Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-12-30

srrsngement,) and painted white, so ss 70 con-
ccal her movements from tho enemy In sp-
prpaching the beach at night, and In order
that, II observed, she might be taken for q
blockade runner. She was stored with 31o
tons of powder, 600 tons were first proposed,
btit tsas found impossible 70 stow II all.)
tjpon ne berth deck wss slowed tier Of bar
reis OF powder with the heads taken out; over
this was piled up In layers 60-pound bags Of
powder up to the top Of the deck, and q house
wa constructed on the after deck, fllled In the
same manner. All was connected together BY
gomez fuses penetrating the mass and uniting
Il st many points, every precauticn being taken
70 insure, II possibie, the instantaneous igni:
don OF the whole mass. A simple method OF
aring these fuses BY clock-work, timed as de-
sired, was provided, three being provided In
case one should fall. As further precautlon,
In case the clock fuses should miscarry, tho
ends Of the fuses were united at smother point
and broueht beneath perforated framework
Of wood In which were set lighted tapers, the
lower end Of the wicks penetrating the quick
Of tho fuses. Five Of these tapere were pro-
yided 70 insure success II other means failed,
and 90 a Last precautlon, II was arranged to
Ore the ship al point remote from the powder
at the moment Of leaving H. These arrange
ments being known, there teemed 70 be no
reason 70 spprehend q failure, and our only
nuIlGty was tuaA " tuUuiu NCCOunpifu hut
suit hoped for, and that the officers and crew
engaged In the perilous enterprise should
escspe safely. ~ yl.g .nl I.,I l.i
About one O'Clock the sentry announced TO
Capt. Glisson that light could be seen In
shore, due west; and We were all speedily on
deck. The light, % announced, was evidently
very distant. and being In tho right direction,
We felt no doubt as 10 lis meaning. The fire
itself was evidently below the horizon, and the
lurid glare We saw could only be the rsfracted
light Of the burning vessel. For more than
one hour we expectantly watched IL. Occa-
sionsliy Il would seem 10 diminish, but In q
moment more regain lie former appearance,
which was doubtless mainly owing 70 the rising
and falling Of our shlp on the waves. Z
The night vas 90 the day had been, piercing
cold, with smart breeze from the westward.
THE ExPLosIoS. .g.L
Finally, amer gssing I'LL our eyes ached, aud
We were about 70 give II up as failure alto
gethsr, about 3 q. m, the grand denouement
came. From out the dull lurid point Of light
there suddenly shot mp . broad, fan-shaped
aame, Of dazzling brilllancy, casting moment
arily red glare ever the heaving ocean, light
ing up the feet, and hiding the mild rays OF
the stars that studded the heaven above Us.
The Light was, ~ we have said, but NON en-
tary, and then all seemed darker than before,
We listened In some apprehension for the
sound OF the conclusion. Such an unheard OF
amount Of explosive material must surely, Il
was thought, produce an extraordinary concns-
sion, even at the distance OF 1fieen miles. We
listened thus In expectancy whilst one might
count twelve or hfteen-then II came. What
/ disappointment A mere dull, rumblipR
sound, as IL two light pieces Of artillery had
been fred In quick suecesslon, the second re-
port seeming merely the echo Of the frat. A
| very slighttre was felt throughout the ship,
| and that was all. "a hEzle," said one. ssWhat
Il Q waste Of gunpowdsr," +" said another; whilst
our Captain, In his disappointment, suggested
| that II must have been "shoddy gunpovderi,i
One and all were unanimously Of opinion tha,
Il had proved show not worth sitting up until
O'Clock In the morning TO eee. 80 r.
A few moments after the explosion a dense,
| black cloud ofsmoke rose up rapidly on the
horizon aud stood out In sharp, weil-defined
outline against the clear, stsrlit sky. This
cloud was Of huge proportions, and as II rose
rapidly In the air ana came swiflly towards us
| on Che wings OF the wind, presented most re.
markable appearance, assuming the shape of Q
huge waterspout, With Its tapering, spiral bass
resting, seemingly, on the sea. In very few
minutes 1t passed MS, filling the atmosphere
with its sulphurous odors, as IL some evil spirit
from the internal region had swept by us.
/ Thus passed OF, and vanished In smoke, this
anxiously looked-for event, which many had
| 90 earnestly hoped was 70 have proved an i'm
portant auxiliary In the work Of subduipg the
rebel defences at New Inlet. or course, al this
writing, We have no means Of determining &C.
cnrately what effect the explosion may have
bad; but whatever the result, the gallant men
who 90 nobly risked their lives In the perform,
ance OF this service merit, aud must receive,
the highest praise OF their fellow. countrymen