The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-05-13

blncs al the qualities Of for harbor defence and
attack with the seasong advantages Of an ordinary ship
That she has these latter deny for she has
steamed quickly and easily she Atlantic, making
fully as average passage and arriving In these waters In
good condition The chief engineer admitted that the
Story given out In Fepol that she leaking
was moro ruse 70 gain time; and that,
In reality, she b tighter than any iron-clad
no 10 acquainted WITH closely Examined the sides and
the ways for any evidences Of pumping but found
nons and am convinced that she has not suffered the
passage Tho nrst eutenantinformed that the ship
was manageable in all respects any steamer what
ever; THAT she could be backed turned and put at full
speed In quarter less time than any steamer he has
over Known He added without any show Of braggado-
co that had the Niagara and Sacramento engaged her 1t
Fsro she would have sunk them both In less than half
an hour and that Captain Craven showed better
good and seamanship than when he declined the
unequal contest He considers the armor and tures Of
the stonewa perfectly impenetrabe 10 shot Of any
kind, and that tho work Of smashng in the sides Of
ship could b isisurey DONE regardless Of the broad
sides Of the enemy. He added that the nrs requisites
for . steam ram should be seaworthness and speed
Both Of these he holds the stouswaM possesses in
perfect degree is possible for an iron ship 70 ~
tain Facts would to show that these assertions
not unfounded The ship has also extensive arrange
mouts for throwing torrents Of hot wster upon any
boarding party
should ny that the stonewail vulnerable. any
where, her decks These Of wood. though irou-
plated beneath The descent Of . series OF plugging,
heavy shells upon these decks would break them through
the with Of the Monitors Ia 1862 when
attempting to pass Fort Darling shs might also bs vul
nerabe TO determined and numerous boarding party
Attacked by vessels a once while engaged
with one the other could range alongside and sweep her
decks which, unlike those Of the famous Merrmac arc
unprotected by any roofing The man at the wheel 10
also quite uncovered BY driving the crew inside the
tue the decks at least could b taken possession Of
But leaving such psculations 10 abler and eIps
cnced heads but serec with al who have visited
her that she h the most formidable engine Of destruction
that has yet bccn aAoat Viewed bows on with her
great submerged snout rising and falling In the swell,
her rounded lines Of massive iron, and the gm defiant
aspect Of the whole ship she looks IKE some marine
monster suddenly risen from the Deep breathing
gsance al enemies This appearance mot esseped BY
the two hagesrp'pss serving as eyes, in the high and
sauting bows
One OF the gunners disposed To be communicative,
and gave the results or his experience board the
steamer he said they well treated. Tho crow 10
made up Of picked men Of all nations number Of
them onos belonged to the famous Fon captured last
time 70 bs ashore liberty and escaped the fate Of their
shipmaaes on thas occasion They took the rst oppor
tunty 70 ship again the rebel service Those whom
saw were ceanly, healthy looking men, and decidedly
sailor looking Commander Page Of the Stonewali,
believe was once ofcsr in tho United States Navy
He bowed coucously TO party from the after turret
which seems 70 serve - the quarterback. he was
dresssd In the gray rsbel unfosm Ho 10 white barsd
and has bu determined ball dog look about him well
naed 70 the desperate business ssuperntsnds Never
thele there cir OF general depression obssrv
able on board the stonewan They had just received
the new Of the surrender OF Lee and johnston end the
capture Of Mobile. 1.-TWO years ago." said one Of thu
ofncers, Two would have becn Of soue use but nov
We are too late" Another said, ''rhs thing II owe
nov. This war has hsted too long already
! For my part I am glad II has como 70 aI
end" The Stonswall they say, was intended espec'a!
TO break tho Wilmington blockade, and shs would have
ssd havoc among that wooden neet had she been
time When in lighting trim tho spsrs and yards al
housed tho bulwsrks laid down. bowsprt gged in and
the whole ship stripped ke prize fighter The crew are
frequently drilled In the general action exercise am
inclined believe that the ship has been particularly q
vored in this passage from Europe. Running down tho
northeast trades with fair wind and IN time Of ths
year when ne weather may usually be depended upon,
she hes been put remarkable tea 70 sesworthi
ness The chief engineer let out, in my hearing that
che would leave go 70 In CONN.," and that the
decks were flooded half the time Another ocer shortly
ateward said she behaved like duck, and the pret
tieak boat he had Amid such contradc
tory must sey for the most part on his own
powers Of observation We cannot escape the fact that
she has successfully crossed the ocean and told
that "shouid peace be declared between the North
and South" she would steam back again 70 Europe
and be sold 70 Of the maritime powers This
shows that they have no doubts Of her abil-
ity 70 return across the ocean I reminded one OF
the ocers that pcace" in his Of tho tcrm would
scarcely bc deciarod since tho rebel President and
Congress fugtvcs, and the confedsracy had nc
longer an existenos oven In "Ah we'll" he said
our Congress at any rate order the Confederate
cruisers OF service" Tho general feeling seemed "a
be that the game up and that the best thing for
them would DO get out Of danger fAs possible
StiI more than OF the expressed desire u
have vengeance n the shape OF parting Crack at th'
Yankees They FIRMLY believe that their vessel 60
into any port and destroy right and Je with impunsy
To-day they stsamins up, and will leave Nassau thil
evening" It Is believed for Gavestsn but others say thai
she has moro important destination the American
| coast
Ihsvs been credyby informed that on the day Of ts
souewalls arrival the American Consul dispatched
ass schooner over 70 Key wes TO notify Hcet shcrs
Of the proximity Of the This afternoon the block
ade runner Badger arrived from Havana bound 70 Eng
land Her smoke gave rise the that Ameri-
can cruiser was coming In, and that al rebel wal
ships being considered only pirates tho Stone
wall would be n once attacked In neutral port
But before any Of vessels reach here the ram
| viii be gone.
The glory Of Nassau has departed The closc Of the
war sinks IL 10 iu former insignhncance Everybody
who can get away 10 leaving the Island Tho Corsica
| takes away full losd Of passengers for Now YORK.
Auctions every day Of goods intended for blockade
runnng but which have goae down 70 nominal pricas.
with the departure Of this steamer the Royal Victoria
Hotel closes, for want Of psronags There are eight
blookads here, laid up for want Of business II