Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1863-03-28

was almost madncss
The Monitor had been attached to the
Rhode Island by two hawsers one of which
had parted at about seven z. NJ. The other
remained firm but now is.was necessary it
should be cut. How was that possible
when every wave wasfu2 clean over her
deck whiftm man could reach il alive 3
who'll cutsthe hawser z shouted Captain
Bankhcad. Acting Major Stodder, volun-
teercd, and was followed ny another. Hold
ing by one hand to the rope at her side,
they cut through by many blows of the
hatchet the immense rope which united the
vessels. Stodder retui 4 in safety, but
his brave companion Wa washed over and
went down.
The men were quiet and controlled, but
all felt anxiety. Master'sM Nate Peter Will
liams suggested baihng, i'll the faint hope
that in this way the vessel might be kept
the longer above water a bailing party
was organized by John Stocking, boatswain,
who, brave man. at last went down. Pay
master Keeler led the way, in company with
Stocking, Williams, and one or two others
and though the water was waist deep, and
knew the vessel was liable to go down at
any moment, they worked on nobly, throw
ing out constant stream of water from the
turret.
Meanwhile the boat launched from the
Rhode Island had started, manncdb by crew
of picked men.
a more heroic impulse could not have ac
complished this most noble deed, For hours
they had watched the raging sea. Their
captain and they knew the danger every
man who entered that boat did it at the
peril Of his life and yet all were ready.
Are not such acts as these convincing proof
OF the divinity of human nature
We watched her with straining eyes, for
few thought she could live to reach us.
She neared; we were sure Of her, thank
God
In this interval the cut hawser had become
Cntangled in the paddle wheel Of the Rhode
Island, and she driftcd down upon us we,
not knowing this fact, supposed her coming
to our assistance; but moment undecciVcd
us. The launch sent for our relief was now
between Us and her-too near for safety.
The steamer bore swiftly down, stern first,
upon our starboard quarter. Keep Off.
keep Off" we cried, and then first saw she
was helpless. Even Us we looked, the deyO-
ted boat was caught between the steamer
and the iron clad--a sharp sound OF crush
ing wood was hcard--thwnrts, oars, and
spinters few in the air--thc boats crew
lcaped to the Monitors deck. Death stared
Us in the face; our iron PROV must go
through the Rhode Islands side, and then
an end to all. One awful moment we held
our brcath-thcn the hawser was cleared
the steamer moved off, as it were. step by
step, first one, and then another, till Il ships
length lay between us aad. then we brcathcd
freely. But the boat had she yet gone to
the bottom. carrying brave souls with her
No, there she lay, beating against our iron
sides, but still, though bruised and broken,
Il life boat to us.
There was no hasty scramble for life when
it was found she floatcd all held back. The
men kept steadily on their work of bailing
only those leaving and in the order nam
ed, whom the captain babe save themselves.
They descended from the turret to the deck
with mingled fear and hope, for the waves
tore from side to side, and the coolest head
and braycst heart could not guarantee safe
ty. Some Were washed over as they left the
turrct, and with vain clutch at the iron
deck, wild throwing up of the arms, went
down, their death cry ringing in tie ears OF
their cola lpaniont.
The boat sometimes held her place by the
Monitors side, then was dashed hopelcssly
out Of reach, rising and falling on the waves.
y sailor would spring from the deck to
reach her, bc seen for 4 moment in mid air,
and then as she rose, fall into her, So she
gradually filed up; but some poor souls
who sought to reach her, failed even as
they touched her reccding sides, and went
down.
We had on board little messenger boy,
the special charge of one of the sailors, and
the pet of all, he must inevitably been lost,
but for the care Of his adopted father, who
holding him firmly in his arms, escaped as
by miracle being washed overheard, and
succeeded in placing him safely in the boat.
The last but one to make the desperate
venture was the surgeon he lcaped from
the deck and at the very instant saw the
boat swept away by the mercilcss sea. Ma
king one final effort, he threw his body for
ward rs he fell, striking the boats side so
violently that it was thought some of his
ribs must he broken. Haul the doctor in :
shouted Lieutenant Greene, perhaps remem-
bcring how a little time back he himself,
almost gone down in the unknown sea, had
been hauled IN 10y Il quinnc rope flung him
by the Doctor. Stout sailor arms pulled him
in, one more sprang to place in her, and
the boat, now full pushed ol-in sinking
condition ii is true but still bearing hope
with her; for size was roDd.
Over the waves We tuiled slowly, pulling
for life, The men stuffed their pea jackets
into the holes in her side, and hailcd inccs-
sanity We ncared the Rhode Island but
now new peril appeared, Right down up
on our centre born by the might Of rushing
water, came the whale boat sent 10 rescue
Others from the iron clad, We barely float
ed ii she struck rs with her bows full ON
"a, We must go to the bottom, One sprang,
and, as she ucdrcl, with outstyotched arms,
met and turned her course. She passed
against us, and his hand, caught between
the two, was crushed, aud the arm Wrruched
from the socket, lsll hopeless weight at
his side but life remained. We were say
ed and AN arm was a small piece to pay Tor
life.
We reached the Rhode Island ropes
were Hung over her side, and caught with a
death grip. some lost their hold, were
washed away, and again dusggl Ia by Ihc
boats crew, What chance bad one ~ hose
right arm hung dead weight when strong
men with their Two hands went down be-
fore him he caught al rope found i
imlusslhlp 30 cave himself alone, und then
for the hrt time said, 4 ana iniurpd can
any ono aid mc En-lpn Taylor al th,
/ uak al his uNn llie, brought thc rope around
. hl- rhuulufr lu atlrl IA wuR Thai it tBulU MOI