Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1883-08-25
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HersciT. Her OHcers. H~r roDoge and
Uer DesfinntjoH.
The steam frigatc Pensacola, United States
m1n-of- war, arrived last Sunday morning from
tnlao, after 4 monotonous voyage OF thirty.
seven day and sixteen hours, during which she
met no sail.
Although well known to IIonolulans, brief
description Of this distinguished ship /, always
in order. The Pensacola was named from the
'hipyard in which she was built, being launched
in 1883, and is, therefore, y gears old She
is ago feet long, A. feet beam and ~ feet hold.
The Pensacola is an old style three decker
llvontc among sailors, who use the middle
the lighting deck, as Il luunging place
while cruising or in port She is saluting
ship, carrying the same battery Of twenty-five
bruadside Dahlgrccn g-inch rincd, muzle.
loading guns that she had during her war ser
vice; besides she has two iI.inch pivot guns,
and two brass brcech-loading saluting how
tiers, y Founders. Her engine is one Of the
many put into Federal mcn.ofwar under the
direction Of Lieutenant b. +. sherwood, lhen
head Of the bureau of naval construction at
Washington. II is a powerful, durable and
easily managed engine, though not capable Of
great speed. In general appearance, the Pen.
s1cola is less the ideal frigatc Of historical
pictures and naval yarn description than is the
Hartford. She IS, however, handsome ship.
and, like American ships.of.war generally, is
kept in admirable condition While here She
will be reprinted.
The most interesting event in the pcnsa.
cola's history Is her participation in the fight
with "llollins' rams one Of the earliest
naval engagements of the American rebellion.
lIollins, who left the Federal navy to enter
the service " the Southern Conlcderacy, was
a nj la, =.
" American Conflict" p. cog, the history Of
the event is given as follows;
In October the North wa, startled by the following
bulletin, which appeared a telegram from New
Orleans TO the Richmond papers.
PoRr JAcksoN, October is is6r
Last night attacked the bockaders with my little
fleet. succeeded after very short struggle. in dv
ing them MI aground on the Southwest Pass bar, cy.
cept the Prebe, sohjch I fH1k | captured a prize
from them and, after they fast in sand, peppcrcd
them well. There were no casualties side II
was n complete success. UotttSs
Commander Iollins, formerly Of our Navy, and more
notorious than famous for his bombardmeut VI Grey.
town, Nicaragua, had drawn rather literally on his
imagination IN the above. His prize was deserted
coalbo1t; he had not sunk the PEBBLE; and his pep
penng done at prudent distance, and with little
effect. But he had burst upon our squadron
bloekading the mouths OF the Mississippi at lts A. M
Of that day with otilla composed Of his ram Manas.
three fire RATS, and five armed steamers The ram
struck flag steamship Richmond, Captain Pope stav.
ing in her side below the water line and for the mo.
lieiit, threatening her destruction. Our sIuarun
,sting ol the Richmond preble vincennes, and Water
Witch, instantly slipped their cables and ran down the
Southwest Pass, very much as they would have done
had all on board been considerably frightened Com.
mander Robert Handy, of the vncennes ran his vessel
aground in the flight and deserted her with all his mem
citing sowuatch to destroy her, which happily
ailed. HIS vessel was recovered unframed. The tire
RATS were entirely avoided the Rebel steamboats, not
yenturng within range Of the Rchmonds guns: while
llollns haste to telegraph his victory have
cost him all It's legitimate fruits Ileyond the destrtic
ton OF the hreships, the losses either side were OF
no account.
Mr.. Whitehouse, carpenter Of the Pensacola,
who had charge at the time of the construction
of battery on little island in the mouth of
the Southwest Pass Of the Mississippi delta,
says the Pensacola, and not the Richmond, was
in the hght-which took place after dark
llollins' principal ram was the towboat Webb
then considered the fastest in the United
States II was protected by cotton bales, and
its bow armed with railway iron, so placed as
to make formidable engine of destruction.
When the attack took place, the Pensacola
was lying behind a coalship. The Wcbb's
ram y struck this coalboat amidships, trans
liking her and slightly penetrating the side Of
the Pensacola. The four Federal vessels
shipped from their moorngs to avoid the FIRE
RATS, OF which there were twenty sections,
each 30 feet long, made Of cedar logs, pitch
pine and tar barrels, all blazing fercely As
they passed the battery on which he was at
work, Mr.. Whitehouse boarded the Pensacola
and remained with her during the rest of the
engagement. The Preblc and the Vincennes
were sloops-oi-war, the Water Witch was
small gunboat, mounting, however, two rillcd
howitzers. After moving some distance down
the stream, the Pensacola grounded. She
then opened hroadsde fire upon the Webb and
its attendant gunboats. The range of her
guns was longer than that OF the enemies, and,
with the active assistance of the Water Whch,
which ran to and fro among the Rebel ships,
the enemy was kept nj distance, and com.
pleiely discounted. The Pensacola was in
the passage OF the Mississippi and capture Of
Fanagut in April, 1862, and saw considerable
other service besides.
She has been on her present commission
twelve, years, during which she has changed
officers many times, has been most Of the time
flagship, and has seen deal of active peace
service. Admiral Hughes, who will probably
visit this port in the Hartford sometime before
Christmas, was the Pensacolas last Admiral,
being preceded by Admiras Balch, Stevens
and Rogers. Her present officers, for the
most part as published in the Press few
weeks since, are as follows:
Captain. ,..................,.,... Henry Erben
Chief Engineer. George +. kutz
Chaplain. John X Lewis
Pay Inspector. . Rufus Parks
Lieutenant Commander ........ Oscar r. Iieyerman
Navigating Lieutenant ....... Frederick Hanfor,i
Underwood, Alexander Sharp, ]. A. ShearInan
E {, ~. George W. pendeld and Frank R. Heath
Marine Officer Second Lieutenant James A.. Tuner
Past Assistant Engineers L. X. Harvey l. W Wooster
Past Asst Snrgs -. H. Baldwin. George p. Lumsden
paymasters Clerk .... William Mehiurray
Naval Cadets. 80. T. II. Conant, Andrew McAlister
AS S" l. = Key, 'i fG SS"i Il M n'sGSi"
t Go1'sw'in Iohp HARDIN, Harding