The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-29


grim and grizzly old sea-dogs shook their heads
dubiously as The gale came on, and all eyes were
first day OF the storm all doubts as to the ocean
worthlness OF the great iron-cased snip were
dispelled, She rode the angry white crested
waves as placidly as swan would glide over
the sunlit waters OF an inland lake.
Or when at rest like q rock rearing its boar
adamantine head above. the wild wastes of
waters. the mad waves dashed themselves TO
pieces against the iron walls of the invinoiole
ship. The eyes that had lately cast dubious
glances towards the experiment now lookeu
with fond admiration upon this bold defer of
winds and waves. The nautical reputation of
the New Ironsides was firmly and justly esta-
blished.
the morning of the 2lth of December the order
of battle Was assumed by the fleet the from
sides In the van; and at noon on that day she
fired the initial gun against Fort Fisher The
Armstrong bolts were tried against her sides;
but she cast them of like drops of water, ana
punished the fortress terribly AS near as the
depth of the water would permit did the gallant
RadtoTd urge his noble ship, and iucessankly
his guns Murdered against the vaunted inn
Al night she was drawn from range. But
early on the morning OF Christmas Day, 1854 she
again took up her position under the huge sand
walls of the seemingly perfect fort and all day
long her guns belched forth destruction. That
night IL was decided TO give up the attack and
on the following day the entire fleet Withdrew.
THE SECOND ATTACK.
The fleet reftted at Beaufort, aud on the llth
of January IL set sail for a second time to Fort
Fisher. At daylight on the morning of the
18th, the circular bomoproofs were again in
signt, and three hours afterwards the prince of
the iron clads had taken mp her old position
directly under the veuuted Armstrong;, and
commenced her terrible overture Of shot and
shell. This time the firing was carried on
slower than at the first attack, but with more
precision. I'll q thirn shot fired from the Iron
sides struck within the embrasures of the fort,
and never once, during daylight, was the range
lost.
This time there was no withdrawal with the
app oach of darknes5. ALI night long the Iron-
sides ooggedly maintained her position near
the fort, firing occasional shots In the dark
ness, and at daylight reopened her broadside
compliments. Daring the nights of the 18th,
18th, and l4lh did the invincible ship maintain
her perllous position, Keeping the enemy con-
tinually awake at their arms. During these
periods of darkness pigmy tugs ran up sloug
side the iron giantand supplied her larder with
Brobnignagian rations OF shot and she'll
The Rebels were not unmindful of the mis-
chief this invlncible monster was doing their
stronghold, and on the 18th of January their
longest range armstrong; were specially d.
reCted against her. Twenty OF the herculean
iron bolts, propelled on the wings OF flame,
fairly struck the bold ship, and had as much
laughed the bold Admiral. and his men laughed
with him too" Sir William Armstrongs cum
ming was no match for the skill OF the Quaker
The enemy, too, were convinced that to fire
at this greaJ mai ed nautical giant was but
waste OF ammunition, and so left the pride of
the nation in peace, she in the meanwhile
blazing away with redOubled vigor until the
fort fell. This occurred on the evening of the
18th of January. and with the conquest of Fort
Fisher ceased the active duties of the New
lrOOsides, During the scare which prevailed
on the James in March, 1865. the thunderer
was sent for, and she steamed up far
Bermuda Hundreds; but the pigmies came not
within range Of her death dealing guns and
invulnerable sides In a few days more Grant
pierced the fortifcations OF Richmond.
anTa 'ne cyownsd u the Sueen of yhe w esT5hs
mailed ships steamed back to her native
waters, and two years from the date of her
second grand triumph sne fell a victim TO the
ipsidious fire fepd. 1t is sad to reflect that
this seemingly imperishable monument of
whose attacks even her iron sides were no pro-
RAISING THE WRECK.
All the woodwork of the Ironsides was so
much burned as to preclude the idea of ever
floating her again as a man of-war, and the
only object, therefore, was to obtain from her
| and metal work. The purchasers of the wreck
have been more than g year at work with
ceeded IN lifting the hulk 10 the surface OF the
water. The parting of some of the chains rem
dered all their M labor va vain, an ana & they are now
compIish their object without fear of another
mis6ap ofthe same kind. ,-,,,.
The hulk now lies more than half mile fur
ther up The river than it did when the confa-
grafton took place, and the Wreckers are endea-
VoTing to work IL upon sand bar which makes
out in o the river near where they now are. and
which Is not covered by more than Two feeJ or
water at low tide, thus allowing them to ope-
rate to advantage in removing the metal and
The work of raising the wreck is accom-
q
each of several hu ndred tons lifting capacity.
These are secured tothe wreck by massive chain
cables passed under and around 1t by the divers
The pontooDs are cubicRl wooden boxes OF from
ten 10 fifteen feet in each dimenslon all the
seams are caull1ed SO as TO make them per-
feclly watertight When sufficient number OF
these are secured to wreck they are filled
with water, which sinks them The chain
cables are then hauled taught and the water is
pumped out of the pontoons. causing them to
rise TO the surface, bringing the wreck with
them. The wreck, thus toated, IL then towed
by q steam tug TO suitable place for future
This was the method at fret adopted with the
Ironsides but after the mishap OF last fall, the
bar we have mentioned was discovered and to
save time and expense IL was determined TO
gradually work the hulk upon IL. The present
method of operation, therefore, is TO take ad
vantage of the low tide. and with the aid OF
cable. The high tide there floats the pontoons,
withth wreck attached, further upon the bar.
THE DIVERS
are employed to fasten the chains to the wreck
and to assist In removing such articles as are
are now done away with altogether, except in
rare instances, and divers now Work altogether
with submarine armor, which enables them to
see every object, and to move about with the
greatest facility. The dress OF diver consists
OF a water proof Oil cloth suit, which enVelops
| him nom head to foot, leaving merely his face
| fastened shoulder piece OF metal, and metal
lie helmet shaped like an iron pot, goes over the
| head and is secured by a number OF screws to
| with three windows of thick glass, with graf
inGs of stout brass wire In front TO protect Lnem
| from injury. These enable the diver to see
| every object under the water with the greatest
| ease, The shoes are made OF stout unnamed
| leather, and are provided with soles OF lead
about three quarters OF an inch In thickness.
| In addition to this two leaden plates, weighing
| some forty or fifty pounds each, nt upon his
| back and breast. The object OF all tnls Welght
| is to keep the diver steady in the water. and 1t
| is remark able that when under the surface the