The New York herald., 1873-12-31
THE OFFICIAL REPORT.
U. S. STEAMER OssIPEE THIRD RATE),
AT SEA, LAT. 81 Is N,
LON 7k az W. Dec 90 I8fx \

U. S. STEAMER OssIPEE THIRD RATE),)
AT SEA, LAT. 81 Is N, !
L0N Is 46 w., Dec. 20, 1878.
SIR have TO report that took command Of the
steamer virginius on the evening OF December II,
of Dry Tortugas. relieving Lieutenant Mark.
Ensign George A. Caltroner and Second Assistant
Engineer w. Fl. Lambden, together with three
machinists, two boiler Makers six seamen
(efective), six ordinary seamen, eight sea-
men and fourteen landsmen composed her
complement. Second Assistant Engineer Kirby
and Midshipmen Underwood and Tyler subse-
quently joined the ship. Hound about 10 tons of
coal on the ship and over 20 tons Of dirt and
ashes in her frerooms. The bilge was very dirty,
and she was leaking in her forward compartment
and had water in the other compartments. Dur
ing the evening we received stores on board and a
working party from the Ossipee who coaled
the ship all night from the schooner Matte A.
Hand. The crew OF the Virgnius was exhausted
by constant work from the time OF leaving Bahia
Honda. Next morning stopped coaling and put
all hands at WORK pumping and baiing out the
ship, the water having gained two feet during the
night. At A. NJ the water was up to the
CRATE bars in both firerooms; the forward COM
partment had a depth OF four feet and the after
compar tment had depth Of two feet six inches of
water. During the day received assistance from
the Ossipee in the way Of working parties
to help clear ship OF water, repack stufing boxes,
overhaul pipes about engine and also q party to
repair breaks in forecaste and caDoose. Captain
Whiting was on board during the day and ex-
amined the leak around her forefoot with Chief
Engineer King and myself This latter was the
only one of any consequence that could find in
the ship. At 4 p. M. the water was so much re-
duced that was able to start fires in the forward
boilers and at 15 O'Clock in the after boiler AS
soon as steam was reported I commenced back.
Ing the engines to clear the ship OF water by
her bilge pumps At 80 A. M. Captain Whiting
expressed himself as satisfied that the virginius
was In it condition to go North and left the ship
Shortly after we went to sea in tow of the Ossipee
During the day, and as long as the sea was
smooth we managed to keep the water down with
the main engine pumps. As we proceeded North
and the sea rose the working OF the ship greatly
loosened the rtvets OF one OF her bow plates, and
an old patch on her bow became loose, and she
leaked so badly that had to I'LL up her timber holes
in the forward bulKhead to Keep the ireroom clear
During the forenoon Of the 22d Inst threw
overheard her port bower anchor and all the heavy
weights in the fore hold. consisting OF old iron
rigging, chain cables, old iron &c. and shlfted the
coal from her fore hold aft in order to tighten her
forward. On the afternoon Of the 23d we had from
to 10 feet OF water in the forward compartment
anu SO mucn wafer III Tue uferOOm as 10 enQanger
putting out the fires; and signalled you not to
go further north, and that there was a dock at
Charleston, Knowing it would be dangerous
to risk the carrying away Of her for
ward bulkhead, ana having no reliance in
any OF her pumps, which had been constantly
breaking down ever since starting. Besides this.
my men were worn out, their hunks were
drenched and they had no place to sleep. Her
bows we're working so much that the hunks in the
forecastle came adrit from the ships sides. At
3 A. M, December "a, the crown sheet OF the
middle furnace of the after boiler caved in and 1
hauled the fires from that boiler. Shortly after
ward several blisters were reported in the forward
boiler. At daylight l signaled the condition
Of the boilers and water, and you sent Chief
Engineer King on board He inspected the boilers,
and understood that, In his opinion, they were
not safe, and gave orders not to carry more than
five pounds OF steam unless in extreme necessity.
With this low pressure one ofthe furnaces gave out
In the afternoon, having a blister on the crown
sheets three feet long. From this time until we
made fast to you again. on the 25th inst, we had
about the same amount OF water in the ship; but
when we stopped our engines the water gained
on us, and 1 asked your permission to
back my engines Owing 10 having but three
scrvlceablc furnaces In the forward boiler we
could not carry steam to work the engines fast
enough to throw much water; and as the sea in
creased so did the water, and l asked you to-
wards night to haul up close and take us OF. Half
an hour aftcrward got donkey pump to work,
and as we were Keeping the water at stand l
slgnaed that could hold on till daylight. The
water, however, gained on us greatly during the
night until 1t put the fires out at O'Clock A. M.
on the Goth inst, when the donkey pump stopped.
The after pump was broken, and coula not be re-
paired with anything at our command, so sig
nailed for you TO take us on Immediately. The
forward compartment was full or water up to
within loot and q half OF the spar deck, there
were five feet OF water IN the fore hold water over
CRATE bars In the frerooms and the alter CON-
partment dry. The sea was very rough. and it
was blowing gale OF wind from north and
east, and l did not think 1t safe TO remain
on board q minute longer than necessary.
When your boat came under the virginius' bow
put the landsmen in her first, and only then stopped
work passing water out OF the ship. II took nve
trips to take us all or the officers going in the last
boat. As 1t turned out might have been able to
save the mems bags and hammocks; but, under
the circumstances, l deemed IL imprudcnt to at
tempt H. Al 4:i7 A. N. the virginius sunk. bows