Thoughtfully curated historical journalism
Boston, Jan. 21.—Salvage operations on the submarine S-19, stranded on a sandbar at the entrance of the Orleans Harbor on Cape Cod, have been postponed until the return of clear weather, naval officials announced here tonight. Heavy seas kicked up by yesterday’s storm have driven the submarine further onto the bar, it was said.
The principal naval recruiting in New York, at present, is for Commodore Porter’s mortar fleet. The two rendezvous are thronged with brawny sailors of all nations, but chiefly Americans. Applicants seems to be attracted, rather than repelled, by the prospect of hazardous service. Every kind of sea-going talent is wanted for this expedition, and a sailor can obtain the position of master’s mate, gunner’s mate, seamen or ordinary seamen, just according to his qualifications.
The Cairo correspondent of the St. Louis Republican writes :
The seamen who lately arrived from the East, and who are now quartered on the receiving ship Maria Denning, are a queer set, haying customs, thoughts and, expressions peculiar to themselves. They attract considerable attention when allowed on shore. Directly, on their arrival, while they were being transferred from the cars to the boat, some of them picked up a little; boy, about knee high, a bright little fellow who was just beginning to talk, stuffed him in a mess chest and smuggled him in board. They tattoed the youngster with their marks, and took such rough care of him as they could. When asked where they got him, they swore that he belonged to them, and that they had brought him from the East. The “old man,” however, was not satisfied, knowing their tricks by experience. He took the little fellow on shore, bought him a cap and feather, with other “fancy fixings” and after a time found his home, restoring him to his anxious mother.
The Fortress Monroe correspondent of the New York Times says of the resent engagement at Newport News, between the Confederate steamer Yorktown and some of our gunboats, that:
(From the Norfolk Day Book, Dec. 3.)
For some days past two or three of the federal gunboats have been in the habit of running up James river five or six miles above Newport News each evening, and remaining there all night. What the object of this is unknown, unless it may have been to keep a watch on the movements of the Confederate steamer Patrick Henry. These gunboats on Sunday evening repelled this same manouvre, and on yesterday morning the Patrick Henry got under way from her position further up James river and came down. On seeing her the gunboats left immediately and put out down the river towards the blockading ships. The Patrick Henry continued her chase after them, and they ran in under the protection of the guns of the frigates Cumberland and Congress and the fort at Newport News.
The stone fleet, not, however, with pomp or banners sailed from New London, Ct., Nov. 20th. Twelve or fifteen vessels departed from this port, all bound south and all laden with stone. The crafts were old whalers, some of the largest size, but a hard-looking set. They have spent their lives nudging the icebergs, and have been industrious in their vocation of seeking material to illuminate the world and to make life tolerable at night to those who slept not. An immense quantity of midnight oil have they gathered in their day. They go now to illustrate the ideas of commerce which prevail in the darker portion, girt with sandbars, of our disturbed republic.