The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1861-12-27
The Trip OF the euuboot Benton.

Ine Ifip OF the UunDOHt bentOus
The large gnnboat Benton had
considerable difficulty in getting out
to Cairo, but after a passage OF ton
days, five days Of which were spent
on one sandbar, she finally succeed
ed in reaching the mouth OF the Ohio.
Her enormous strength was shown
at Hat Island by her striking a hid.
den stump or wreck-a tremendous
blow, which came near knocking
everybody down on board OF her.
What damage was dono to the
wreck is not known, but none was
received by the Benton.
When sho grounded the river was
falling very rapidly, and declined
about eighteen inches whilst sbe lay
at Crawford's. She was hurried off
from st. Louis before her steam cap.
stans, Il which shc has three, we're
completed, and was, therefore, in q
helpless condition when che ground
ed. Still the most powerful hawsers
and machinery were brought to bear
by her constructor, Mr.. James B.
Eads, who was on board, and sbo
was finally floated off. BY the
breaking OF large chain, Captain
Winslow, United States navy, who
was ordered to the command Of the
vessel by flag officer footc, was
struck by broken link upon the
fleshy part Of tho forearm. The
flesh was torn away by the force Of
the blow, and the Captain was near
ly knocked down. An ugly and
very painful laceration was made by
tho link. While tho Aleck Scott
and the la.an were assisting the
Benton, the capstan of the former
was broken by tho great strain it
was subjected to. BY this accident
one man had his arm broken near
the shoulder, and three othess were
slightly wounded, The wv. II. B. )"
the Montgomery, Illinois, F. V.
Wilson, and tie Perry were all sent
to aid in reliving the Benton, but
their services were not needed.
A perfect blockade OF tho river
was established by the Benton
during the five days she was aground
st Crawiord's, as the channel rms
c'oso to the docks and the hawsers
OF rho Benton were stretched across
it in the effort TO heave her into il,
thus completely stopping the navi
cation at that point. Tho gunboat
Essex, Memphis and some other
craft lay above the Benton and
conld not pass until she got off.
After leaving Crawford's tho boat
GROUNDED again bc'uw Oomnerce,
but got of next day, and at twelve
O'clock on ! Saturday al tySr,t;a stsapSd 9. aEa,
approaching which she fired salute
of thirteen guns in honor of the flag
"tli;er, which was responded to by
the forts on both sides Of the river.
\ We are glad to be able to state
that there ia not the least foundation
for the idle reports that tho boat il
leaking badly and will have to gc
on the docka, and that her engines
are not OF sufficient power and vii
have to he taken out. The reboli
will find her fast enough, and tight
enough, and will learn to their s0r
row that her constructor has made
no blunders in building her. Every
one who visited her here, competent
to Judge of her merits. bore tcstimo
ny to the fact that tho Benton ha.
no superior East or West, and ou
word for it, flag officer Foote vii
give a good account Of her qualities
at Columbus.
Tho Essex arrived safely at Cairo
few hours after the Benton, and at
all Of the seven boats contracted fol
by Mr.. James B. Eads are already
there, tho government has at that
point, with the three built at Cinciu
natl last Summer, twelve gunboats
all OF which carry very heavy arma
mcn,s. -[S. Louis Democrat.