The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-12-23

| The Navy Department has received the following
report of the recent disaster at st. Thomas, writ
| ten by the late Rear-Admiral Palmer:
FLAGSHIP SUsQUEHANNA (FIRsT RATE),
ST. THOMAS, W. L., November IS, 1867.
SIR 1 beg to inform the Department of an ex-
traordinary occurrence, producing much disaster,
which took place in this harbor Yesterday after
noon. The weather was clear, though extremely
hot--barometer 80. While writing in my cabin,
about $50 p. NJ, my attention was called by a
sudden trenor seiZng the ship, increasing in ill.,
tcnslty, accompanied by a sound resembling the
grinding OF 4 vessel upon rough bottom, then
gradually subsdng until it ceased the whole last
ing about two minutes. [ recognized it imme-
diately as an earthquake, and looking toward the
town saw, from the dust and confusion, there had
been destruction among its buildings. Concluding
1t was now over resumed my occupation. and
had been seated about ten minutes when the re-
port was brought to me that the sea outside the
harbor had risen and was coming in huge vol
nme, as if to cngulf us all. went on deck, and
here the extraordinary spectacle of heavy wall Of
sea, some twenty feet III height, apparently dis
tant about three miles, was coming toward the
harbor with terrible power. Tho second anchor
was Immediately dropped, and men were sent to
the helm, which was all we could do; and then We
stood to meet it as il advanced with skirmish
line of tumultuous rollers in front. | saw with
some comfort that 1t came from about s. s.
W., and would consequently strike the entrance OF
the harbor in oblique direction. With feel
ing on, tumblng over the rocks that formed the
entrance, carrying everything before it. A small
steamer and s,ing vessel that were trying to get
IN were at once engulphed, and never again seen,
and the vessels at anchor near the entrance we're
lifted from their moorings and carried on the
rocks to leeward. Receiving this check, the heavy
rollers swept into the harbor. The De Soto, which
was anchored outside of us, and was lying rather
broadsde to- carried from her moorings,
both chains swapping, and she was thrown upon
the IRON piles OF a lew wharf lately constructed.
The next roller swept her of into deep water
again, and soon sho made signals that she was
leaking. In the meanwhile however, We had risen
from the rollers, which We mot nearly stem on.
encountering three III succession, the anchors and
chains holding on braveiy. The sea was now rush
ing In and receding with great violence. The
sunken wrecks were rising the shipping in the
harbor, swept from their moorngs, were coming
into us every few minutes, and the small craft i'll
shore were Lifted up and thrown into the streets
and left stranded. Along the water-fronts boats
were capslzed and In the water were men seen in
all directions swimming for their lives. At last
the water in the bay subSided into sort OF whirl-
pool and so soon as we could with any prCpriety
man our boats they were sent to the rescue of
the drowning men. cevsral we're picked up, one
already dead. The Dc Soto was now adlirt whlrl-
ing about the harbor, her pumps going, and get
ting up her steam As rapidly as possible
went on board OF her, and found shc could keep
herself free, and with her steam up and two
kedges down, she would remain i'll safety for the
every fifteen minutes, and so continued with
more or less severity through the night, and as l
am now writing this is still going on. The damage
on shore has been far more ruiaous to the mer
chants than that occasioncd by the late hurricane.
The first heavy rolls went up into the town swamp
ing the stores, which were mostly on the bay
point floating out and finally stranding their
goods in unbeard-of directions. TIE panic that
selzed the inhabitants was painful-rushing up tho
hillside, crying for mercy, and listening to no at
tempts to pacify them. AS went ashore in the
evening found that all the stone dwellings, were
abandoned and their owners Ill the streets, or In
the wooden buildings OF their friends, the alarm
being still kept up b. the constant shocks that
were still occurring This morning the shocks are
less frequent, and the bay perfectly quiet. The
English mail steamer which had lately arrived,
and was coang in the bay on the other side OF the
arbor, was as near being lost as possible. Her
passengers speak OF having felt the shock as we
did, and, looking behind them, saw small lslet
in tieir rear was cleft in twain, and flanio and
smoke issuing from the fissure. Shortly after
ward the sea arose and came we'll nigh carrying
them down; their cables parted, but they were
thrown, most fortunately under lee which plac-
ed them in comparative safety. The passengers,
all but three females who were lost III tho surf,
reached the shore.
Just now vessel has arrived from Santa Cruz,
bringing an officer Of the MOnonGahela, who
brought in verbal message from Commodore
efe Been most Violent at that island tle sea had
risen and thrown his vessel high and dry on the
beach and that three of his men who were i'll the
boats alongside were drowned. I leave this el"-
ming to see what assistance can render him. I!!a
damage sustained by this ship is not material.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOSEPH l.. PALMER
Rear-Admral Commanding n A. Squadron.
To the. Hon. GIDEON WELLEs Washington, d. c.