Destruction of the steamer Schultz by the explosion of a torpedo.
--On Friday afternoon last, the steamer Schultz, commanded by Captain D. J. Hill, was destroyed by running afoul of a torpedo in James river, between Cox's landing and Chaffin's bluff. Our contemporary of the Whig has been furnished with the following particulars of the unfortunate occurrence:‘ "The Schultz had gone down in the morning to Cox's landing, in company with the steamer William Allison, for the purpose of bringing up a number of our expected returned prisoners of war, who were to have been received at that point. By a Providential interposition — in view of the subsequent catastrophe that befell the Schultz — our expected braves did not arrive at the landing in time to embark upon the two steamers that were awaiting them. The fog, it is said, delayed the arrival of the Yankee truce boats at Varina, the point at which our men were to have disembarked. Information having arrived that our men would not reach Varina until this morning, the Schultz and the Allison proceeded to return to Richmond — the Allison having a quantity of Yankee supplies aboard as freight.
"When between two and three miles from Cox's, the bow of the Schultz struck a floating torpedo, causing the steamer to swing around and sink bow foremost, the stern protruding several feet above the surface of the water, and affording safety to the majority of those aboard of her, consisting of some twelve or fifteen persons, among whom were several members of the Ambulance Committee of this city, together with a number of surgeons, hospital nurses, etc., who clung to that portion of the vessel until rescued by the Allison — which was about fifteen minutes behind the Schultz — many, also, being saved by means of the Schultz's life-boat, which was, fortunately, not included in the wreck.
"From a gentleman who was aboard of the Schultz at the time, we learn that when the explosion occurred he was sitting in the stern of the boat, and heard the report of the explosion, but scarcely felt any shock in consequence. The result of the contact with the torpedo was as has been described above.
"The following named gentlemen, members of the Ambulance Committee, were on board, and were all, we are happy to say, saved: Messrs. W. J. Bevill, Jas. L. Apperson, Edward Wilson, Andrew Johnston and Edward D. Eacho.
"Two of the guard, namely: privates Condiff, of Bedford county, and Cribbs, belonging to a Georgia regiment, were drowned, as were also two negro firemen of the boat.
"William Hudson, Twentieth South Carolina, and James Spear, of the same regiment, are also among the saved.
"The names of those given above as among the drowned are believed to complete the list of the lost by this sad catastrophe.
"Captain Hill, we understand, was acting as pilot of the Schultz at the time. We are informed that whilst passing the fleet on the down ward trip, in the morning, he had hailed one of the gunboats, and asked that a pilot be sent aboard to see to the navigation of the boat, but received the answer that there were no pilots to be had, as they had gone to Richmond. The affair, we presume, will undergo an investigation.
"The Schultz had lately undergone extensive repairs at the hands of the Government, and this ill-omened trip was, we believe, her second since her resumption of trips.
"The officers of the Exchange Bureau were upon the Allison at the time of the catastrophe."
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