Morning journal and courier., 1892-03-12
MKRRImAo AND moN1ron.

Thfrtieth Anniversary Of the Rattle
 MT. Bushnell Relates How He Res
 urrected Erlccson's Plans for the
 Monitor and Secured Its Construc.
 t1on-Its Name-Results of the Battle
 Praise Due MT. Bushnell.
 The Gideon Wells Watch celebrated
 last night in their hall the thirtieth anni-
 versary of the victory of the Monitor over
 the Merrimac, victory which wrought such great change in the navies of the
 world, by downing the wooden vessels of war the world over
 The hall, in the Boardman building, was fttingly decorated with flags and bunting. Admiral Wells, commander of the Naval Veteran association of the United States, presided. In introducing the speaker oi the evening he said: The confederates introducing ironclad vessels. He then pictured the gloom that was felt March 8, 1862, when the Merrimac destroyed vari- ous Union vessels in Hampton Roads. Washington, Baltimore and New York were open to attack, and with Hampton Roads cleared England was ready to rec ognize the confederate states. It was pEovident that the Monitor appeared on March 9. The battle between the Monitor and Merrimac was an epoch in our his- tory. MT. Bushnell deserves to be marked among the foremost of the nations bene- factors.
 MT. Bushnell read formal paper de- cribing the way the Monitor was named and the result of its victory. Captain n rio afaJX hat {Iat al 1o lad the Monitor as an admonition to other nations to mind their own business. The monitors in our navy now are our main defense from @ foreign power. Moni- tors at cost of s700, ,000, 900 have already been made by foreign countries.
 He then briefly spoke of the new De- stroyer which Ericcson.'and other inventors worked at for fifteen years to perfect and which he thinks will destroy any iron ves- sel at distance of three miles. He closed with glowing tribute to Captain Worden, the brave commander of the Monitor, and other naval heroes of the war of the rebel lion. After the paper he told how he came to find the plans of the Monitor. Congress had appro- Ironclads which the confederates were building The plans of the Galena were given me. It was mater told me to go to Ericsson and get his ad- | vice. While at Ericssnn's house he asked if did | not want to see plans of an impregnable ship. I | saw and was soon convinced of its efficiency. Within week and @ day of the time saw him | after innumerable difficulties we had the verbal | contract for the Monitor.
 The Monitor was to cost S275, O0O and we had to | guarantee that 1t would be success we would | 'efund the money to the government On our | New Havener, Hon x. D. sperry. The sub-eon- .ract was given 10 Thomas Rowland, who pushed | Alter % Me. ~ Bushneils pnehsa address captain Crafts made some fitting remarks. The Swiss | ,hoir sang several selections.
 The submarine torp-does which ar. Bushnell | 1as in charge were very successfully tested few Jays ago iu New York harbor, and also on the | 7th of this month the aerial torpedoes, weighing rom 300 to 5000 pounds, will De tested at Fort L. I. If this torpedo proves to be | Ill that is expected of it great results and great ,hanges in naval warfare are expected.