Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1867-12-28
THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT.
The Loss Of the NIOnOn-ahel1.
DISPATCH FROM COMMODORE BIssELL--THE
VESSEL THROWN HIGH AND DRY BY AN
EARTHQUAKE OFF ST. CRoIX -EXTRAoRDI-


VESSEL THROWN HIGH AND DRY BY AN
EARTHQUAKE OFF ST. cRoIx -ExTRAoRDI-
NARY PHENOMENA.
U. S. STEAMSHIP MoHoNGAHELA,
ST. CRoIX, Nov. 81, 1867.
SIR: have to state, with deep regret
that the United States steamship Mononga
hela, under my command, is now lying on
the beach in front of the town of Frederick.
stedt, st Croix, where she was thrown by
the most fatal earthquake ever known here
The shock occurred at 3 o'clock, p. IN. of
the 18th inst. Up to that moment the
her was serene, and no indication of
change showed by the barometer, which
stood 80 degrees 10 minutes. The first in
dication we had of the earthquake was
violent trembling OF the ship. This lasted
some 30 seconds, and Immediately after
ward the water was observed to be Ieceding
rapidly from the beach. In moment the
current was changed, and bore the ship to-
ward the beach, carrying out the entire cable
and drawing the bolts from the kelsuu, with.
out the slightest effect in checking her terri.
tic speed toward the beach. Another anchor
was ordered to De let go, but in few sec
onds she was in too shoal water for this TO
avail. When within few yards of the
beach, the retiuX of the water checked her
speed for a moment, and a light breeze from
the land gave me a momen.ary hope that
the jib and torctopmast staysail might pay
her head off shore, so that in the retluX of
the wave SHE might reach waters sufficiently
deep to float her, and then be brought up
by the other anchor. These sails were i'm
mediately set, and she payed off so as to
bring her broadsido to the beach When
the sea returned, in the form of wall of
water 20 or 80 feet high, it carried US over
the warehouses into the first street of the
town. This wave in receding took her
back toward the beach, and left her nearly
perpendicular on the edge or a coral reef,
where she has now keelcd over to an angle
! of Is degrees.
All this was the work of few moments
only, and soon after the waters of the bay
subsidized into their naturally tranquil state,
leaving US high and dry upon the beach
During her progress toward the beach she
struck heavily two or three times the first
lurch carried the rifle gun on the forecaste
overheard. Had the snip been carried 10
or Is feet further out, she must inevitably
have been forced over on her beam ends, re
sn,ting, fear, in her total destruction, and
in the loss of many lives. Proyidentially
only four men were lost; these were in tn,
boats ut the time the shock commenced
The boats that were down were all swampeC
except my gig, which was crushed under
the keel, killing my coXswain, q most valua
Die man. During this terrific scene the Off
GERS and men behaved with GOODNESS anC
subordnation. 1t affords me great pleasure
to state that after careful examination o
the position and condition of the ship an
enabled to report that she sustained no ir
reparable damage to her hull. The stern
post is bent, and some 90 feet Of her kee
partially gone; propeller and shaft uninjured
The lower pintle OF the rudder is gone, bu
no other damage is sustained by it. NJ
damage is done to her hull more serious
than the loss of several sheets of copper
torn from her starboard bilge and from he
keel.
She now lies on the edge of a coral reef
which forms solid foundation, on whicl
ways may be laid She can thus be launch
ed in 10 feet of water at 100 feet from tn
beach. Gentlemen looking at the ship from
shore declare that the bottom of the ba
was visible where there was before, and i
now 40 fathoms of water.
To extricate the ship from her position
respectfully suggest that Mr.. J. Hanscom b
sent down with suitable matera! for ways
ready for laying down, and India rubbe
camels to buoy her up. think there is n
insuperable obstacle to her being put afoai
providing gang of 10 or l2 good ship car
penters be sent down with the Naval Con
structer, as her boilers and engines appea
to have sustained no injury. A valuabl
ship may thus be saved to the navy, witt
all her stores and equipments
s. b. BIssELI., Commodore.
Commanding
Rear Admiral ]. S. Palmer, commandin
RI Snnadron CT Tbomaa