The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-25
WRECK OF THE COMMODORE MDONOuGH.
ALL THE OFFICERS AND CREW SAVED.
Gallant Conduct Of the officers OF
the Donegal.
HISTORY OF THE M'DONOUGH.
SC. sc. sc.

while sin in the docks From her large beam she was
enabled 10 carry very heavy battery and performed
valuable services during the She was FIVE hundred
ana uliTty-two tons burthen and carried six guns
Among her services the attempted rescue Of the
United States steamer Isaac Smith, captured by the
enemy al the Legarevle batteries Stone river s. c.,
January 80 1853 She aided the United States troops
under Colonel Barton, Of the Forty eighth New York
Volunteers in the occupation OF Bufton, c., June g.
1865 As she built for river boat but little hope
was ever entertained that she could stand sea, Il she
should be unfortunate to meet with rough weather
She has been cruising down by Port Royal for some tme
and though well suited to rivers and creeks was alto
gether unseaworthy.
THE DETAILS OF THE CATASTROPHE
The United States steamer Donegal, Captain George H.
Avery lett Port Royal the morning of the 18th. tow
ing The Philadelphia Gadolus and Commodore Nc
Donoagh She left Port Royal steamer Malvern, flag
ship; the ship New Hampshire and steamers Dafiodi
o. NJ Petit At the Of starting the weather
fine the night of the 18th she went into Charles
ton. She steamed out the morning Of the 10th and
put inio Beaufort the same night to enable the
Philadelphia small vessel, to take in coal. The fine
wcahc continued through the night and when she left
ncst rU. ming there iorcahsdowings of storm
On tlis .ay Sunday she parted company with the
Phadel Ina and Gladious off tho Capes Of Virginia they
having received orders proceed to Baltimore, and, still
towards Now York.
About half past nine O'Clock Tuesday morning. the
22d, in the latitude of the Breantine Shoals a stiff
breeze sprung up and squa from the southwest
changing TO the northwest and from that TO north north
east. This squall steadily increased in fury and the
dashed to enormous height The Done
gal could not make much Roadway in consequence of
tow ng ths McDonough and The anxiety Of the OH
OF the latter vessel divided between their own
city and that of their convoy She lay In the trough
of The se, unable 10 make any perc pttble headway
On bard the McDonough at about nine r. NJ, the
chic engineer reported that Of the valves had
and that he would have to stop the boat in or
dc .!.k the necessary repairs This thc captain
WI! NJ, ecar Of but o-ccred him TO keep her and
PHI, all h, he could Until the weather should
gcl better after the reported his inability
{, pro- erd and stopped the vessel Meantime the gale
liner alag violence and blew steadily from the
asi nos eas causing the ship labor very hard The
rapidly rising in the hold The engineer then
Up and reported that the rock shaft OF the donkey
pumps hat broken, but told .c captain Il ne could mail
ag.o keep up he could x the biIge injection, set
1t and keep her free until da! light but be ore he
could get all ready the the fire room
(a~out hrce A. NJ she si;nalled to the Donegal
al ant slnkns;'' to which The Donegal replied, "krcp
af.a LID daylight If possible" 10 attmpt giving her
a%i tan such time impossible. On the
ceip this signal the VI the McDonough secin
tnctr depended their keeping aloat ut the inst
CATION John benson, lot, set TO aud worked with al
most sedib'e energy, bailing and pumping. During
the Cane the engineer IN charge, Mr. Warren, was
WORDING ,, the biige pump mp TO bis waist in water,
and col, nned to work IN such a position for over
eieui His example and that Of the pilot, Mr.
Dsisoa, great effect tho men, who succeeded
af considerable lapse Of time in reducing the depth
OF the water to some extent Hopes were now enter
tain of being able to get sca but these were not
to 10 realized.
shortly before daylight the officers and crow of the
Donegal which vessel was rendered almost helpless,
were thrown into tho widest confusion by the report
large vessel bearing down full upon them and
that collision was inevitable The vessel in question,
however altered her course and thus this of alarm
SAVING THE CREW.
DayiiC. came, but with II cessation OF the storm.
