The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-29
pERtLoUS TORPEDO WORK.
now CUSHING AND MS MEN SANK
THE RAM ALBEM1RLE.
The story Told by Probably The Only Mas
lJving who Took Fart In the Attnck-A
Daredevil Scheme CARRIED TO Success

Daredevil Scheme Carried TO Success.
np,n me 1fcaoo Record.
John McDormaid. a prominent manufactures
of Rock ford. Ill.,. Is probably the only surviving
member OF the little crew that embarked in the
steam launch with Capt. william II. Cushing
on the night OF Oct. 81. 1904, and destroyed the
Confederate ram Aibemarle MS IL lay In the
Roanoke River. Mr.. McDermnid Is a member
Of Il. G.. Nevins Post, Grand Army, and his story
has never before been published. lie had In
1902 completed a three years apprenticeship on
board the ship James Cuthberts, his time ex-
plrlne while he was In Quebec. He sailed for
some time on the Great Lake.. and Mt Buffalo
enlisted in the 1O4th New York Infantry. He
served in the army for a year, and then was
transferred to the navy, being ordered TO tho
United States steamer OtscEo, one OF the
"double.enders," which had encountered che
| Albemarle several times.
In the summer OF 1904 the Otscro. which had
been doing duty on the James River. between
Hog Island and Bermuda Hundred, protecting
Butler, who was constructing the Dutch Gap
Canal. was ordered to report to Admiral Porter
OF the South squadron. Cushing. Young, brave.
and ambitious, had lost two ships, but had
made n record for himself. and WAS at the
Brooklyn Navy Yard experimenting the con-
struction OF n steam launch at the time the
Otsego was ordered to report to Admiral Porter.
This launch was TO destroy the Albemarle. and
for this purpose Cushing had IL constructed.
One attempt TO destroy the ram had already
failed, four young men being put ashore at the
mouth OF the Roanoke, equipped with torpedoes
and a few days rations. They attempted to
wade through the ewamps TO Plymouth. and
were going to swim the stream and put an end
to the ram when capture stopped their plans.
After the failure Of this plan an attempt was
made to decoy the ram down the river, McDer-
maid being one of n detail OF ten men which
strung a line Of torpedoes across the channel,
aud lay for ten days, with wire IN hand. waiting
to blow the destroyer out OF the water, but in
vain. The detail sent to relieve McDermaid
and his companions was captured. The crew
OF the ram heard OF the trap set for her and
would not come down, while the Federals could
not 90 up the river because of the schooners,
chains. and other distractions that were sunk in
the channel. and because of the guns of the
different forts and batteries, those OF Fort Bacon
especially. The obstacles were about oue-half
mile below Plymouth, and the Federals did NOT
get near enough to the town to shell.
EARLY In October" said Mr.. McDermaid, II
was ordered to take a number of men and pro-
coed to the fiat opposite Roanoke Island, where
I was to ascertain II there was q channel deep
enough to float vessels from the sea. We set
out with a schooner, tug, and rowboat in rough
weather. a few evenings later we saw an OBJ
ject far down the Sound battling with the
waves, heading, apparently, for our landing on
Roanoke Island. When the object neared we
saw that It was a steam launch, After a hard
struggle It pulled up at the landing. In tho
craft were Cushing and four comp anions, and q
sorry-looklng lot they were. The craft was
about half full Of water, her stack was down,
and the fires nearly submerged. Had she been
out a little longer her mission would have never
been accomplished. Gushing and his men were
sent to our quarters. where food and q change
OF clothing were provided. while |. with a few
OF my men, set about preparing the launch. The
next morning Cushing set forth with his launch
and announced his arrival to Admiral Porter on
the flagship Shamrock.
" The day following Cushing's departure We
finished our soundings and set out for the fleet,
which waslying OF Ellington. NC 1 had hardly
that a number OF my shipmates had answered
tushinE's call for volunteers to accompany him
up the Roanoke on his voyage of destruction.
a good share of dangerous and difficult work,
for, death. glory, or promotion as our Captain
had snnoupced when giving out the call.
Mcclure, and myself. The names Of those from
Donnelly and Huntington, the latter being
mentioned in Cnshing's report. Two days after
from which she proceeded, about > O'clock in
the evening. on her round from ship to ship.
Arnold OF The otseRo had called ali hands aft to
bid us good by and godspeed. AS we went over
said that no hoped he would see us again. al
though he clearly never expected to do SO. We
lad been christened. Care had been TAKEN in
the construction Of the craft. and not the least
noise was made as she moved.
about o'clock In the evening we steamed
up the river. 1t was raining hard. and in order
to avoid detection II possible we Rugged close to
the edge OF the bamboo swamp, making our way
up to where the Southtield, was sunk. Here we
Mere discovered and hailed BY the rebel pockets
swer and running close to them, they opened
as warning, having a regular system Of
when it was SHOWN at Plymouth that something
had happened down the river and everybody
to the feet, which was done.
"On the evening of Oct. 81 Gushing. with his
Of the Roanoke. We passed the place
fore. and considered ourselves safe and well on
our mission. Plymouth lies on the high land.
AS soon as the bend of the river was
turned we could see the lights of the town.
shade OF tho overhanging moss and timber. We
arrived opposite the town without being seen.
u the water on tho other side OF the river. near
ne lower end OF the town: This we con-
toward It we We found t"s rA Il to 0q be a a pile s' ef enai
IN a dock. Disappointed. we returned TO, tho
'ther side and then steamed up the river about
we discovered II huge black object across the
rlVer. unques tionably tho ram at her dock. 1t
vas quite dark and we had to feel our way with
great caution. slowly we proceeded about two-
birds OF the way across, when the signal was
the engineer and he turned on full steam.
with exhaust turned in and sparks flying from
he stack, we went full ahead at the enemy,
We were almost immediately discovered aud
JAILED: We made no answer to two calls. and
he third time the cry came:
" Boat ahOy! What boat comes thercP
"StAnding in the bow OF the lannCh. the tor
'cIo lines n his hand, Gushing replied detiantly;
"'Welld Il soon let you know"
This significant reply WAS followed by n rife
hot from the lookout on the ram, and Mt the
anne instant the gong was sprung, the whistle
blown, and the bell, rung, Pa%ndemonium was
ct loose on the huge vessel. Almost inn
nediately the ports We're thrown open and tho
'nns were let loose upon US. ON we rushed. re-
,ardless of shot and shell that plouRhcd the
water on all sides, unCOmfOrtably close at hand.
Unknown TO us, the ram had been surrounded
~ n log boom, extending about twenty feet
tom her hull. Our little craft was going at her
speed and she struck the boom, head on. 1t
vas crushed down and the launch leaped almost
ver u, catching TO the boom by Its wheel.
There was Cushing's opportunity, Down
NlA HnHnnln AA.AA ~ -