The New York herald., 1868-04-22

larness be arguments amply suiiclent to establish
his needed change. While aluding to this matter
It is apropos to speak OF the possible acquisition OF
IN American naval station on this coast. General
kiernan, for few months consular resident up the
iangtse, Is back IN America, and, IL seems, advo-
eating the acquisition by the United States OF the To-
calty known as WoOsung This Is a point OF allu- |
vial land at the junction OF the Wocsuns and fantse
Kiang rivers, low and nOtOriously hot and sicRy IN
the summer season; and the idea OF advocating is
addptability is simply ridiculous The island or
islands of Chusan, In latitude thirty degrees, are
easier OF acquisition and one OF the finest spots IN the
East. Geographically 1T occupies central positlon
oD the coast OF China portion OF the land s hly
its climate Is lightlul, and in summer the hot ana
sickly atmosphere OF China never prevails. III IL
known TO the foreigners in China as the heatness
point the coast The English see IL, ana are
already making Sdi1ttdrtunt Tor TIE SICK Oh iheit
navy. Admiral Keppel has just made 1t "a visit ana
TWO English men, n-of-war, one OF them the na2ship
are now there. For an American naval station 1t -
preeminenty fitted above any place On the coast,
and the officers ana men oil the American squadron
who were sick might be sent here with the most pehe
fetal results.
Admiral BcIps Deat,--Fcl Particulars OF tbe
Catas;rophc--sSirugs;es for I.'ie--.Ahe l'e-
ceases. Commander and HIS ssl.I1ated Cosil-
paDi0Es.
SnANGHAE, China, Feb. 3, 1858.
BY the arrival OF the 0saca irop Japan We have the
particulars in regard TO the death OF Admiral IA. H.
Ben, commanding the United Saates Aslatic squadron
Fleet Lieutenant Commander j. H. Reed &nd por
ton OF the crew of the Adn.ral's bargaa calamity
whose dark shadow rests heavily upon TIE Inaugural
ton of the opening OF the new japanese ports ana
o loss seriously felt by she Americans resident Ia
China.
During the 7th Sth sn1 9th OF Jsnuary gale e4
unusual power aud extent prevailed over the ia
panese waters Admiral Bell anStously awaited the
moderation OF wind<nd sea- that he might be enat&ed
10 maze a farewell, visit to the American Minister,
then Ia Osaca. Inad blown heavily from the west
IN bor boa ha sql tr rpar
Osaca, was White with surf.
On the evening of the 10th she wind was Tess ae-
we're; the had partially ssbsided, and thee was
promise Of pleasant weather. The Admiral 7@ent on
deck both before and after breakfast. locked over
head and then at the hsE, ana nottcias thai the
Japanese boats from Hioge crossed tie bar with ap-
pareutly little difficulty prompted probably TO
make his pso,ected visit. About nine c'cleck the
morning oi January IL ke signiled has antention OF
going ashere, anu sent word TO Lieutenant Com
mapder Reed, who, in bis Official position OF Fleet
Lieutenant Commander, usually accompanied him,
Informing him Of his intention. Lieutenant Com
manoer Iseed seemed to think there might DC trouble
Ia getting ashore and Jocuary spoke to his asso-
ciale Officers OF tho possibility OF disaSber 1T would
also bat the Admiral deemed H. no easy matter
10 reach the shore, iaasnuch as wien he lett the
Hartford he toni Commander Beknae that he sh ouid
take Oh his sword in the boat.
The barge pulled away from the Hartford, and
IN a few moments came 10 the turhileht water on
the bar The barge had scarcely reached this point
wnen sea partially filed IT ana the following sea
capsized il. Boats from the Hartford, lo4uOs and
other vessels put on immediately and reached the
| bar possible, but TOO ate TO save The Ad
! miroi Lieutenant Commander keed both OF
whom had been seen now and then as they were
lifted mp by the OF the crew oi The Admiral )
| barge three were saved, TWO were supported by
noaIlng oars ana the other clingng 10 the keel
| OF the capszed barge, anu from THIS man 1t was
learned That when the boat reached the surf she was
| struck ana capsized her. The Admiral, Lieutenant
| Commander Reed and the rescued man succeeded IN
reaching aud clinging to the Keel OF the barge and
| there they saw and spoke Of the boats coming to
I their rescue. A number OF times Inc violent sea
lifted them and wrenched their hands from the keel
Of the barge, but they succeeded In swimming back
again. Tie atmosphere was chilly and Keen, and
the water cold and Denumbing. AT last the Admiral
washed away from the boat and failed to return,
and then Lieutenant Commander Reed was unable
reach and regain his hold. At this time the boats
sent TO the rescue but few feet away, and in
few moments the three seaInen alluded TO were
reached and saved. The very life blood of the unior
tupate men who were lost must nave been instantly
CHILLED, for Lieutenant COMMANDER Reed was an eX-
ceilent swimmer, as undoubtedly were the other
also. This cause only can account for their ina
bliity TO remain adoat any longer.
