The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1864-10-22

correspondent, writing on the 9th, saws: Deserters
ana prisoners brought in within q day or two, state
to the neighborhood Of Reams's Station on the Weld
on hhiiroad, with the avowed intention OF giving
oatue. IL this proves true, we are probably on the
~ 2 another terrific contest Our preparations for
onense and defense are admirable. Lee will have 70
eject between allowing us to retain occupation of the
weldon Railroad and attacking our entrenched posi-
tons.
AN INTERVIEW WITH GES. GRANr.-A correspon.
dent Of the New York Post gives an interesting
account Of o recent interview with Gen. Grant. He
says:
LAS soon as salutations had been exchanged I
opened my business, referring TO the great meeting
held IN Union Square in June. where I had the honor
OF speaking, as well AS OF signing the address which
nad oeen prepared and transmitted to him by the
National Committee. The sentiment Of that meeting.
ueneral, | remarked, was to uphold the Union cause
ana ten. Grant, even though we that same day had
heard OF q repulse. There is no danger of a perma-
nent repulse,' he answered. Though seemingly we
are taking a great deal of time, yet we are using no
the rebel army faster than it can be repleuisbed. 1t
Will take more time, but l am fully confident Of the
result The position of our army before Petersburg
is one which gives US the advantage. Heretofore the
enemy have had the inside. and been able to manage
troops so as TO secure all the facilities which that posi-
ton affords. Gen. Grant has now got that. interior
line. and can throw troops from one point to another,
mass them, and employ them to the greatest adyan-
tage; and the rebel General cannot prevent him.
Zen. Lee has found his MASTER"
fort SUATER-PROGRESS OF THE COMMANDMENT.
The bombardment of Fort Sumter from the bat
teries on Cummings Point is being prosecuted with
great vigor. The firing thus far has had a marked
effect, having exposed to view n considerable portion
of the interior Of the work. 1t has been many
months since the rebels in Sumter have had q good,
thorough waking up; but the spell is now broken
under the new order Of things circumstance which
has doubtless made a lively impression on the sensi-
bilities of the garrison The bombardment is as
heavy as any that has yet been directed to the fort.
The firing cannot be excelled. Shot succeeding shot
strikes squareiy ut the point aimed at. At almost
every discharge down comes q pile OF rubbish. while
above rises a volume Of dust and dirt. When this
bcmbardment was commenced it is believed the fort
was as strong as it was before the severe cbastisement
ii received under the direction Of General Gilmore.
1t had become thus strong for the reason that the
rebels had been allowed to quietly, uninterruptedly
work ut repairing damages.
1t is admitted that our mortars do fearful execution.
The occupants Of the fort can, when away from the
bomb proofs, manage to crawl behind q pile Of bricks
to escape injury from the shots thrown from the guns,
but the perpendicular shots discharged from the NOR
tars have no respect for these places OF refuge. Since
the late bombardment com menced over one hundred
have been killed and wounded within the fort. The
casualties usually occur while the men are engaged
making repairs. Among the recent victims was the
late commandant, Captain John Mitchell.
Reliefs are sent TO the garrison Mt night by means
OF a small steamer which runs down the Sullivan
Island side Of the channel. BY the same means the
garrison are supplied with provisions.
The small, colorless flag in which the rebels take
so much pride can be seen at most all times on the
northwest wall. How many times the flag has been
shot away we know not, but we know for n certainty
that in a single day IL has gone overheard four differ
ent times.
As one of the results Of the presen, COMMANDMENT,
il has been noticed that a complete lane has been
Plowed through the fort. IL is the intention. we
understand, to continue the bombardment until il is
clearly demonstrated that the work OF demolition is
fairly accomplished.
HURRICANE At THE FIJI IsLAsDs-Loss OF THE
SHIP " ALL SEnESE.'' WITH q P~ERsoss-orHER DIS
AsTERs-By the Melbourne journals Of June Sd, re-
ceived ria CaIlao. we have the following narration
Of some disasters ut sea, which some time ago were
briefly alluded to in our columns:
The British ship IN Serene. Capt Myer. sailed
from San Francisco for Puget Sound, thence to load
with lumber for Sydney, N. s. w. After having COM
pleted her loading, she proceeded on her voyage.
with passengers and crew numbering 3S in all.
When OF the FIJI group the ship encountered a heavy
squall, which struck her with such violence as to in
stantly capsized her. The vessel is said to have had
such a heavy deck load on her as to render her total
ly unequal to surviving such n shock as she met.
The most painful part of the narrative, however. is
that II lives were lost, Ii having persisted when the
vessel capsized while 8 more succumbed from ex-
haustion. produced by the severe privations to
which they were reduced ere the survivors succeed
ed in reaching FIJI. 1t appears that those who were
saved from drowning remained on the capsized
wreck for ten days, and afterwards constructed a
raft. on which they were 10 days more. before they
finally reached the FIJI Islands. Capt. Myer (who
was among those who escaped when the vessel upset)
is said to have beco ne deranged after the calamity,
and died within tw days from the occurrence. His
wife and child. who we're on board. were both drown
ed in the cabin Of the ship. The first mate was also
lost and the second mate. who is among those res
cued, gives a heartrending account of the suferiIgs
endured by the survivors from exposure. The IL
who were saved arrived in Sydney from the FIJI Is.
lands on the I'd June, by the RefunGh. The HI
Serene was uninsured.
In the hurricane, which appears to have been OF
considerable range along the Islands. there were
three other vessels lost-the Hamburg schooner
Chagrefte, the Cheetah and the Mechanic. it is
feared with all on board.