Sinking of the USS Weehawken-- Part 3: It Sank Suddenly

The Weehawken's Commander, Jesse A. Duncan, had scarcely left the admiral when the officer of the deck made out from the Weehawken a new signal, and immediately reported her to be sinking.

A moment later she settled quickly down by the head, careened slightly to starboard, and disappeared beneath the waves.

It is impossible to convey any idea of the appalling nature of this disaster.    It came with the suddenness of a thunderbolt.  When the first signal of distress was made no one divined how serious was the danger, and when, at length, the vessel went down,  it was difficult for those who saw her disappear to credit the evidence of their own senses.

The confusion on the flagship, arising mainly from the difficulty of launching her boats, and the desire of both officers and men to be first in them, was most intense and painful.  The wind was now blowing with great fury and the boats which hastened from all sides to the scene encountered great peril in picking up from the water the few who had succeeded in getting away.

--Old B-Runner