward OF the flagship.
The first signal of distress was made
from the Weehawken at few minutes
before two o'clock. The signal was seen
and answered at once by the flagship,
from which four boats were dispatched
to her assistance, and by the South Car
DINA, which sent two of her boats to the
Weehawken's aid. The tugs Dandeion
and Iris were also at once called up, and
with them Commander Duncan of the
Weehawken, who CHANGED to be on the
flagship. and in conversation with the
Admiral, when the signal was made,
proceeded immediately, with the hope OF
running his vessel on the beach, He
had scarcely left the admiral when the
officer of the deck made out from the
Weehawken new signal, and immedi-
a:ely reported her to be sinking. A
after she settled swiftly down
by the bead, careened slightly over to
starboard, and disappeared beneath the
waves.
The confusion on the flagship, arising
mainly from the difficulty of launching
Ter boats, and the desire of both officers
md men to be first in them, was most in
ense and painful. The wind was now
blowing with great fury, and the boats
which fastened from all sides to the |
scene encountered great peril in picking
up from the water the few who had suc>
ceeded in getting away from the Wee
hawken before she sank. Almost at the
she went down some twenty or
more sprang to the boats and 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 Dandelion and
Iris. Thirty persisted. There were
men in irons between decks, and the
;ergeant-at-arm rushed frantically away
% release them. Poor fellows, they all
went down. There were invalids in the
lick bay, and to their relief the surgeon
sent his steward, who never returned.
There were firemen at the furnaces, to
whom vain shrieks for a helping hand at
he pumps were made. A few of the
confident were rushing to their quarters
70 save their effects, josting the timid on
heir way to the deck to save themselves.
1t was ia the midst of scenes like these
hat the Weehawken went down. be-
icve that none of the officers persisted /
save the four assistant engineers, who
we're oyertaken dy the food before they
'ould make any effort to escape. They
we're, T. Horlie, j. B. Allen, Jr., II. w.
Merriam, A Mitchell. Commander
Duncan had only taken command of the
Weehaken on Saturday, having been de-
ached from the Paul Jones to relieve
Commander Calhoun. T h c officers
clothing, the paymaster's funds and the {
,aperp of the ship sank with her. {
TERROR IN CHARLEsToN.-Gen ,
Gilmore il enoaUed in strengthep;,o hi