Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-03-13
sasPwREOK OF An ERoN-CLAD.
The Last Criis5 Of the Moaitor-Falt AID
Graphic account Of he Disaster

Graphie account Of he Disaster.
The Atlantic Moutkly for March publishes q
fuu account of the loss of the pioneer Of cur
iron.clad ships, under the caption Of 50 The Last
Cruise of the Monitor" Il is the only complete
and graphic recital Of thai disaster that has been
put in print, and we extract It's more interesting
portions. The Monitor, it win be remembered,
started for ths.Southern coast in convoy Of the
steamer Rhode Island. The Passaic, a vessel of
the same construction, bat much larger and
stronger. made the trip At the same time. Iu-
nsdiAtsly upon gaining the open sea, the viad
freshsned, and the little Monitor began her
lsbors. The writer describes the progress:
Daring the night we had passed Cape Henry,
.r3 NV At dawn. found ourselves on the ocean,
tle lard only blue liue IN the distance A f3s7
more hours and that had vanished. No sails
were visible, and the Pnssaic, which we bad no
feed the evening before, was now out OF sight.
Tbs morning and afternoon passed quietly; We
spent most Of our tims on deck, on account q
10 confined air below, aRd, being OF a level
with the sea. with the spray dashing over Us
occasionally, amused ourselves with noting It's
shifting hues and forms, from the deep green Of
the rst long roll to the foam crest and prisuat TIC
tints of the falling wave
As The afternoon advanced, the ffesheuiHg
wind, the thickeDing clouds, and the increasing
roll Of the sea gave those most accustomed 70
ordinary ship-life some new experiences. Inc
little vessel plunged through the rising waves;
instead Of riding them, and, as they, increased
in violence. lav, as it were, under their crests
which washed over her c0ntin0ally' SO that
even when ne considered Ourselves safe, tbs
appearance was that Of vessel sinking
g I'd rather 20 to sea IN a diving belly 5aid
one. as the waves dashed over the pilo.-hoUse,
/ and the little craft seemed buried Ia wstsr
Give me an oyster sc0w - cried apOthsT-
''s nythiny l-only Jet it be weod, and some
thing thas VIII hoat over, instead OF under the
waterl"
sdlI she plunged on, and about $50 P. NJ, we
made Cape Hssteras.'
It was here discovered that tlse Passaic had
been left far sstsrp snd the Monitor Yves
awarded the credit Of being the FIRST iron-clad 70
pass Cape HstterAs. Bat hOr troubles were
thickening;
fpast seven & heayyishoWeT fell, lasting
about twenty minutes at this time the gale IN
/ creased black, heavy clouds covered the SKY,
/ through which the moon glimmered htfully1 a.
/ losing rs to see in the distance a long line OF
! white. plungino foam, rushing towards rs, sure
| Indication, to 3 sailors eye, Of stormy time.
/ A gloom oVerhung every thing; the banks Of
clound seemed to settle around uE; the moan q
tbe ocean crew louder and more fearful Still
our little boat pushsd doggedly on victorious
through all, We thought thst here, toe she would
/ conquer, though the beating waves sent sbud-
7ers through her whole frame. Bearing stil
the marks Of one Of the fsrcest battles OF the
war. we had grown 70 think her invulnersbla
N snv assault of man or element, aud, as these
/ waves. pluneing through one only to meet an
other more mighty, we thought "she Is staunch
she viii weather it ]" q,
An hour passed; the air below, which had al
dav been increasing in eloseness, was no"
almost sitting, out our men lost no courage.
some Gang as they worked, and the cadence Of
the voices, miDgiug with the roar OF waters
( sounded Ike defiance to the ocean.
The inmates Of the brave little ship began to
appreciats thsir peril. Those who were unem
oloyed gathered on the top of the turret, and
looked out upon she cheerless storm. Th'
officers held consultation, to devise means
relief;
The sea, like the old world giant, gathered
f,rce from each attack Thick and fest came tht
blows on tue iron mail of the Monitor, and stu
the brave little vessel held her own until q
bsff Dast eight the engineer, " aters, fEuhtu
II tie end reported a leak. The pumps wer
, inssantly sst Ia motion, and we watched tnel
prorress with an intense Interest she ha'
seemed to US ike an cid time knight IN srnol
battling against fearful odds, bat still holdipl
his grenud. We who watched, when the blov
came which made the strong man reel and th
life blood spout. felt our hearts FAINT within rs
then again ground was gained, and She hgi
vent On, the water lowering s0mewhst. unce
Q tbe laboring pumps
e From nine TO ten it kept pace with then
From tan 20 eleven the sea increased Ia Vloienet
! the waves now dashing entirely over the turfe
d | binding the eyes and causing quick eatcning
J Of tie breath as they swept against us At te
; the engineer hsd reported the leak as gaining g
as; at balf-past ten, with several pumps IN cor
3 stsnt motion. one of which threw out thre
tbousand gallons 8 minute, the water was rlsln
raniilv. and nearing the fires. When thee
= we're reached, The vessels doom was sealed Il
r with their extinction ihe pumps must cease, an
a all hope of keeping the Monitor above Wa1
= more than an hour or two expire
It Immediate suecor became necessary to say
n y the lives Of the crew. The Rhode Island vi
= not within speaking distance, aud was st on'
n signaled:
2 Rockets were thrown up, and answered
n tbe Rhode Island, whose brave men prepared
let once to lower boats, though, IN that wild sea,
q was almost madness
= The Monitor had been attached to the Rho
Or island by two hawsers, one Of which bad part
b. st sbout P. N. The other remained firm, b
e. now IL was necessary 1t should be cut ID
wss that possible, when every wave wash
elesn over her dcekf What man could rea
n slivef Who'll cut the hawseT ?" shout
centsin Bapkhead Acting Master Ssodc
,.oir,ptsared aud was followed by snoth
5s as Holding By ore hand to the ropes et her sc
e they cut through, BY many blews OF me nssce
tIs immense rope which united the Yess7
be Be StoddsT returned Ia safety, but bis brave co
-. ,.as 1arion was washed over and went down
Meanwhile the boat launched from the M
Island had started, manned By crew OF PICS
men.
! We watched he, with strainiug eyes ior I
the thought she ceuld I've to reach us. Sac near
q We ware sers Of her, thank God
- In this interval the cut hawser had oee9
he eutaneied ia the psd6ie-wheel of the Ra'
en Isls1d. and she drited down upon u.s. We,
knowing this fsct, supposed her coming 10 !, /.
INT O r-7~r1sauf rsradanaivcd V9.