Newbern weekly progress., 1863-01-17


impossible to save the vessel, and attention
was turned towards saving their own lives
! One of the hawserS connecting the Monitor
with the Rhode Island had parted between
s ami o'clock When ihe Rhode Island an
sweed, a voice on the Monitor cried out
through trumpet that they were in sinking
condition. Those appealed to on the Rhode
! Island went 10 work with the utmost speed to
senGboats to the rescue.
It twas most daring undertaking, but they
got tut launch and manned her, and riding
on tie crests and sinking in the hollows OF
waye, she made toward the Monitor. At this
time he sky was filled with clouds, through
which little light from the moon appeared,
SO th.t objects could be distinguished The
remahing hawser is now cut so that the boats
shaahot get entangled; the hawser becomes
Island; the rope clogs the wheel, and the
Rhode Island large war steamer, is drifting
! toward the Monitor; the launch is between
the two vessels thus nearing each other, and
seems doomed to destruction the launch
| reaches the side of the iron-clad.
The proximity is dangerous to all, for two
or three lurches and the sharp PROV of the
Monitor will stave in the wooden walls of the
stsamer. All feel that they shall go to the
bottom. There is a terrible silence so far as
those on the Monitor are concerned. AS two
or three jump out of the boat, the oars are
seen to flash in the air; the launch is heard
crushing; in second the crew have sprang
on the deck of the Monitor. Simultaneously
the hawser is cleared from the paddle-wheel,
and the Rhode Island runs off, without the
fatal shock, to safe distance.
While the vessels lay alongside, several of
the Monitors crew sprang for the ropes that
dangled from the side of the Rhode Island,
and some succeeded in climbing up, while
othe. s were washed into the sea. The crew of
the launch now sprang back into her, but those
of the Monitor were reluctant to trust them
| selves to make the attempt, as several were
washed off the deck by the great seas swash
| ing over. They clung, therefore. to the TOP
of the turret, fearing they might share the fate
they had witnessed overtaking others, PREFER
ing their chance to live little longer, although
there was the moral certainty that they coulC
not remain and live long.
| Finally the launch was filed, having taken or
| probably some fifteen from the Monitor. All tina
were on deck at the time got in, and tho launch
was ordered off. Some stuffed the crushed side
with pea jackets, while others baled out, and the
| rowers tried TO get to the steamer. which wa!
| their only hope. Meanwhil the Rhode Islanc
had launched a whaleboat. The sea, which wa
| terrific, dashed the wbaleboat upon the launcf
with terrible ferocity. One of the officers in tn,
launch sprang over toward the side and stretc h
ed out both his arms to break the blow and turI
! the course of the boat. This he succeeded il
|
himself Getting close to the steamer the mel
spring for the ropes. and some lose their hold
and are swallowed by the sea, although nearly
every one in the boat is saved.
The whaleboat saved others from the iron clad
A third ressuing boat was sent, commanded b,
Mi. Brown, brave man, and skiful in manage
ment of boat. This has not been heard from
but it may have picked up some survivors, ant
have got safely to some other vessel The Moni
tor vent down about o'clock in the morning
| D. Weeks wished our reporter to state that h
wastoo much exhausted by his wounds and e1
posUe to detail further incidents connected will
this disaster. All were treated with the creates
kindness on the Rhode Island.
FORTRESS MONROE, Jan 4.
! Tie steamer Rhode Island arrived g. Fortress
Monroe last evening. The surviving officers ant
crew of the Monitor came on the Rhode Island
There were lost on the Monitor four officers
and twelve men, also officer and seven mel
belonging to the Rhode Island lost in attempting
to save the men of the Monitor. One boat which
left the Rhode Island to save the Monitors men
has not been heard from
Tie Monitor sunk off Cape Hattsras in As ia
thons of water. The cause of her being los
was leakage. She gained two feet of water il
one hour, with ell her pumps working.
Sailing Master Stodder the last t.
| lelve the Monitor. Those who were lost refused
| to come down from the turret the con
st.ntly breaking over them, and they were afrait
Of being washed away.