The National tribune., 1898-04-21
THE LOST FRIcATE.
How The Old Vermont Escaped Davy Jones's
Locker.

HOW inc Ol0 vermont Escaped Davy Joues's
Locker.
Editor National Tribune: The U. S.
Frigate Vermont sailed from Boston, Mass.
Feb. 81, 1852, bound for Port Royal, S. c.
The Vermont was an oldtime sailing vessel
OF 2 ,633 tons, built in 1913. On the occasion
referred to she was conveyed by the U. S.
Steamer Kensington, and commanded by
Capt. A. s. Baldwin, appointed in the
Navy from New Jersey, Feb. 2, 1929 Pre-
vious to the civil war Capt. Baldwin had
served IN the Warren, Constellation, Lam
caster, and WyandOtte; at the cleSe of the
war he was appointed Lighthouse Inspect
or, and died on the retired list, Feb. 1,
1878.
Soon after leaving Boston the Vermont
encountered storm of unusual severity.
When off Cape Cod Light a heavy squall
nom the westward struck the ship. Sails
were reduced to double -reefed tOpsails and
pbS. A violent snow storm prevailed, dur
ing which the two vessels became separated
and lest sight OF each other. The Ken
ssingten returned to port, and the Vermont
1rifted seward.
The wind meantime had increased to
gale Of excessive violence from the north
west. The Vermont refused to obey her
helm, and her sails were torn from the
yards. The crew suffered from the cold,
and many were on the sick-list. The
pilot, who fortunately was familiar with
the coast, brought the ship to anchor in
"a fathOms. The starboard anchor was
soon lost, after which the port anchor was
let go and the ship brought up. Great
q antilles OF water ere shipped, which
accumulated on the berth deck. Mess
chests were fore d from their fastenings
and fioated around. The boats also were
carried away. and the cabin furniture
wrecked
The gale continued with unparalleled
violence for nearly so hours, during which
the Vermont drifted over 100 miles east
ward. AT o'clock on the morning of
Feb. IS the ships iron tiller snapped
Off at the rudderhead, and in a few moments
the Tudder was torn from the sternpoSt
and broke entirely adrift.
On the same date she spoke the schooner
Flying Mist, and sent the PaymaSter, Mr..
Ed. Birnie, on board with orders to pro-
coed to the nearest port and report her
serious condition to the Navy Department,
with a request for assistance. The Yer
mont was then drifting helplessly towards
Nantucket shoals. Strong gales and cold
weather continued to prevail for the next
two weeks, and the crew suffered severely.
The Flying Mist meantime had put into
Chatham, Mass, and the Paymaster, Mr..
BRINE, of the Vermont, sent a telegram to
the Nav Department, in which he said
that he had left the Vermont in a disabled
condition in II fathomS of water off Cape
Cod Highland Lights on Feb. 27, al
o'clock in the afternoon, being west by
north half north, distance IS miles. He
described her injuries and asked for i'm
mediate assistance.
The U. S. S. Dacotah, Capt. McKinstry
and the tug Achilles were dispatched at
mont. On March 1, the schooner j. u.
Chapman sighted the Vermont and re-
manned with her five days. On March Z,
the u. s. S. AristOOk, Capt. Beaumont,
from Boston, come to the relief of the
Vermont. During the gale this vessel lost
4vx fIx0rx RI
abled. On March Is, the steamer Saxon,
Capt. Matthews, from Boston, reached the
Vermont and supplied her with sails,
hawsers and anchors. On the eth the
Frigate Sabine, Capt. Ringgold, fell in with
the Vermont, and assisted in rigging a
jury Tudder, after which she was able to
proceed to her destination, finally reaching
Port Royal ON the 18th of April, 1862. Several
other steamers had been sent out in the
meantime.
The ermont was continued at Port
Royal until the close of the civil war as
She was then ordered to the Brooklyn Navy
yard as receiving ship, where she is still
used for that purpose, under command of
Capt Merrill Miller.
Besides the Vermont we find the follow
ing oldtimerS still on the Naval register:
The Hartford, Pensacola, Independence, at
Mare Island, Cal; Monongahela, Annapolis
Naval Academy; Constellation, New Pert:
Wabash, Boston Navy-yard; Franklin,
Norfolk, Va, and Richmond at League
Island hayward.
How the very mention of these names
brings up memories of the past. What
scenes of National interest have been en-
acted on their historic .blood-stained decks.
Their brave commanders, daring exploits
and brilliant victories will continue to live
in the memories of grateful Nation, &C
additional honor and luster
from generation to generation, until time
shall be no more.
According to the Naval Register of the
present year we find the old New Hamp-
shire was loaned to the naval militia of
New York, and the frigate Minnesota was
loaned to the naval militia of Massachu-
sets. The IroquOis was transferred to the
Marine Hospital Service, and the Dale |
loaned to the naval militia of Baltimore
William Simmons, Philadelphia, Pa.