The sea- lashed by the wind foamed In madness, and
dashed McDonough with such fury threatened
60 sweep off everything on board while the Donegal,
although laborng heavily still rode proudly the crest
of the With the appearance OF the first streaEs
snxiosy for their convoy and were overioyed to
her still anoat though each moment the waves threat
sned to enguf her. The first plan entertained for thc
sa9ing Of the the rigging of hawser 10 tic
McT)onoag and then endeayor TO sling tho crew sngly
on board. This plan found implactcabe. The sas
pcasc among the OF tho doomed ship fearful
Longing for daylight the period Of their deliver
ancc tncy moth ng less tran miracle could save
thcm and bravely waited Till their vessel should sink
bearing them beneath the waves. In such a
tine Acting Ensign Anderson, with commendable
NO to ITO relief Of the crew The idea was look upon
madness and Captain Avery tho ght It would be bu
useiessy sacrificing life to stempt II a. at that time IN
any boat which should be lowered. Ensign Anderson,
however persisted, and Mr. Starr, acting first engineer
volunteered to take charge OF second boat Tho two
boats were lowered, and the call for volunteers TO
them fron the crew was nobIy responded to.
despite all hrir cndeavors the boas found Il i'm
possible get sufficiently near the McDonough 70 save
sned 70 smash the FIRST boa. which came near H. Acr
some time rope slung from the ship and the mrn
jumped overheard, siney, swimming near the first boat
TO the Donegal where ropes had to be thrown out
and the slung board In similar manner 70 that
in which the, lett the McDonough.
In tins fortyfour persons were rescued, eleven
being officers Tho captain Of the McDonoush was one Of
the her He Jumped overheard IN his linen
any property whatever The savings Of the men for the
past few years board and Of course lost together
with ali their clothing The pilot above referred 70 had
board $500, Of which he was not able TO save single
cent. When he left the McDcnough there was over six
feet Of In the hold the breaking over her fear
fully About an hour and hall after the crow had LEFT
her she sank beneath the waves During the pers OF
Mr. Wright, chief engineer, and 8. d. Damon, acting
masters mate, was highly commendable.
The Donegal arrived in the harbor yesterday morning
about O'clock and landed the Of the McDonough,
q card OF thanks from whom we publish below
TuE UNITED STATES STEAMER DONEGAL.
This vessel, which rendered such efficient service 70
Island, where We visited her last evening, and by 70
thank the officers, among them DR.. Abernehy, FOL
scourtesies ext nded She formerly engaged IN
bio ckade running, and was captured In the Gulf BY
Captain Joue,t, Of the hetacomsI She afterwards
purchased by the United States government She Lei.
Pi elpha February 1856, and has been engaged In
the South Atlantic that time. She acted for
dc pm III boat.
TO THE EDITOR or THE HERALD.
The onic ~ or the late United States steamer Commo
dore kcDonough In behalf VI themselves and Of
vessel, which founccrcd ut on tho morning Of thu
Esd init take this method and opportunity OF express
Ing Their heartfelt gratitude for the almost super
human efforts OF the oileers and OF tho Unitet
States steamer Donegal Acting Master George H. Avery
commanding In saving their vcs after they had amoi
abandoned hope Especially they grateful TO Actin
Ensigns IT, Y. Bibles, VIM. H. Anderson AMI John ID
Starr OF United States steamer Donegal and the boats
crews under their command, for their humanity an
daring 10 coming to thoir relief when II seemed almos
,imposable for a boat to live
JAMES MtGLATHERY,
Acting Ensign, Commanding
A n L. BOWIE, Executive OficT.
JOsEpH FOSTER. Acting Assistant Paymaster
PRED r. SHEPHERD, Acting Asst Surgeon
\ WARREN, Acting Second Assistant Engi.
aeer, In charge.
Ngf s0N ROSS, Second Assistant Engineer.
HrNRY H. ARTHUR, Acts ID Asst Eng
pHIIIIpS WHITE, Acts Sd Asst. Engineer.
trrffs Is cTRpIfT Acting Masters Mate.