Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-11-14

Yard this morning with dispatches from the
f1otilla and with Mes srs. Wagstaf and Davis,
OF the gunboat Tulip.
We learn from his arrival the following
particulars OF the disastrous explosion on the
Tulip, which took place on Friday evening Off
Ragged Point, about IA miles this side Of ST.
Mary's river, In the Potomac, whereby over
sixty lives were lost:
The gunboat Tulip, attached to the Potomac
Flotilla, LETT st. Marys at3 p. m. on that day
for the Navy Yard here for repairs, and when
passing Ragged Point. at o'clock and % min
utes, the boilers explode nth terrific crash.
rending the upper portion of the vessel to
atoms. scalding the officers and crew and
throwing them in all directions. Several OF
those who escaped without serious injury
ran Immediately to lower the gig, but before
they could get it down, the wreck of the Tulip
sunk, carrying down with her most OF those
on board.
Some of the officers and men seized what they
could lay their hands on. and succeeded in
keeping af1oat for above an hour, until their
condition was discovered by the tug boat Hud.
son, Capt. James Allen and Engineer r. Gran
ger, which picked up ten, who are all that es,
capped from the i'll fated vessel. The ten picked
up were Ensign Wagstaff, executive officer,
aud Masters Mate Davis, (the only two who
escaped uninjured;) Masters Mate Reynolds,
badly wounded, with six men.
The Hudson's officers searched diligently
among the floating pieces OF wreck, but sue
ceeded in finding no others than those men,
toned above and steamed on to ST. Inigoes.
Messrs. Wagstatf and Davis took the Ella
for this city, and the others were sent to Point
Lookout, where tw o of them died on Saturday.
The HudsOns officers and men, when the
survivors were got on board, imme diately pre-
pared coffee and refreshments for them, and
gave them the kindest attention.
Tha~a hNor n fhn q 10 IT1Q n
the accident 60 officers and men, including the
following: Acting Master w. H. Smith, who
halls from Philadelphia; Ensign Wagstaff, Ac-
ting Masters Mates Davis, Reynolds, Rotten
burg, Hammond and Simons, Engineers Parks,
Gordon and Teel. We understand that when
she started there was steam on but one boiler,
but before proceeding far, steam was raised on
the other, and the boat was proceeding slowly
up the river. The first intImation OF danger
was a cry from MIR. Gordon, who was the en-
gineer on watch, to run to the safety valve.
and he made his way to the engine.room, but
scarcely had he gone through the door when
the explosion took place. Atthis time Captain
Smith. the pilot, James jackson, Master Mate
Hammond, and the Quartermaster were on the
bridge over the boilers, and must have been
blown to atoms. The only trace left OF Capt.
Smith was his hat
sons must have lost their lives instantly. and
two OF those saved, died before the Ella left
81. Inigoes. Two or three others Of the ten
saved are not expected to live, among them,
we regret to learn, Engineer Teel.
Capt. Smith has been attached to the fotilla
for about two years past, and was mucn
esteemed young officer. He halls from Phlla-
delphia, and after receiving his orders on Fri
day before leaving, he telegraphed to his wife
that he would meet her at the Depot this morn
ing, but alas his expectations were vain! En-
gineer g. +. Parks, who was in charge OF the
engines, and went down in the wreck, halls
from Brooklyn, where he leaves a wife and
three children, with an aged mother. Engi-
neeer John Gordon, who was also lost, halls
from Philadelphia, where he leaves family.
The Tulip was OF the vessels bNilt at
New York, for Mandarin Ward, of China, and
after his death. the Government purchased
the Tulip and Fuschia another Of Wards
vessels.
Borh vessels were fitted up here for service
IN the hotilla, Acting Ensign Sluyter being the
first commander OF the Tulip. Acting Ensign
Shurtleff succeeded Capt. Sluyter, but was af-
forwards transferred to the Commodore Read,
on being relieved by Capt Smith. The Tulip
was fine staunch propeller 4th class of 1S3
tons, carrying guns, bat at the time OF the ex
pIosion had not the full complement OF men
IT hes been some months since she has had an
oveIhauIing and it is stated that some parties
at least considered her boilers unsafe. Four
months ago two engineers who were attached
10 her-Jeremiah Riddle and John T. Buck
lPy-reported her boilers unseaworthy and it
is stated refused to run the boat and they were
suspended for time and assigned to subordi-
nate positions. Doubtless the Department will
order an Investigation into the circumstances
of her loss.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE CAPTURE
OF PLYMOUTH.
Twpr ty.two Cannou Amona the Erui.S NJ