The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-09
ON THE MONITOR WITH woRDEN.
"Reminiscences of the MonitOr-Merri-
mac Battle an Hampton Roads.
Troy Daily Times

Troy Daily Times.
1.-The important part which opportunity
plays in the lives of men is we'll illustrated
by the career of the late Admiral Worden,"
remarked Captain Louis N. Stodder, of the
United States Revenue Cutter Service and
United States supervisor of anchorages port
of New York, as he sat one day last week
in his room in the barge office. Captain
Stodder has the distinction of being the last
survivor of the officers who were assigned
to duty on the Monitor when it began its
career and who remained in constant serv-
ice on the vessel until the end of Cape Hat
teras.
BY singular coincidence Captain Stod-
der's room almost overlooks the statue
erected in Battery Park to the memory of
Ericsson once his intimate friend.
you see" continued the captain, naval
officers were not overplentiful at the be-
Washington had to make the best use OF
the material they had in hand. In fact,
great many officers were enrolled from the
Merchant Marine Service. / went into the
service from the merchant marine myself.
7 think the fact that WOrden. then ranking
only as lieutenant. was placed IA COM COM
mand of the Monitor, would show that the
vessel was looked upon as rather DOUBT,
full experiment by the government ana
that. the selection of a man 70 take COM
mand WAS not made by reason OF any spe-
cial fitness for the position.
''It was Worden's good luck that he was
assigned to the Monitor. TOT the result III. "a 5
the fight made the vessel and all on board
famous. -. =, ~
was rapidlv promoted to high rank which
other officers obtained only after twenty
IT remember him well when he first came
on board the Monitor about month be-
fore the fight. He had Just been released
from prison. and looked tnln ana sat low,
He had the appearance or Dne dying from
fever complaint. never thought II pos
sible for him to live lonf.
HDurng the fight he was cool and coll
lected j recall an incident which ! do not
remember ever seeing published. The quot
itor quite away from the turret During
the fight l was in the turret with other OF
ficers when suddenly we saw Lieutenant
Wcrden climbing up where we were. With
out saving anything he opened one OF the
turret doors and stepped out on the deck
in full view of the enemy.
. Why, captain. what ; the troupie eH-
claimed several of the officers In astehisn-
ment at his fearless act.
g i can't see well enough from the pliot
house came the quiet reply. / wanted 70
get out here for moment TO take IN the
a few moments. he came inside.
Lieutenant Worden was very popular
with officers and men alike. They all Wor-
SHIPPED him Although only forty-1ve years
old at the time of the nitor-Merrimac
fight he looked almost sixty. He wore
long beard at the time and looked just as
the recent pictures made him appear
~ last saw Admiral Worden at the cere-
monies attending the removal or Ericsson
body to its final resting place. only
handful of persons were admitted 10 the
ceremony They were those who survived
Admiral Worden was In carriage with
Secretary Tracy. lie was very feeble, ana
his end even then seemed but short way
off. and yet that was several years ago