Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-03-13

launch seat fer our relief was now between as
and hef-tOo near for safety. The stesmeI
bore swiftly down, stern frst upon cur star
board quarter Keep of keep off y we cried
and then FIRST saw she was helpless, Even az we
locked, the devoted boat wss caught between
the steamer snd The iron-clsd-s sharp sound OF
crushing wood was besrd-thwarts, ears, sso
splinters flew in air-ths boats crew ieaped TO
tie Monitors deck Death stared MS IN inc
face; our iron proT must 90 through the hnoae
Bland's side, aud then an end to all. One awful
moment we held our brea.h-then the hawser
was cleBred-the steamer maved off, as II were,
siep by step, first one, then another till sap
length lay between us, and then we brestnea
freely But tbe boat !-had she gone te the DOT
tom, carrying brave souls with heT3 No, there
she lay, beating sgsinst our iron sides' but stii'
though bruised aud broken lfe-bost to us
There was no hasty scrGmble for life whom it
was found she aosted al beld back. The men
kept steadily on a. their work OF oaiiing-only
those leaving, and IN the order named, whom
the eaptaia bade ssvs themselves They de-
scended from the turTet 10 toe deck with mingled
Fssr and hope, for the waves tore from side to
SIDE. sud tie coolest head and braYest heart
could not guarantee safety. Some were washed
over as they left the tUrret and, with yam
clutch a. the iron deck. wild throwing-up OF
the arms. went down, their death-cry ringing III
TIE ears of their companions.
TIE boat sometimes held her place by the
ETon;trr's side Shsn was dashed hopelessly out
of reach. rising and falling on tho waves.
ssilo- would spring from tho deck TO reach heF,
be seen for a moment in mid-alr, and thsn, es
shs rose. fell intc her. SO she gradually hilea
IN; but some poor souls who sought 20 Teaeh
her failed even IS they touch9d hef Iee5dlDs 8
sides, and went down.
~ -, hasr7 = littla messenger boy, the
sneeisl charge Of one Of the sailors, and the pet
sf al; be must evidently have been lost but fof
sfe cave of lis adopted father, Who holding him
frr,lv in his arms, escaped ss by miracle, beng
,ysshed overheard, and succeeded in placing him
safely in the boat
Tie last bat one to make the desperate ven
tu.e Tss the surgeon; he leaped from the deck
and at the very iUstaut saw the beat Deihg
sv-er,t away BY the htegciiess sea. Making one
faai effort, be threw his body forward as ne Iel
striking across the boats side so violently, Il
vyss thought soma of his ribs must be broken
SONS sslior-arUs pulled him in, one more sprSng
To 2 place 10 hsr, and the boat, ROW fun. pushed
cff. in 3 sinking condition, II is true, but ssiA
besring hopaFith her for she was wood
It. seemed 8 hopeless task to attempt reaching
the Rhode Islaad in so small boat, but it offer
proves true that tiny craft viii ride the wsvei
when a larger one goes down. The storm wa
unaba &c, but strong srms fought Against 1t:
Over the waves we toiled slowly, pulling fol
Eh. The men stuffed their pea jackets into The
holes in her side, acd hailed incssssDtly. W.
pesre5 the Rhode Island; bat now new peri
nn,eared Right down upon her center, borne
nv the might OF rushing water, came the whale
h1at sent 20 rescue others from the iron-clad
We barely Hoatad if sha struck us with her
bows full Oa US, We must go to the bottom Ons
sD-anv and, as shs neared, with outsuetchsc
arms. met sud Turned her course. She pzsseC
sgsir,st us, and his hand, caught between th'
two. was crushed, aud the arm, wEenehed from
its socket. fell helpless weight at his side bu
lie remained We wsre saved, and an arm wal
/ a small price TO pay for life.
! We reached the Rhode Islaud ropes were
/ Aung over her side and caugat with death
I grip- Some lost their hOl5, were washed away
! ana sgain dgagged in by the boats crew.
| tn The meantime the whale boat, nsa IL on
/ destruction, had reached the side Of the Mon
/ itor and row the csptsin SAID, " L IS madnes
/ 70 remain here longefi let each mn save nm
/ self For q moment he descended 70 the csDl
/ for a coss, and bis faithful servant foilowe'
! TO secure q Jewel box, containing the sceumu
! lated treasure Of years. a sa5, sorry sight
/ was. Ia tae hesvy aiT the lamps burned dimiy
| and the water, waist-ceeP, spsseed suiient
! AGAINST the wardroom's sides. One lingering
/ lSok. and he loft the Monitors cabin forever.
Time was precious; he fastened to the deck
where, IN the midst Of terrible sea, Lieutenau
| Greene nobly held his post.
| Oae by one, weiching their time between th
4 waves. the men filed 10, and at last, after a
sff5rt for others and none for themselves, Cap
( Isspihead and Lieut. Greene took their place
/ In lie boat Two OF three still remaiued, cling
II .h1e-. h0A kr.rrr nd ffrr
70 come down, bat, paralyzed with fear, the.
| set jmulovab}e, and the gsl.snt Brown promi5in
| 10 return for them, pushed eff, and soon had hi
bost-l9ad safe upon the Rhode Islsnd's deck.
For en- hour or more we watched from Il
decl. Of the Rhode Island the lenely light u2o
the Monitors turTeti a hundred times v
| thopeht Is gone forsveI-a hundred times it r
! appeared, lill st last, about 2 O'Clock, Wedne
day morning, it sank, and We saw it no more