The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1885-03-20

mac. while the rcycrbcratlon Of her
shots against the tower caused anything
but pleasant sensation. While Stou-
dai'd who was stationed nj the isachine
which controlled the revolving motion
Of the turrct. was incautionsly leaning
against the side Of the tower, large
shot struck In the vicinity and disabled
him.
AS the engagement continued the
working of the turret was not altogeth-
er satisfactory. II was difficult TO start
II revolving. or. when once started. TO
stop II, on account Of the imperfections
OF the novel machinery. which was now
undergoing is first trial. Sinners was
an active. muscular man. and did his
utmost to control the motion Of the tur-
ret; but, In spite Of his effort, 1t was
difficult II not impossible 10 secure ac-
curate firing. The conditions were very
different from those of an ordinary
broadside gun. under which we had
been trained on wooden ships. My
only view Of the world outside OF the
tower was over the muzzles OF the guns,
which cleared the ports by few inches
only. When the guns Were run in the
PORTFOLIOS we're covered by heavy iron
pendulums, pierced with small holes to
allow the iron hammer and sponge
handles 10 protrude while they were in
use. To hoist these pendulums re-
quircd the entire guns crew and vastly
increased the work inside the turret.
1.-The effect upon one shut up in a
revolving drum is perplexing. and 1t Is
not u simple matter To keep the bear
ings. White marks had been placed
upon the stationary deck Immediately
below the turret to indicate the dircc-
ton Of the starboard and port sides.
and the bow and stern; but these marks
were obliterated early in the action. /
would continually ask the Captain;
How does the Merrimac bear?' He
replied: 'On the starboard beam, or
ON the port-quarter, a. the case might
be. Then the difficulty was to deter
mine the direction OF the starboard-
beam or port-quarter. or any other
bearing II finally resulted that when
gun was ready for firing the tur-
ret would be started on its revoiv-
ing journey in search of the target, and
when found il was taken on the
fly. because the turret could not be ac-
curately controlled. Once the Merri-
mac tried to ram us. but Worden
avoided the direct impact by the skillful
use Of the helm. and she struck 4
CHANGING blow which did no damage.
At the instant of collision planted q
solid northumberland -eighty-pound
shot fair and square upon the forward
part Of her casemate. Had the gun
been loaded with thirty pounds Of pow
der, which was the charge subsequently
used with similar guns, 1t is probable
that this shot would have penetrated
her amor; but the charge being limited
to fifteen pounds. in accordance with
pcremptory orders to that effect from
the Navy Department. the shot re-
bounded without doing any more dam
age than possibly TO start some Of the
beams Of her armor-backing.
Soon after noon she'll from the
enemy's gun. the muzzlc not ten yards
distant. strack the forward side Of the
pilot-housc directly in the sight-holc. or
slit. and exploded. cracking the second
iron log and partly lifting the top. leav-
ing an opening. Worden was standing
Immediately behind this spot. and re-
ccived in his face the force Of the blow.
which partly stunned him. and. filing
his eyes with powder. utterly blinded
him. The injury was known only to
those in the pilot-house and its immcdi-
ate vicinity. The flood of light rushing
through the top Of the piIot-housc. now
partly open. caused Wordcn. blind as
he was. TO believe that the pilot-house
was seriously injured. if not destroyed;
he therefore gave orders TO put the helm
to starboard and sheer of Thus the
Monitor retired temporarily from the
action, In order to ascertain the extent
Of the injuries she had received. At the
same time Worien sent for me. and.
leaving Sinners. tine only officer in the
turret, ! went forward at once. and
found him standing at the foot Of the
ladder leading TO the pilot-house.
''lIe was ghastly sight. with his
eyes closed and the blood apparently
rushing from every pore in the upper
part Of his face. He told me that he
was seriously wounded, ana directed
me TO take command. | assisted in
leading him to a sofa in his cabin. where
he was tcndcrly cared for BY DIR.
Logue. and then ! assumed command.
Blind aud suffering as he was. Worden's
fortitnde never forsook him; he fire.
quently asked from his bed Of pain OF
The progress Of affairs. and when told
that the Minnesota was saved he said:
Then can die happy
''Whcn | reached my station in the
pilot-housc ] found that the iron log
was fractured and the top partly open,
but the steering-gcar was intact. and
the pilot-house was not totally de-
stroycd. as had been feared. In the
confusion Of The moment resulting from
SO serious an injury TO the commanding
officer, the Monitor had been moving
without direction. Exactly how much