New-York tribune., 1890-05-27
NATAL NOTES or INTEREST
FRIGATE WITH RECORD TO BE REPAIRED
CAPTAIN ERBEY's LOYALTY AND

ri
CAPTAIN ERBEN's LOYALTY AND
BRAVERY TESTED
The Old wooden frcate Minnesota which ,s ms.
used ship TO train boys for Service as scamen ne,
officers, and, in few cases become warrant ofce,
in the Navy, and which is familiar to people croS
Ing North River by the Twentyihlrd ST ferry. ana
to those who travel up and down the Hudson on ,hs
boats is now alongside the Cob Dock I'm tn, Navy Yard
and tomorrow she is TO be put into the new dry,
dock to have some repairs made to her hull Darin.
the last week some measurements of the new doct
have been taken, and for docking the Min
nesota is that the dock may be further tested
dredging machine at work Saturday in front q
the DOCK and before the big vessel be put in
bank OF mud must be removed. The Minnesota is ons
OF the vessels which was saved from destruction by the
rebel ram Merrimac on Sunday, March 5, 1862. when
Ercsson's Monitor arrived at Hampton Roads so on.
portunely and checked the mad career of the Con.
federae commander, Buchanan, who had declared that
ne would not stop after he had destroyed the gates
Cumberland and Congress until he had destroyed lie
entire American Navy. lie had reasoned with
out his host, and although the going
Gays OF the Minnesota ended, she has not ended
her days OF usefulness in bringing forward tie
nucleus OF a new American Navy. The sides
OF the Minnesota are to be built up with planls
tapping over each other, and shed is TO be put
over her, the Vermont, excepting that the poop
is 10 be left clear. This is to be done because she
leaks badly when hard rain comes 1t Is also re.
ported that she is to be supplied with heating
engines, and that her masts are 10 be taken out
captain Henry Ernen who has Just been ordered
as member OF the Board Of Inspection and surv,v
20 the vacancy caused by the transfer Of CAPTAIN r. o.
Selirdgc. 10 the command of the Boston NAVY Y,rd
was member OF the MCCalla court martial lie (,
one Of those blun but genial and highly resp ct.f
mariners OF the Old school, but has A record for l6va
zeal, gallantry and bravery that commended hin :,
Congress for special favor. lie was a lifutenaBt AZ
tbs Pensacola Navy Yard when the Civil War oeg,n
and was one of the three officers OF that station who r..
mained loyal while the Others, us ,uperiors vera
plotting how to bet.ay that important post and
the property there into the hands Of tie
Confederates; and doing all they cond
70 aid the south in taking possession OF the Navy
Yard and the forts, with their vast ard inporIsrt
dore Jouett IN his report said OF MIN: Lieutenant
ETben. In this emergency Was the only officer Who
STOOD forth conspcuOusly brave, energetic and 70
the duty Of the hour. While some Of the officers
bravery, courage and ont>pOhcn loyalty were -
marked as to attract attention.
one thng referred to by JOuett Erbens dis.
Obedience of an order Of Commander Farrand who
sad - - YOU! III have you tried by court
martial, sir, for disObedience OF MY orders Erea
replied - you! III have YOU hung, YOU
traitor The Two officers cInchcd and as they
went rolling down an embaukment Erben then asked
permission 10 go outside and destroy "A powder
magazine but MS ofer Was declined and the eaZne
was captured by the rebels. But Erbcn went and
Fort McRac 70 Fort Pickens and placed the latter u
condition Of defence. This saved PenacOla and ths
fort from capture. lie afterward took part in tie
capture of Memphis. the passage Ot the Nicksbury
Duponts attack Charleston. and many othes
engagements.