New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-12-26
Destruction Of the Gusboat snroissus.
cOTEe'Pond' ne q Tie Nsw.UI':aa, Lra. -,

MOBILE BAy, Thursday, Dee. 9, isei.
II is with sadness that | send you the intel
ligence of tbe blowing up by torpedo OF tie United
States gunhoat NaTciss1s, William u. Jones command
On tie night Of Dec he went IN on picket cn,y 70
The distractions opposite the city Of Moeiie. AZ
O'Clock p. H. she came to anchor within three hundred
yards of the Instructions in plain view OF ihe Reoti
rams picket boats etc. The night Gear, md wtr
a belunf1l noon. At 1880 p. NJ. came NJ a terrIho
slua from the northward. The captain being sppre-
hcnsive Of lila vcss. grounding, as she was In only
eight feet Of water and the northers take tie Nser
of the bay, the steamer got underway aud steamed
mile further ont and came 10 anchor in nine ard
half feet Il water.
The vessel was TO an anchor ten minutes. The wind
blowing strong om the n"rihward and coz saersols
swell when all Of sudden terrific explosion. whicn
lifted the vessel sill OF hye feet, and sic came down
solid end broke all her connection pipes at the moment
We bXe!e the boiler exploded also; ihe cop.
taln O.are encrse.ic aud experienced sailor, soon
asce rtained thar his ship blown mp by torpedo"
ia less thon one minute lie had al his men organized
cayelopei by steam from he disconnecton OF he ppes
rand the f,w ont Of tie boiler. AL the hremen
soon ordered down in the roroom 10 haul cut tho
fueg to prevent f teI disasters Signal rockets we're
sem M and with c0mlsendsbe real and a~torishma
quick limo the United states steamer Octorora Lieut.
Commanding Low. Gentor ofleer coHinaAui ths
upper feet off nobiic) csme down 10 orr assistance
and the wounded were sont on board. We had no
physician but the Captain even had the presence 81 n nd
10 provide for them. lie ordered hhseeG OH 20 us
ribbed over those that scalded. HIS E&ecutlte
Mr. Marble Immediately attended 10 this himself lilo
Otorora drew so much alter that SIC could not ep-
proach u.s. SO she sen, the Covslp TO our assistance.
he vessel sank or ralaer lei IL fifteen minutes aier
tire explosion.
The csptain know they might as well attempt 10
pump the Atlantic his vessel bat to Keep Their.
snlrs I'D snd the 10 discipline he kept them at thu
pumus aud bailing for three hours until tho Consis
.ane alongside. Everything movable was removed 10
the Covslip-guns, ammunition. powder pro'lsloff.
etc. all IN good coEdi,ion Everything was got up frcna
lie hold before the water reached them The magaziLs
v,s first attended TO- The engineers department wss
employed stopping holes by the diseonnectIon ans
breaking OF the pipes. the outward delivery was opeD
90 she filed rapidly The explosion occurred exactly es
II 30 nm. end night anidshipe. The captain would
not leave his vessel TIL ordered by the senior oibeer
After lie :ound IL impossible 10 save her he ssnt 81
his men Oh board the Gov slip and remained there Win
four OF his brave fellows. VIZ: A. BreD, qua t'fia,e
Thomas Butler. boatswaiDs NATE George Moore cox
swain; Michael Smith, ordinary seamap, aud Liz
steward Ii was wonder the Rebels did rot attack
them or open fire on her at daylight from their baeree
which were in eQsy rpnge Of her. The Captain plac
,uypen,re In different places to barn her. bit Us be was
ul the opinion se could be Tsed he did mol set heg on
fire. 49,.
Tle Rebel. will have Jubilee their success. bet
will sooner help 10 take their city MOBILE must ald
shall he ours this Winter.
III. greet miracle that so few got injured and none
killed Only three were scalded; two seve-ciy-Sorusi
Keenan,, Quarter gamer, aud George Casey seaman:
mo remcn all happened 10 be on deck OF th.Ie would
have been a sad loss OF life.
The conclusion 80 greet that It seat th0se "Io
were asleep from the lower ber'hs to the upper once
The executive officer could not get out OF BIS 'oom ~
tie deer be stove the window and got GU in 'oss