The national Republican., 1866-12-17
Fire At League Island=0.s. Vessels
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PuLApElPhiA, Dsc. el6, j About twelve
6cloek last night watchmaA from the IRON
clad heet at L@ague bland, oh the Delaware
river, near this city, Informed Tie officers OF
the day at the navy ysFd that the frfgste
New Ironsides was burning.
The naval tugs Pilgrim and Glance, under
the orders Of W. II. Macomb, U. 8. N, and
o company of marines under Lieut.. II. G.
Cochrane o. 8. marine corps were imme-
diately sent to the Island. Three steam fire
engines and FIVE hose carriages were sent
down by land, but owing to the great head
way made by the flames and strong wind,
and the difficulty in reaching the water, the
tide being low, vare unable to save her,
and returned to the city this morning in a
furious northeast snow storm.
The Ironsides was built In Philadelphia In
1862, cost e750, 900, and was the finest armor-
plated vessel in the United Ststes navy. non
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PHiDADrLfH1A, Dec. 16.-The once proud
and gallant frigate New 1ronsides, which
during the war Of the rebellion performed
such invaluable services, Is now q mass Of
smouldering ruins. 5gryr., f.t,-.l.. 49,.
While moored last night at the south side
Of League Island, fronting on the Delaware
river, she took Ere and burned to the waters
edge. The origin Of the fire 10 involved in
mystery, and Ms not known whether II was
the result OF accident or design. 200 o-ii .
The vessel has been laid up on ordinary
for several months past, with only two men
on board, a. watchmen, who relieved each
other at short intervals. Last night at ten
o'clock, when the watchman on duty was go
ing his rounds, he found everything safe.
The next hour, on performing this duty, he
discovered smoke issuing from the lower and
after part Of the ship, in which no FIRE had
been used for any purpose since the vessel
had been moored at the Island. The alarm
bell was wrung, and Commander John W.
Irwin, commanding the squadron, who has
quarters on shore near tie feet, was In.
formed Of the state Of affairs, and imme-
diately all the force at hand was put IN re-
quisition to extinguish the flames a' sal.a
The location Of the feet Is some three
and the FIRE attained considerable headway
before the fire department arrived at the
scene. There being NO apparatus on board
resource was TO dip the water from the river
in buckets, which was thrown upon the FIRE,
but this availed little. Notwithstanding the
crews Of the neighboring vessels in the feet
worked with indomitable energy to stop the
progress Of the flames until they were COM
pelled to desert the noble vessel and leave
her to her fate. 'E
Commander Irwin directed the frigate st.
Louis and the steam tug Clematis, which
were lying between the Ironsides and the
Shore to be removed to the middle of the
river, out Of the reach Of the flames, and they
escaped uninjured. Fortunately, the wind
was blowing OF shore, and the FIRE was thus
confined to the Ironsides. The rebel ram
Atlanta and the mammoth iron-clad Dictator
were both moored close to the Ironsides, but
they suffered no injury. The remainder Of
the iron-clad feet were moored in the back
channel, half mile from the Delaware front,
and, Of course, sustained no damage. rsel
The fire burned all night and all day to-
day, and at nightfall, when the reporter Of
the United States and European News Az.
sociation left the scene, the ill-fated Ironsides
had been turned out into the stream.
When the FIRE had extended from bow to
stern, sending up massive column Of smoke
and fame, presenting grand but sad sight,
the smoke stack was still standing, although
il was evident that everything about her Of
combustible nature was almost totally de-
stroyed. Her hull was Of wood and the fire
could be seen spreading through every part
Of the hold, and she began to careen over
with every indication that in few hours she
would sink, as soon as the flames reached the
water line. .-...
The iremen were promptly on the ground
with their steam fire engines, but the tide
being low, 1t was difficult to obtain water,
and they were unable to accomplish much.
The Ironsides was moved about hundred
yards from the shore, which increased the
difficulties of the fremen and rendered them
powerless TO save the vessel. They labored
hard, however, and crowded the gangway
leading to the burning vessel until they were
forced to leave by the heat Of the fire.
During the night Q severe snow storm set
in, which ragged with great violence, and
afterwards changed to tempest of wind and
rain during the day; but although rain came
down in torrents, the FIRE on board the Iron.
sides burned fercely and with no perceptible
diminution.
The cause of the fire will doubtless be in.
vestigated. The only fire used on board the
vessel was in stove in the engine room
surrounded with iron work, and it seems al.
most impossible that FIRE could have been
communicated to other parts Of the ship I'M.
less by the grossest carelessness or by de.
sign. The watchmen on board were consid
cred reliable and faithful men, and there
would seem to be no motive for setting the
vessel on FIRE. The officers Of the feet ex
press no opinion on the subject %.
1t is reported that some forty men who
had been employed on the feet were dis
charged recently.
Lutheran Church Convention.
READING, Pa, Dec. 15.-The Special Con
vention Of delegates from the various Ortho
dox Lutheran Synods Of the United States
and Canadas, which met here on Wednesday
last for the purpose Of considering PROPOSE
tions for basis Of union between the Synodi
journed last night. They have provided fol
the organization OF new Ecclesiastical
oolIaI <ha naparol NoupciI Of tho Tuthoro q