The wreck of the steamer Vestafull particulars.
The following account of the wreck and destruction of the blockade runner
Vesta is taken from a letter written by our quondam correspondent "Bohemian," who was a passenger on board upon his return from abroad:
Sunday, (Jan. 3d,) was wearing rapidly away as we lay off the town of
St. Georges, steam was up, and everything in readiness for departure when the order should be given.
It was a little after 4 o'clock before the anchor was weighed, but in a short time thereafter we passed along the town, winding among the little islands, down by the scowling black-mouthed guns of the fortress, straight through the narrow pass which opened out into the broad
Atlantic.
On we went over the heaving waves, farther and farther from the fast receding shores; dusky night-shadows gathered over the sea, deepening every moment, until the land grew dim and indistinct, and the "still vexed Bermoothes" was hidden from our view.
When the stars come out there was nothing but sky and water; and then our "homeward bound" sea voyage was begun.
Two days and nights of good sailing followed with scarcely a sail to turn us from the proper course.
The third day out, however, our troubles began.
The weather grew heavy, the sea rough, and several sail were seen and ran from.
The next day, and the next, were both stormy, and the sun was not a moment visible.
We had then reached the cruising grounds and were chased here and there in every direction.
The
Vesta was a new iron steamer, with double engines and screw, well fitted up for blockade running, and had on board a valuable cargo belonging to the
Government.
Under full steam she could make twelve or fourteen knots, and I am confident the latter speed was made for two or three hours when chased by Yankee cruisers.
A sister ship to the
Ceres, she was an admirable craft, and upon all occasions conducted herself with marked propriety, walking rapidly away from all strangers who offered any uncalled-for attentions.
Saturday, January 9th, we had a serious chase, and were driven far to the southward before night came and gave us an opportunity of heading again towards the land.
This we expected to make before day — in time to run in under the guns of
Fort Fisher before it was light — but after running in till nearly sunrise no land appeared.
We had gone too far during the chase to make the return distance in time.
Heading out again, we ran some half an hour, and then, no cruisers being in sight, the engines were stopped and the ship hove to. The sun came out and a chance offered to get our position, but the
Captain was asleep, and the 1st officer (Tickle) made an attempt with the sextant, but nothing definite came of it. It was supposed we were some five and forty miles off
Cape Lookout, but whether we were or not may be classed among "historical doubts. " Well, not to make my story too long, here we remained until about midday, when a steamer came in sight and immediately bore down upon us. Scarcely had we got under steam before two more steamers had discovered us and joined in the chase.
Of course we now had to run for it. It was impossible to go at full speed without showing a black cloud of smoke, and, as soon as this became visible, we had the whole blockading fleet down upon us. They sprang up upon every side, as if by magic, and in half an hour we were completely surrounded.--Capture seemed certain, and there was no chance of escape except to run the gauntlet.
This was determined upon, and on we bowled straight through the fleet, eleven steamers fast closing in upon us. Three or four ahead were running across our bows, trying to cut us off, as many more on either beam, bearing down upon us, and the rest coming up astern.
At length they opened fire at a distance of nearly a mile, firing their bow guns, still keeping on their course.
The shots fell all around us, but for a long time none struck the ship.
Nearer and nearer they came, and then, when only half a mile away, two, on the bows, veered around and gave us a broadside.
This was repeated every few moments, and this in reality proved the means of our escape; for the time lost in turning gave us the lead, and, slipping between the two ahead, we ran the gauntlet of their fire, and in a short time every one of them was left astern.
The firing still continued, and one shot passed through the ship, but doing little damage.
Dark came on, slowly enough it seemed to us, and finally we were hidden sufficiently to change the course.
All our pursuers passed by us, and, completely doubling on them, we turned as was supposed again towards
Wilmington.
It was a hot fire for a time, and for over two hours we were a target for Yankee gunners.--Eighty-seven shots were fired from all the ships, but, providentially, no one on board was injured
Capt. Eustace managed the ship well, and during the hottest fire ran up his flag to show defiance.
Free once more, another attempt was made to run in; but now, I am sorry to say, our greatest trial came.
Captain Eustace, during the action, had visited the lockers a little too often, and just in the first moment of our triumph became quite under the influence of drink.
The pilot,
Adkins, was very drunk, hopelessly so, and
Mr. Tickle, the 1st officer, completely stupefied with liquor.--It was a sad state of things, and in a short time thereafter occasioned the loss of the poor little
Vesta.
Putting the ship upon a course, the
Captain sat in a chair upon the deck and slept for over an hour.
The pilot was in the cabin, and the 1st officer unfit for duty.
The 2d officer was at the wheel, where he had been from early in the day,
and not one officer of the ship was on lookout.--When I went on deck they were not to be seen, and
Mr. Perrin, of the navy, and a few of the men, were watching for the enemy.
When the
Captain woke he changed the course towards the land, and about 2 o'clock in the morning we came upon it.--With great difficulty the pilot was got on deck, and put in charge of the ship, at the same time, he says, he asked the position, and was told we were ten miles north of
Fort Fisher. "Then," said he, ‘"I know where I am,"’ and he gave a course.
The
Captain's statement is, that he asked the pilot if he recognized the land, and his reply was that "he knew it well." I give both stories, leaving all inference as to the amount of knowledge either had of the position of the ship or of the coast.
In fifteen minutes we were among the breakers, the vessel was headed directly into them, and in a moment we were fast in the sand.
The enzines were reversed and worked for some hours, with full head of steam, but this only imbeded her the more. --After a time the ladies were sent ashore in the boat, and a portion of their baggage landed; but a boat was refused the passengers to save all their trunks and packages until quite too late.
Just before sunrise
Capt. Eustace set fire to the vessel and afterwards began to save the baggage — At this time no sail was in sight, and not until some hours after, when attracted by the smoke of the burning ship, did one come in view, and it was quite two in the evening when she ranged alongside.
Then all that remained of the
Vesta was an empty, useless shell.
Scarcely anything was saved, the passengers losing a portion of their baggage.
A splendid suit of uniform, sent as a present to
Gen. Lee, was also burned, and beside a large cargo of shoes and army goods belonging to the
Government.
It was a total loss.
Soon after daybreak a company of the same guard come down to assist us, and from them we learned we were at
Little River Inlet, S. C., some sixty miles south of where it was supposed we made the land.
I have thus given a plain statement of facts regarding the loss of this fine steamer and her cargo, leaving all comment upon them until an investigation of the case shall be had, and the blame for the loss clearly established.
The following persons were passengers on the
Vesta from
Bermuda:
Mrs. John Mitchell,
Miss Minnie Mitchell,
Miss Isabel Mitchell,
Mr. T. J. Seed,
Mr. J. C. Moses, C. S. Navy;
Lieut. J. H. Gardner, do.;
Mr. H. W. Perrin, do.;
Mr William Shepardson, do. They have all arrived in
Richmond.
