Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1863-04-25

Laurence, an old sailing frigate, were good for
nothing but to be destroyed. Both Of them,
after fruitless efforts to go to the scene of &C.
tion, and after partially getting aground, gave
up the attempt and returned to their moorings.
As for the Minnesota, which might have had
some chance against the Merinac, not with
her guns, but by using her superior swiftness
to run into her and try to sink her by the
shock, she drew six feet more water than the
Merrin,ac, and answered her helm very badly
when she had not more than foot of water
under her keel 80 she was not long in rum
ming ashore in very dangerous position.
There can be no doubt that # the Merrimac
had then attacked her, she would have shared
the fate of the Cumberland and the Congress.
The Merimac, doubtless to avenge her cap
tain's wound, cannonaded the camp and bat
teries Of Newport News, from which the ball
'iich struck him had come. She then re-
turned to Norfolk for the night, probably
counting OH finishing the work Of destruction
the next day. But in the night the Monitor
arrived.
must ask pardon for the very familiar
comparison which am about to use to give
the reader an idea of this strange vessel.
Everybody knows those cylindrical Savoy
biscuits covered with chocolate paste. which
are one of the chief ornaments Of a pastry
cooks shop. Let the reader imagine one Of
these biscuits placed on an oblong plate, and
he will have an exact idea of the exterior ap-
pearance of the Monitor. The Savoy biscuit
represents an iron tower pierced with two
openings, through which pass the muzzles of
its two enormous cannons. This tower turns
on its axis by very ingenious apparatus. so
as to direct its fire to any point of the horizon.
AS to tho oblong plate on which the biscuit is
placed. it is kind ofiron lid set at tho waters
edge on the hull, which contains the engine,
the crew. and the provisions. and the displace-
ment of which supports everything. At a
distance, only the tower is visible. and this
floating tower, of so novel an aspect, was the
first thing perceived by the Merrimac and her
companions when, on the morning of the 9th
of March, they returned the last blow to the
Minnesota, which was still nsllore, and proba-
bly, to do other damage. The two hostile
vessels. the jamestown and the Yorktown, nd.
vanced first towards the Monitor, with that
fearful curiosity with which dogs approach an
unknown animal. They had not long to wait; !;
two flashes came from the tower, followed by
tho whstling of two l20-pound balls. Notl
ing more was needed to put the two scouts to
sudden fight. The Meyrimac at once found
out what She had to deal with, and bravely
advanced to encounter her unexpected adver-
sary. Then began the duel of which So much
has been said, and which seems destined to
make so great revolution in the naval art.
From the the outstart the two filters perceived
that they must fight at close quarters; but,
even at the distance of a few yards from each
other. they seemed equally invulnerable. The
balls bounded off and were broken without
leaving any traces but slight dents. Round
l2O- pound shot, conical loO-pound shot, Arm
strong shot, nothing had any effect. Then the
Meuimac. seeking to take advantage Of her
huge bulk, tried to sink her adversary by run
ming against her side. But she could not get
sufficient headway. The Monitor. very short,
very active, very easily managed, clung to
her, ran around her. escaped her blows with a
rapidity which the excessive length Of the
Mcrrimac prevented her from attaining.
Nothing could be more curious than to see the
two adversaries turning around one another,
the little Monitor describing the inner circle,
both seeking to find their cnemy's weak point,
and to discharge into it at close quarters one
of their enormous prcjectiles. "lmagine,
said an eyewitness, 1.-THE fight of Heenan
and Tom Sayers." The contest thus contin-
ued for several hours, without apparent re-
suits. Once only the Mcrrimac succeeded in
striking with her PROV the side Of the Moni-
tor, but the latter whirled around under the
blow like floating bucket, and very slight
dent in her armor was the only Injury done by
this formidable shock. The exhaustion Of
the two combatants at last put an end to the
contest. The confederates returned to Nor
folk, and the Monitor remained master Of the
field. The Minnesota and the whole Aotilla
in Hampton Roads were saved the pigamy
had held it's own against the giant. 1t re.
maincd to be seen whether the latter would
make another attempt when the stakes would
be more tempting-when, instead Of seeking
to destroy one or two ships-ofwar. it might
prevent the Decentralization Of a whole invad'
ing army.
1t was at this juncture that arrived al
Fortress Monroe. The Roads were soon COW
cred with vessels arriving from Alexandria
or from Annapolis, some laden with soldiers
others with horses, cannons, and munitions oi
all kinds. Sometimes counted at the an
chorage several hundred vessels, and among
them twenty or twenty-five large steam trans
ports, awaiting their turn to come to the whar
and land the fifteen or twenty thousand troops
on board. Lot the reader judge how fearful
would have been the disaster, had the Mcvri
mac suddenly appeared in this dense mass o
ships, striking them ono after the other. an(
sinking Ia the bottom these defenseless human
hives! The Federal authorities. military
and naval, were for some days in the creates
anxiety. Every time a smoke was seal