New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-31
LOSS OF THE CUBAN CRUISER.

CREW.
TIE TRIBUNE of yesterday announced the arrival
1t this port of the United States sloopof-war
O~ipee at / q. M. and the loss of the Cuban
cruiser Yirginius off Cape Fear Though the Vir-
rinius was known to be in leaky and disabled
condition when she left Key West, yet no one was
prepared for this startling denouement to even
70 complicated a plot The message received
1t tho Navy-Yard, however. and announced
In THE TRIBUNE an hour later, left
no room for doubt. Though the Ossipee
arrived at so late hour that the
particulars of the loss of the Vrginus could not be
learned vet all speculstions and conversations con-
corning her strange history were confined to this It's
concluding chapter. The Ossipee. which arrived Off
the Battery at l a. IN. yesterday, remained in the
same position throughout the day, and was boarded
by large namber of naval officers during the after
noon. The orders which had been received
on her arrival prohibiting visits were strictly
adhered to until p. M, when this restric-
ton was removed, and all persons having
business on board were readily admitted
A reporter of THE TRIBUNE who boarded the
Ossipee obtained full details of her voyage to this
port and Of the last voyage and loss of the Vrgnus
The story of the stormy voyages of the two vessels
told by Commander Waters and other officers of
the OsSipee, and confirmed by a number of the
officers and crew of the Virginius, is substantially
as follows:
The Virginius, Immediately after her surrender,
proceeded from Bahia Honda to the Dry Tortugas.
under convoy Of the fast dispatch boat Despatch of
the North Atlantic Squadron. Even at the time Of
her departure from Bahia Honda all her sections
below contained water. and she continued leaking
badly By the time she had reached the Dry Tortu-
gas the fires were nearly extinguished, and were
soon after entirely quenched by the rapid and steady
influx of water. The Ossipee, which had beer
dispatched from Key West to receive her at the
Dry Tortugas arrived on the 10th inst, "a hours in
advance of the Virginius. Upon the arrival of the
latter vessel It was learned that she in dis
tress. and workmen supplied from the Ossipee
They at began the work of pumping her, and
freed the compartments from water far Dossihle
Coal was also put on board from neighboring coal
schooner. The Vlrgnius was at this time in most
Thoroughly dilapidated condition Her matches were
removed; the skylghs broken; the companion-ways
shattered the compasses mutilated, and the furni-
ture overturned and damaged. Everything was
ruined. In the bow of the steamer was large leak
which had been stopped with hydraulic cement
This however had been detached, and allowed the
water to rush in with great rapdity. The iron work
near this leak had become somewhat corrodes The
forward compartment was nearly one-thrd filed
with water aud there was no way of pumping 1T
dry Bailing seemed not TO reduce il in the least.
The night of the 18th and the day and night of the
18th workmen were employed in pumping the vessel
and getting in coal. At o'clock on the morning of
the 10Th all the preparations had been completed,
and the two vessels were ready for sea. The anchors
were quickly raised, and the vessels were headed
for New-York. The Virginius towed by the
Ossipee with hawser about 400 feet In length AT
Kew West the Despatch left the other steamers.
which proc aeded northwaId with light northeast
erly winds and smooth sea. Favorable progress was
.l,a inst md
Gulf Stream aided them in their course. Mean
while the Virginius had been leaking constantly;
her toward compartment was filed and sshe was evil
IDENTIFY settling deeper in the water On the evening
of the 23d the strength of the winds increased and
prepared for the steamers rough and Dolsterous
.a in which the Vireiuius labored heavily and kept
on her course with much difficulty, since her bow
was depressed By the heavy weight OF the water
which filled her forward. compartment. She soon
became unmanageable and her officers announced to
the Osspee by signals that the water was gam
ing in the fre-room. Notwithstanding the con-
slant exertions TO keep it free, the water rose
no rapidly As 20 threaten the extinguishlng OF the
furnaces 1t was therefore deemed expedient for
the safety of the Virginius to abandon the Gulf
Stream ON account of the roughness of the sea- and
to proceed close in shore, taking advantage OF the
smooth water in the bends between the capes along
the North aud South Carolina coasts The course
was accordingly altered off Savannah aud the YES
sells entered smoother water. 1t was now found
that the water not gaining in the vessel and
the officers chung 10 the coast with the intention OF
escaping the heavy sea- and making provision in
case Of emergency for obtaining shelter under the
lee Of projecting headlands
In this manner the two steamers proceeded laborl-
ously In their course, contendng against strong
winds and remaining within 80 miles of the shore.
af he he IL, falii haro
indicated the approach Of than ordinary gale,
and violent north-easter was looked for The YES
sells had now reached point near the Frying Pan
Shoals, of Wilmington. where q safe anchorage
might he had. IL was deemed expedent to enter
the bay formed by these shoals and there in secure
anchorage TO remain until the gale had spent it's FURY
The Ossipee accordingly anchored in fatboms of
water with 80 fathoms Of chain. The Virgini,n was
noored astern BY bawsers. Though the steam
pumps were still vigorously working the yessel was
rApdy making water, and the engineers had been
seShang knee-deep In the water for three days in
succession. At a. on the 18th the Virpin;n. .;n
nailed that the water had gained steadily in o..
cnrne-room. and had extingushed the fires in the
furnaces The wind had steadily increased in fury
and was now perfect cyclone, though the vessels
shielded from the sea by the outlying reefs were
riding quite easily. shsrt time afterward one of
the boilers of the yirgnus gave out the
stays which supported the CROWN plates parting
The stays and braces giving way, the crown sheets
huged and collapsed upon the fues. Soon after this
the remaining boiler gave way in a similar manner
1t was still three hours before the day. and nothing
could be done to relieve the crew until the three
hours had passed; but there was no immediate
probability of her sinking Meantime the hawser
ootveen the two steamers was shortened to about
10 iest and boats were made ready TO send to the
hal - ~. =