The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-01-06

head shouted, "Who'n cut the hawserf" 81 will, ?
answered Mr. Stodder the Master and taking hatchet
he. the imminent peril Of being washed overboord
ceeded In severing the hawssr the waves passing
him ct every motion of the vessel. One poor fellow
whose name not known assisted but ho was dashed OF
| and drowned.
Several Of the crow and some OF the officers also found
wstery grave about this time, by being washed over
board 1t was death to stand tho deck without having
hrm hold, and even then the danger was very great.
One by one the gallant fellows disappeared from the deck
and were seen Many had very narrow escapes
Lieutenant Green carried on BY wave. and
thrown upon deck by its returning Another officer was
carried bya along the dock and he passing
the tret he seized which hung from there for the
purpose Of assisting those The deck 70 cling TO and
save themselves, and was saved.
TIE RHODE ISLAND ASSISTING THE MONITOR
Between eleven and twelve p. II. tho launch Of the
Rhode Island manned and started for tho Monitor
About this tme the hawser which hung loose be-
entangled In Of the paddle wheels Of tho Rhode
Island that could NOT be worked, thus rendering the
vessel unmanageapls. She dred towards the Monitor,
and there great danger Of collision before the
hawser could be extricated The launch was between
the two steamer, and before she could clear thsm tho
whole Of ono Ok sides crushed In just escap
ing the wator line. The gallant fellows her had
narrow escape from a horrible death; but, nothing
daunted, they struck boldly out for the Monitor with
their broken boat, and safely returned with fourteen or
fifteen OF tho MONITORS crew, though In sinking con-
dtion AID landed them all safely upon tho deck OF the
Rhode Island. In the meantime the two vessels had
approached each other that I've six OF tho
Of the Monitor seized the ropes hanging from the
side Of the Rhode Island and started 10 climb up her
side but only three reached there Tho others are sup
posed to have been struck by tho Monitor whea they
FELL crushed to DEATH perishcd In the sea- Those on
board the vessels tell me that they expected every
wave to dash them together, when the loss OF
both must have occurred The moment that the Rhode
Island xas looming up broadside Of the Monitor
terrible TO ALL But they passed each otner without
touching, and many tho relieved hearts and the
audbly expressed "Thank Cod" that issusd from the
mouths OF the men on both tho vessels.
should havo mentioned that the boat, arriving At
the side Of the Monitor again and again dashed on
her deck the returning carrying hor back into the
She struck the side OF the Monitor Also repeatedly
and was great danger Of going to pieces but sho
started of for the Rhode Island, as have before
said, with full load and IN sinking condition. Lieut.
Green and Mr. stodder Master, assisted the men into
the boat seemingly regardless Of their lives in
deavoring others The other officers assist
ing the men to bail the with buckets. All
conducted so we'll and quietly both the vessels that
there appeared to be perfect absence OF fear IN all
being general feeling TO try and save each
other than rushing into the boat to themselves,
utterly regardless Of consequoncesas Is too often the
case a shpwreck Tho boat left the Rhode Island at
about quarter past eleven O'Clock p NJ there about
fifteen minutes, and reached the Rhode Island at ten
minutes past twelve A. N.
Ono Of tho Rhode Islands cutters now manned ard
started or abo the same that the launch left the Mon
tsr Thcy approached other there seemingly
no chance OF preventing collision when Or. g. Weeks
Of the Monitor Ensign Taylor Of tho Rhode Island. and
ono Sailors sprsng 10 the side TO part them The
force ofxhe blow thus broken ard the boats saved
from destruction. The right hand OF Dr. Weeks was
caught the boats crushing the bones Of three Of
his fingers seriously that amputsion was afterwards
found necessary.
Between twelve and A. NJ. the cutter, after narrow
" escaping collision started Tor the side Of the Monitor
to rescue others. Arriving there, Captain Bankhcad
held the rops while his got into it, the boat dashing
on the deck times and being carried back BY the
waves the same az the launch on the previous trip
The last or tho crew officers that remained on deck
were now In tho boat and remained on board the
Monitor but eight who wero clinging to the
top Of tho turret They told to come down and ty
70 reach the boat but neither the cntreates OF their CON-
rades the orders Of their officers had any eect upon
them Tho poor had their comrades one by one
washed of and drowned In tho attempt TO reach the
boats. and believing that thore chance OF being
saved even they reached the boat they preferred 70
rsmain there and linger few moments more than 70
come down aud meet certain death. Captain larknead
was then compelled to enter the boat without them ana
leave them behind The cutter arrived ~ the side OF the
Rhode Island about O'Clock, and the men and officers
Selling the ropes which hung from her sides for that pur
pose soon climbed TO her deck on reaching which they
we're received with open arms regardless OF rank
About two O'Clock Last effort was made TO reach ths
Monitor and rescue the urret The cutter was
again manned with picked crow, and D. Rodney Brown
Masers Mate took command and started for the doomed
Monitor but whether reached her not Ia unknown as
tho boat was making straight for her, pitching
and rolling fearfuy her gallant crew working maniuiy
approach the Monitor possible when the moon
which had been gradually going down for some time
now entirely disappeared, and the boa, was lost IN the
gloom. -
TIE LAST THE MONITOR.
The Monitor was last scsn this time also Just be-
core the moon vanished quarter before two O'Clock
lights were plainly visible but her turrst and deck
were rather indistnct For few moments after dark
ness was all around the twnkng lights q the Monitor
sho, hers and there Ike an ign fAtuus when suddenly
thev ali disappeared aud then II known that she
had gone down. At this time she distant from The
Rhode Island about mile and half, while, whom tho
boat was last seen she not moro than third thai
distance, 80 that IL was almost impossible 70 have
reached her.
ight signal lights were now bnoWn tuCAsse 5eHs uPi
and bells rung on board the Rhode Island but though
this was continued all night and they crused around N
search Of her oil next day and night, thsre were 90
sisus Of the boat and the search was given up.
Tho officers Of both the Monitor and Rhode Island can
not be TOO highly praised for their ooolSsss and courage
in this trying hour All DID their duty nobiy. Captain
renchsrd II the Rhode Island, and his command, we're
NO, backward and they should fairly share The praise 40
they freely shared the danger.
HAD the disaster occurred hour stsr than 10 dA u
ia believed By nearly eli both vessels that svssy soul
on board the Monitor have psrsned - In The dark
IL would b merit 10 impossible 70 reach her with the
boats and return to the Rhode Island An Wa, the
large number rescued the boats and safely reaching
tho deck Of the Rhode Island 70 wonderful under the
circumstances.
The boats which are reported missing were o.
stated 10 have belonged tho Rhode Island but tho