Even after the return of the boats 70 the ship it
hoped that the unfortunate men might have
been picked up by japanese boats. An oIlcer was
sent ashore bat could obtain satisfactory tnfor
nation. In the afternoon other boats sent over
one seaman, that had been washed ashore, were OBJ
taned. watch was set, and Thai night and the
day following the bodies OF ali were recovered. The
ciew ol the barge consisted OF twelve seainen and
the coAswain. Uf this number ten were lost. All
the bodies were buried at Hogo and at the funeral
was large attendance OF civilians and OF American
and foreign officers. The bodies Of Admiral Ben and
Lieutenant Commander Reed VIII be dislnteIred and
tlkeu To Hong Kong by the United States steamer
AIoosook, aid from thence TO America by the
hartford or supply.
IL Ia a calamity OF more that usually distressing
ctaraS.er. Admiral Bell had survived some OF those
teVrihc ights which stand in prominence from the
re.seDt American war--pecuiary herce and san
guNary one. Here, IN these remote waters, where
tne American name was q byword, he has
esti vDisiled anew, and army, an influence
mem, az American institutions. Tith an active
ooi ii just closing he was on the eve oi re-
turin " 10 America to pass the remaining days which
ws puppOsed allotted him IN peace and quiet;
but the vigorous and active life which 1t would seem
was a. v.Gat entitled 20 go out Ia peace has been
snatchg away by violent death, and Americans
here-A Neccans the world oyer--unite their sympa-
thies wit That nation whose redeemed lie was OBJ
tanned al tsc LANDS Of auch a. these
Ldeuten. vi Commander Reed, though he had taken
ii,st passeav tle threshold oi life 40 nlm nature
bad been bcuntiiul In her gifts Possessed
OF a sironte .sonsutution, great vitality OF lie
aad lne phSssue' ne ,oos was man aa onsnr @p9n
ipleIIuencc n ~ aaotlvty were Bty blended 10 make
is worth app. went AZ nlesslnate his Kindness in
social lie wI Sas,ceabe. Toward the friends Ol his
cu0ice ne haa a heart warm and tender, anJ D hand
oyei, and Uensr, ms. 10 others nc was no hypOcrc.
Frapk ness aud kuGnuousiess were his charaGt ris-
tlcs renderIy n xsitive ol the honor and reputation
of his country IN Ssag aud his profession he was al
W.yn re.uy ia vim lcate them In such manner his
rujd ,udt'npnI :, e.ued best. Promising unusual
rDipnny I'D IN nl ri, his country ana has service by
Bis death sustain NSf uot easy W hi' INC Hicuus
tnat ne has na,,e i'm NE East VIII rei1eulber l with
pleasure shJdOweu shsy ny we icann"."n vi sncn
terrible suDdernc u; friendship. lis squadron
iriends win not cease 10 anourn his loss.
append the general oaLaer issueu py Ioihhooo'e
J. Il. GU.dsOorougu:--
GENERAL ettpSh-- Nv =. .-.- -, -
u ia with main and : ugow that the senior oificfr
IN the Asiatic squadron a-hnpunces 10 tnc oHctis,
se.Ineu and marlne. a. Q auddcD end melancholy
death of the Com,uan, krsiD-ChieI Rear Admiral
Heary Hayward Bell. III circumstances utteno,ns
his death are truly sad 4 eur Adlnirpa bell and his
his rag Iieuenan Comm smder Reed, yith thirteen
Oh te crew OF the Hartford sd Lhnl slpp ABOUT hihc
A. NJ. on the morning of Inc 1tb of Ianuary 1858, to
visit our Mnisnr i'm Inc cty " Osaka, japan; ~ the
boat neared the bar she ~ SSacbed TO- anu tile
lolowing sea capsized her Osls from tpe inherent
vessels IN slght at the time ere imueuiaLey senl
to tneir assistance aud notwi $anding every effort
was made 10 rescue them, only tDree uine crew
saved. nll thp ntnars t,,ct ultQlpiy AMI