Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-12-28
PO FER's EKPEDITIOy.
IFS Progress South "A monitor I'm DAN
GER. The Peril 8vrmOunted---Anei-
uents of the voyage.


OK BoARpTHE UNITED STATES STEAMER /
SANTIAGO De CUBA, Dec. 1872 NJ. !
Our pilot has just taken leave of US,
carrying with him the mail of the ship,
including letter from your correspondent,
which I hope win reach you in good
season. IL
QUITO SEA.
We are now fairly of, as fast as our tow,
the Mahopsc, will permit. If it were not
for this impediment the captain assures me
we should be making full fourteen knots
as it is, we are doing well.
The feet Is already pretty well scattered
The transports, which sailed come hours
before u.s. are faF ahead out of sight.
The only vessels in sight ahead Of us,
are the Fort jackson and the two-turreted
monitor Monadnock, about two miles to
the southwark. The Rhode Island, with
the monitor Canonicus in tow, is some
miles 10 the eastward on our port beam.
Some five miles astern OF us, IN parallel
lines, come the grand old frigatesi sloops-
of-War and other smaller vessels, composing
Uncle Sans wooden walls.
The Ironsides is just visible, coming
along slow but sure.
If we have favorable weather, we expect
to reach Beaufort by to morrow Wednes-
day. evening.
PERILOUs CONDITION OF THE MAHOPAC.
OF Cape Hatteras, Wednesday, day
h2ht.-We are having rough sea under
the influence Of southwest wind. Our
little Monitor, which hiss hitherto got along
GAu. ia now laboIing heavily, and Captain
Gibson is getting anxious On nei behalf.
The sea is boiling and fosming around
her, breaking over her deck and sending
the spray over her turret.
Nine o'clock.-The sight from the after
deck ef cur noble ship is now somewhat
fearful The Monitor is nearly hidden
from view, the great green waves are roll
| ing in fury ever her, washing ever and
anon over her turret and smoke-stsck, the
spray and foam flying high over her flag
staff: At one moment she seemed to be
going down, and Captain Glisson and his
officers were we'll nigh in despair, all
hearts filed with the deepest sympathy at
what seemed the inevitable doom Of the
gallant crew of the Mshopac.
Ten A. M.-Mahopsc has just hoisted
signals. Eagerly the signal book is con-
| suited we are leahng-pumplng and
4
intense solicitude the Captain and his otil-
Gers watch their charge. The engines are
ordered 10 be slowed still moro and the an
swering signal is made: "Csn you keep her
free?' TO which the MShopac replies: "FeaI
our men will not hold out" q, how VIC felt
for the poor fellsws in their iron prison
house.
The Captain signsled to know the na.
ture of the leak, to which the answer came
ttMaking water round the turret and at tor
of tuTret"
It was supposed that the force of the
waves had washed the packing from the
base of the turret The turTet was cover
ed by a heavy canvas awning, andthespac'
between the awning and the turret wa
also covered in with canvas, except smal
opening in front of the wheel, just suth
Gent TO enable the man at the wheel TO SCI
|, how to steer. Through this opening ant
: the apertures in the awning no doubt
LARGE quantity of water must have entered
! descending through the turret TO the hold
Encouraging signals were made to IN
Mahopac by Captain G., that if they coul'
J keen her free for two hours or so, b
r would get into smoother sea. We hs
now doubled the cape, and the Captain
experience of the coast assured him tina
nave It thf gHn66etR4ttr!O nb5e ct Oape Lookout We snou
g Soon the Mahopac signalled that he
main pump TTao ..lt -af AsdaF- hut thattha
! were Hholding their own" TINS lsst 81
nouncement cheered us much.
] Thus the day wore on in much anxiety
q but as our Captain anticipated, BY tw
o'clock we were in a smoother sea. In
sun had come out bright and pleasant an
we were well under the lee of Cape Lool
: out. Even now, however, the sea We
o boiling round the turret of the Mahops
and her deck could only occasionally B
seen. But the water had been gotten VI
u der and the prospect Of her getting safel
: through the coming night was more hop
: fcl. or
changed signals again with his charge
/ learn her present condition, and give Il
g structions for any emergency during Il
! coming hours of darkness. by request
the Mshopsc, the speed of our engint
. was still further reduced, and every pr
c caution that prudence and experience
! seamaIship could suggest was adopted
:, carry the monitor sstely through Inc
y mainder of tho voyage.
: Providentially We were favored WI
4 another fine moonlight night and iaVo
. ing wind, and nothing moro than the us
. al sea WAS experienced in doubling Cal
II Lookout, which was done in the course
the night. -,
At sunset number Of the feet could
made out in the distance, and during {
J. evening we exchanged signals with t
1r frigste Susquehanna, the flagship OF Cor
" modore Guoden, the commander OF t
70 division to which the Santiago de Cuba
- attached.
50 Before retiring 10 rest, our correspon
n- ent took another look at the Mshopac, al
as found her riding the waves in comparati
es security, her port and stsrboard lights
redssnd green shining cheerily out fri
either side of her turret.
SAFE AT ANCHOR.
be Thursday Morning, Dec. Hi A.
at We have Just cast our tow loose a
~ have dropped anchor off Beaufort, abe
three miles outside the hsrbor. Anotl
n bright and cheerful day shines down up
IN us. A pleasant breeze is blowing from
northwest, but we have smooth sea unC
the protection of Cape Fear. The oil
ed monitors have all arrived and gone insi
orI and the Mahopac is preparing to follc
So far as known at present, the entire II
zee has escaped meeting any disaster
lg, shall close up this letter here, and
ne TO got 1t off via Beaufort. Just as clC
the Ironsidss is announced coming il
thus the iron-clsd feet is all right.