Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-02
ONE OF wORDEN's MEN.
Capt. Louis N. StOdder, n Survivor of
the Monitors Officers.

Capt. Louis N. stOdder, n Survivor of
the Monitors Officers.
From the Troy Times.
THE important part which opportunity
plays in the lives of men is well illustrated
by the career Of the late Admiral Worden,"
remarked Capt. 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. Capt.
Stodder has the distinction of being the
last survivor of the officers who were as
signed to duty on the Monitor whe1 1t be-
gan its career, and who remained In con-
slant service on the vessel until the bitter
err off Cape Hatteras.
By a singular coincidence, Capt Stodder's
room almost overlooks the statue erected
in Battery Park to the memory of Erics-
son, once his intimate friend.
You see," continued the captain, naval
officers were not over plentiful at the be-
ginning of the war. and the officials at
Washington had to make the best of
the material they had in hand. In fact, a
great many officers were enrolled from the
merchant marine service. l went into the
service from the merchant marine myself.
l think the fact that Wor1en, then ranking
only as lieutenant, was placed in command
of the Monitor would show that that yes
sci was looked upon rather a doubtful
experiment by the government, and that
the selection of a man to take command
was not made by reason of any special fit
ness for the position.
1T was WordenS good luck that he was
assigned to the Monitor, for the result Of
the fight made the vessel and all on board
famous.
1.-The brave part that he played in the
tight was recognized by Congress, and he
was rapidly promoted to high rank, which
other officers obtained only after twenty
years of service.
on board the Monitor about month before
the fight. He had just been released from
prison, and looked thin and sallow. He
had the appearance of one dying from
fever complaint. I never thought it pcs
sible for him to live long.
During the fight he was cool and COL
lected. recall an incident which 1 do not
remember ever seeing published. The pilot
house was situated in the bow OF the Moni-
tor, quite away from the turret. During
the fight 1 was in the turret with other Of
ficers, when suddenly Lieut.. Wor-
den climbing up where we were. Without
saying anything he opened one of the tur-
ret doors and stepped out on the deck in
full view of the enemy.
why, captain, what's the trouble?' ex-
claimed several of the officers In astonisn-
ment a. his fearless act.
II can't see well enough from the pilot
house. came the quiet reply. I wanted to
get out here for a moment TO take in the
whole situation Then, looking around for
few moments. he came inside.
Lieut.. Worden was very popular with
officers and men alike. They all worshiped
him. Although only forty-five years old at
the time of the Monitor-Merrimac fight. he
looked almost sixty. He wore long beard
at the time, and looked just as the recent
newspaper cuts made him appear.
Il last saw Admiral Worden at the cere-
monies attending the removal of Ericssons
body to it's final resting place. Only
handful of persons were admitted TO the
ceremony They were those who survived
from the officers and men of The Monitor.
Admiral Worden was in a carriage with
Secretary Tracy. He was very feeble, and
his end even then seemed but a shor. way
off, and yet that was several years ago."