The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1894-12-22

About January 2, 1868, was 0rderct
by Adm. Gregory to report to Com
mander John Downs as coast pilot OF
board the U. S. Monitor Nahant, then o,
her passage from Boston to the navy
yard at Brooklyn. ALI knew at tina
time about monitor was that the frs
Monitor whipped the Merrimac. Thu
Nahant arrived at the navy yard.
Now, ! had followed the sea To-
nearly twenty years in every kind O.
vessel, but when / saw the monitor a,
she lay at anchor, with her decks nearly
a-wash with the swell of the tide, the
only thing to be seen about her deck.
being turret and smokestack, wa,
surprised.
On board found Commander John
Downs and reported to him. The ex
ecutive officer was Lieut.. Commander
David B. Harmony. All the officer.
were perfect gentlemen, and everything
went agreeably on board.
In the meantime the Weehawken
sister monitor, commanded by Capt.
John Rodgers. was ready for sea, and
both vessels proceeded to Sandy Hook,
where we adjusted our compasses and
proceeded down the coast, bound for
Hampton roads. The Wechawken was
in the advance, and each vessel had a
tug ahead. We had not gone far when
the Weehawken turned back and
passed inside the Hook, for what cause
we knew not.
AS night came ON the weather began
to look threatening, and at daylight
next morning it began to grow thick,
with the wind northeast. By calcula-
ton we were about abreast of the capes
OF Delaware, and not caring to battle
with gale so early in the passage, we
stood in for the cape, which we made
without difficulty, and anchored under
the lea of the backwater.
The wind increased to a gale, with
rain, and continued with great fury
over three days. During the storm
many vessels found shelter, such as
the stone piles afforded; but so severe
was the gale that a number dragged
their anchors and went ashore. The
Weehawken, after some little delay,
followed down the coast, but that de-
lay prevented her from making the
and she continued on her pas
sage through the gale. On the next
day the tug which had her in tow came
into the capes and anchored under the
breakwater, having had very serious
time, and reported that she was
obliged to abandon the tow and make
for harbor for her own safety, leav-
ing the monitor to her own devices,
and that there was no doubt that she
had foundered.
This news caused the greatest anx-
iety on board the Nahant.
The gale finally died out, and the
wind shifting to the westward we con-
tinued our passage to Hampton roads,
which was to be our destination for a
time, and after fair passage arrived
at the port, where. to our surprise and
delight, we found the Weehawken
at anchor. One of the u. s. steamers
the name have forgotten now) had
sighted the monitor just after the tug
left her, and had assisted her into port.
And not only had she not foundered in
The gale, but the commander in his re-
port to the secretary of the navy said
hat she behaved finely all through
he storm, and proved to be good sea
boat.
AS yet we of the Nahant had not had
he experience of our ship in gale,
'ut we had the opportunity shortly
lfter, during our passage from Hamp-
on roads to Port Royal.
With our coal bunkers full, and well
locked with ammunition, bearing our
hip down to her loaded line (about
our inches free board amidships, her
low and stern according to sheers be-
ng little more QUIT, with tug ahead
0 tow, and pilot, we passed the capes,
hoping our course for Hatteras.
Everything as to wind and weather
Vas favorable until we reached the |
ape. When abreast of the light, about |
We miles off shore, and Just before |
ark, / asked the sailing-master how |
e was going to steer, being now |
breast of the cape and clear of the |
hoals. He said he should keep the
curse south during the night.
/ told him that as the coast from the
ape trended well to the southwest, |
nd the Gulf stream setting about
at the rate of three
nd one-half knots an hour, thought
advisable to haul in for the land.
ut he thought differently, and said
e should keep the course south. The
IS nit was, as the stream runs close in
, the shoals off the cape, we ran into
and across and during the night the
ind came on to blow from the south
asst, causing an ugly cross sea, which
oarded us from all directions, keeping
he deck at times completely under
'ater.
Now, on board other sea-going YES
lis the watch is on deck, but to be on
eek aboard the Nahant that night and
he next day was impossible. But as
lere was nothing to do on deck, the
atches, ventilators and portfolios of
lie turret all secured, the people who
,uld not find room on the turret
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