The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1864-03-09
THE SINKING OF THE CORVETTE
HOUSATONIU By A REBEL TOR
From the Roos,on Herald. Feb. asth.


From the Boston Herald, Feb. 2sth.
U. s. SHIP CANANDAIGUA, Feb. Is. 1864
EDITOR HERALD: It.is with profound
grief that l chronicle the loss Of the
United States corvette Housatonic by an
internal torpedo machine. The event
took place last evening, one of the cold
est Of the season At quarter to nine
o'clock long object, just on the edge Of
| the water, was discovered astern of the
ship. La an instant the cable was slipped.
the alarm sounded, and all hands beat to
| quarters, but before the ship had made.
any Roadway the torpedo exploded under
her starbourd quarter, making most
frightful report. an .ar e,a, srs.h.r
The propeller was broken off, the stern
was torn to pieces. and the ship sank rap
Idly in less than eight minutes from the
time the torpedo. machine was first seen
| The vessel sank in six fathons of water
AS she began to sink, the most frightful
scenes were witnessed. Men with nothing
but their shirts on were seen struggling
in the water, Officers were trying to get
the boats loose, while others were mount
ing the rigging. Three boats were finally
unlashed, and these were sent TO; rescue
those in the water. The gig at once start
ed for the Canandai gua. carrying Captain
Pick cring, who was badly injured, but is
now doing well. ,,r NV g .
AS soon as Captain Greene, of the Ca
nandaigua, got the news, he at once hoist
ed Signals OF distress and came to our
assistance. and in three hours after the
attack on the Housatonic all hands that
were saved were safely transferred to that
ship, where they received every attention.
subsequently portion Of the survivors
were transferred to the Wabash. -...
The llousatonic is total loss. All
hands lost all they possessed, money.
clothes, Sc. In fact many OF them, in-
civ ling some OF the Officers, went on
board of the Canandaisua in naked
state; a sad incident of the disaster is
the loss of Ensign Hazelton, of Concord,
\. IL, Mr.. Muzzy, Captain Clerk;FJ ohm
/ " lii nus, Quartermasler, and john Welsh
coal HEAVIER, of Boston, were drowned.
The latter had got safely on deck. bat ven
tured back to save three hundred dollars,
VIII ch he had in his bag nm the berth
deck. Poor fellow, he never returned
! Theodore Parker (cnlored) who was OH
the lookout directly where the ship was
struck, was blown into the air and instant
ly killed. The, Housatou;c has been the
ESPECIAL spite of tho crcbcls. Three times
they have tried to destroy her, and now
| they have succeeded. ...-t.
! 1t is feared that many others of the
vessels on this blockade will follow the
fate OF the Hopsatonic 1t is well known
the rebels have six or eight more Of these
internal machines ready to pounee upon
the fleet. The masts of the Housatonic
= are all that can now be seen of her, and
the gale which is now prevailing will do
much to make. u complete wreck OF that
once noble ship, -....,.
! Ensign Goodall has been very unfor-
! tunate. lie MAS iakcr. from the Housa-
tonic and ordered to the ill-iated " &C.
] hav ken, in the loss Of which he lost all
his effects. lie was again ordered back
to the Housatonic, aud now, for the sec
ond time, has lost al. ...i.a g.. 4.fr ,,.
/ First Lieutenant Higginson. of Boston,
escaped from the siatcroom with nothing
hut h,s- s1,ir. ni,ti drawers on. The Sur
geon 5 steward, and many others who
were in bed, had barely time to escape in
their. night clothes. 3, -g.f,-,
1t is wondcg that Captain Pickering
was not instantly killed as he was direct
/ ly. over wltcle the explosion topk place.
| He escaped. however, with some severe
/ gut ahd bluL e<,, and will soon be well
/ unain