The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-01
ahKINa oF TIE ,FLoRIDA.n
Full Particulars UC the Rebel Pirate
Efforts Made To Rescue bCr, Etc.


THE SINKING OF THE "TLoRrDA."
FoRTHEss MONROE, November 29.-rhe quos-
ton of what shall be done with the Figrjdr has
been definitely and summarily disposed OF with
ont reference TO international law. Instead Of
being now on her way 70 Rio Juneiro, or Bahia,
with ler captured crew on board, Is it was cS.
pectcd she would be, the notorious prigl.eer lies
nine fathoms deep in the waters Of the Jam cs off
Newport News.
On the 18th instant, the Florida then lying at
anchor in Hampton Roads, was ordered by the
Navy Department to b. taken up the james river
and anchored under the guns OF the ram Itlantr,
OIL Newport News. She WIS commanded by Act
ing Master Jonathan Baker, who had crew OF
ten m n, and there were besides, Third Assistant
Engineer Lannan, an acting ensign, and four
fnemen.
On The i0th the Floyi3a wen TO Norfol, 10 coal,
and just before starting was run into Oy the trans
pOltstCamCr lHiGHce, and very seriously d imaged.
The transport struck her on her bow, knocking
off her head chains and booms, and otherwise
/ ipiuIing her. She was in very bad condition
when captured, and all the time since her arrival
here she has leaked so badly as to keep the stcam
| pump engaged continually.
| The collision with the Alliance greatly increased
| the volume oil the wafer which constantly poured
into her causing her 70 III at the rate OF eighteen
inches an hour. On the arrival Of the Fioyidq
| g. Newport News au additional pump was secured
| from the 1HdRtd, and the two were kept uniu-
! tCuuptodly at work. The position Of the vessel
| was about half a mile from the Shore and three
| quarters Of a mile below the Atlanta.
| Here she had remained since the 2DEh. \ v2ry
| strict watch had been kept day Gui night, rs 10
| was supposed that measures might be taken by
| the Rebels to attempt her destruction from tle
| shore. About 9 O'Clock on Sunday evening one
of the pumps on board suddenly gave one, thrO y
ing an additional burden upOa the remlllilg
one, Oulh the water Was for time apparently
kept down as before
At l23 o'clock Mr.. Baker inspected the pump,
and Obs.rVing that the water was mo- then giiu-
| ing retired. An hour afterwards the engineer ia
charge reported 10 him that he could not keep
the vessel clear, and that the water was glui1g
constantly. The commander Immediately called
| all hands, the deck pumps were riggcd, and they
| commenced bBiling actively. The atlanta was
also sipoaed without delay, and two boa.s crews
were hurried from the ram to the aid Of The
| sinking vessel.
Before they arrived, however, the water had
risen considerably above The tireroOm floor, so
that it was found necessary to put the fires out.
The pump-engine was thus stopped, and the
water kept pouring in at fearful rate. IL was
impossible at any time, after It was found the
Inflated ship was sinking, to move her towards
the shore, as there was but seven pounds pres
sule of steam-just sufficient 10 work the pumps
Neither was there means mt hand for towing
her ashore. From the fact that the boilers OF the
Florida were constructed for burning soft coal
and there was only hard coal on board, 10 lOJS,
> under any circumstances, a long time TO get up
! ! sufficient steam TO work her engines.
! In q few minutes after sending the two boats n
! the Florida Captain woodward, Of the ttqRtg
| came himself on board to see what could be done
' | to keep her anOlt. Bpt it WAS apparent that shC
must soon sink, and the men were ordered to
then effects, AMI prepare 70 eaye her % hei
r ! fate. Tie Florida kc"t rapid filing up, so that
= at seven o'clock the water was foot above the
% | berth deck
Atthe s-rne time that Mr. Baker sIgnalel the
/ atlanta, he sent telcgrapbic message 90 Ad-
II mira Porter at this place, that the Florida wa
, sinking The admir'l Immediately ordered thl
tug P0geto steam up to tho Fi0rida, and TOW hel
"a into thJal water towards the shore, The tu4
e came alongside az 7'lj, hut the Florida was bI
r tins lime so near sinking that it was deeRed dan
I, glruus 10 attach i, as IN going down She would
!, tgkG the tug along with her. A few minutes after
with eight feet OF water in her, she crcened owe
n and disappeared tern foremost Mr.. BAKER anl
=, Captain Woodward remained alongside in tn
"a tug until she went under.
s he FlOYjda had all her guns, and everything
's on board Just as when she was captured. Tn
~ cause of her sinking is considered uniOubtcdl,
N TO be the collision with the rauspOr. steamer, an
IS tits supposed that the Government Will call upo
't the owner of that vessel for damages.
There is a feeling Of general satisfaction anon
g naval officers here, at the fate OF the F!or.dt
e is considered much preferable to have her dis
o posed of here, and then indemnity be offered 3
the Brazilian Government, than suffer the hum
liation OF taking her back and seeing her salute
as she would enter the hgrb0r OF Rio Janeiro I
triumph with the Rebel flag lying. ms Woul
have been bitter pill 70 the American officer
+ who would have TO accompany her.
$ 1t is not definitely known what caused the waite
a suddenly to pour into the Florida in so muc
d greater volume after midnight, than on tue morn
/, ing she sank. Tie engineer thought that some
: thing had Happened to the sea-eocSs Of tue ca
y gine, and others supposed that some portion 9
- the bottom -planks had given way. After the col
u lisiou with the alliance, the Admiral caused hg
70 be enlghted several feet so As 70 have less SUI
" face under water.
y LIEUTENANT CUsUNO's EXPLOIT.
. Admiral Porter received Today the flag Of tn
a torpedo boat with which the gallant LieutenU
, Gushing performed his famous exploit The fla
Z vas recaptuIed at Plymouth, and with II, th
: COOrs of the Rebel ram AlbeMHyie, which Wer
Il also forwarded TO the Admiral. Lieutenant Cush
. iDgs coat, which hc took of when he jumpe
NJ overheard, was found at the same time. Tn
coat was perforated with three bullet holes, show
e ing how narrow was the escape OF the BRAY
1, young ueuTenant.-N. Y. HHorld.
8 SICK AND WoUNpED SOLDIERS, - Coion'
y Robert II. Corson, State Military Agent, receive
- to-day the following telegraph from Annapolis
| rp1atipn IN ntp VaIaa nriaOuprg