The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-12-31
NEW YORK.
A Fortunate Disaster-The yirgini-
US Sunk.


at this port last night aud came to an
chor off the Battery at half.past eleven
o'clock. The Virginius, as will be re-
membered, was given over to the Caps
tain of the Ossipee on the 18th inst,
and to the Ossipee was assigned the
duty OF bringing the famous tillibuster
to this port. To the astonishment OF
the port authorities,l the Ossipee was
signaled last night and 10 Virginius
appeared in sight. When, however,
the Ossipee was boarded. the startling
intelligence was communicated that
the Virginius, which all along had been
10 a lesky condition, had, when OF
Cape Fear aud in sight OF land, in spite
OF all efforts of the crew on board, set
tied and
GONE TO THE BOTTOM
The Virginius, after being sur
rendered to the United States
and taking coal coal st the Tortu-
gas, left that port for New York in tow
OF The Ossipee. No particulars Of the
voyage have yet been obtained, further
than that the Virginius was sunk. The
Ossipee was met below the quarantine
by the revenue cutter Grant, and one OF
the crew OF the latter vessel says his
belief and that OF the other sailors on
the Grant is that the Virginius was
lost. The Captain of the Grant board"
ed the Ossipee and was informed that
the Virginius went to the bottom at
Cape Fear, off Wilmington, North
Carolina The sailors on the Grant cay
they did not hear whether the Vir-
ginius went down from injuries sus-
tanned before her departure from the
Tortugas, during her voyage, or
whether it was the result OF severe
storm. They were also unable to
say whether any OF the crew
IN board were drowned. but think
ALL WERE SAVED.
a reporter boarded the Ossipee this
morning. The officer on deck stated
that he had strict orders not to COM
municate with anybody in relation to
the circumstances attending the found
ering OF the Virginius. He would not
even give the date Of the occurrence or
the place where it happened. He, how"
ever, made no attempt 10 deny the &C
curacy o; the report as TO the sinking
OF the vessel. From a conversation
with those on board the revenue cutter
Grant, it is believed that the VirginiuS
went down last Friday, during severe
gale.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
A Herald special from Wilmington,
North Carolina, says that Captain Nil,
banks, OF the steamship Tonawands,
which sailed Sunday from PhlladeI-
phis, repor,s passing sunken vessel
nine miles south OF the main bar with
only her top masts or top gallant masts
out of water. The steam tug Brandt
subsequently, visited the spot. A pork
barrel was floating above the wreck,
attached to twelve inch hawser, the
latter having evidently been used as a
tow rope. The pilots at Baldhead, at
the mouth OF the river, state that on
Friday last they observed large
steamship in tow OF full rigged ship
near the spot where the vessel lies. 1t
is believed that the subken ship is the
fam ous Virginius and the pork bar
rel was placed there TO mark the spot
where she went down. The ship is, OF
course, total lose, as it will be next TO
impossible 10 raise her. In few weeks
her hull will probably be entirely sunk
in the sand.
REPORT OF THE CAPTAIN or THE osSIPEE.
Captain Waters the commander OF
the Osipee, makes the tolloSing brief
report OF the sinking OF the VIrginius:
When Re took charge OF the FireIlius
he entertained doubts, unless he bad
exceptionally good weather, that be
would ever reach the port with the
Virginius. When below Cape Horn
the wind veered around to the north
and east and blew agale, the sea running
very high. Captain Waters received
information that his tow was taking
water rapidly and that che could not
be kept afoat He then headed for
Bolly Head light house located at Cape
Fear When one mile from the shore
and when within sight Of the light and
under Gideon reef, he let 60 his anchor
in eight iathoms OF water and immedi-
ately began 10 transfer the crew OF the
Vrginius to the Ossipee, which was
effected with much difficulty and dan
ger, owing to the lateness OF the night
and the sea running heavy. In short
time alterwardthe Virginius went down
a total wreck. There was nothing OF
value on board, the Spaniards having
removed nearly everything.
LATEST PARTICULARS.
New YORK, December 30.-The fol-
lowing are the latest details concern
ing the loss Of TIE Vrrginius: Capt
John Waters, OF the Ossipee, finding
that the strong northwesterly gales snd
rough seas increasing, put IN shore-
ward, little south Of Cspe Fear ou the
North Carolina coast. Ga Friday
Lieut.. Mound, on the Eirginius sig
nailed that it would be impossible to
remain on the ship as she WAS wrecked
terribly by heavy seas. The vessels
then made for Frying Pan shoals in or
der TO get into smooth water. When
they came within four miles OF the
coast where the water was forty-eight
feet deep, Lieut.. Mound reported that
the Virginius was sinking. The water
was comparatively smooth but relief
came too late. The Virginius' engines
rscked her terribly and widened the
leaks, and the water rose in her rap
idly aud got into her furnace. Orders
were then given to abandon her. Her
anchors were dropped to keep her from
drifting,
Boats were lowered and officers and
crew, with such few articles
as they could gather, jumped into
them. They were barely in time and
TIL