The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-03-17
sending in shot after shot as rapidly a.

sending in shot after shot as rapidly az
possible.
Determined not to be baked Of her prey,
the Merrimac made another dash for the
Minnesota. the Monitor having hauled OF
TO cool her guns, but again she was met
by the staggering fre of both the frigate
and her queer defender, and, as If actuated
by sudden impulse, the confederate crafts
changed their course. heading for Norfolk
That Buchanan declined a continuation OF
the battle cannot be denied. and, although
the results of the engagement have been
widely discussed with as great diversity
OF opinion, IL cannot be claimed that the
Merrlmac accomplished her mission. The
Minnesota escaped. The Monitor was ready
TO resume the fight, while her adversary
slowly disappeared mp the river. The
Monitor was entirely uninjured, though
struck twenty-five times
Thus was the wonderful craft conceived.
built, launched and fioated on to glorious
victory, creating sensation which in
v,olved the rebuilding and remodeling of all
the armed fleets of the world.
The termination of the career of the Mon
ltor was well worthy of her name, and in
keeping with the reputation attached TO
her. The Monitor left Hampton Roads Dec.
29, 1862 in tow of the gunboat Rhode Is
land. bound south. The first indication OF
danger was heralded by swell from the
southwark, the wind increasing from the
southwest. When about seventeen miles
TO the southwark of Hatteras the Monitor
merged by the furious seas that swept over
the craft In rapid succession. The gale in
creased, the Monitor strained and labored,
vast quantities of water were forced in at
different points. which the steam-pumps
could not control. Lit was 1880 o'clock
at night when the signal of distress was
displayed from the iron vessel. and prompt
ly answered by the Rhode Island. The
crew was transferred, the engines ceased
to work and the Monitor fell off into the
trough of the sea. The deck was submerged,
and above the mass of iron eddied and
swirled q waste of foam-flecked seas, their
white crests upheaving in the darkness of
the night with startling distinctness.
Richard Angler. a quartermaster, remained
at his post at the wheel when the vessel
was sinking. and when ordered by his COM
mo, sir; not till you go.D Soon after the
left boat left the Monitor she plunged
heavily fOrward-there was an eddy of
FOAM a rush of waters and the savior of
the Union had disappeared forever.
The end of the Merrimac soon came. On
the 9th of May it was noticed that the con-
federate flag was not flying over the bat
teries on SewalPs Point. A boat was sent
on shore and found them abandoned. Lieu
tenant Pembroke Jones, of the confederate
navy, was then dispatched TO Norfolk. and
returned with the news that Norfolk was
evacuated and the navy-yard on fire. An
effort was made to tighten the vessel to ena-
BILE her 10 ascend the James river, but the
pilots declined to take her, and then, to
prevent her from falling into the hands OF
the federals. she was set on fire. Her mag
of May ii, and the Merrimac disappeared
from history. A short time ago the remainG
of the iron structure were sold to a dealer
in old iron.