The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-12-19

Cumberland and reserved her fire.
when we were much nearer Lieutenant
Charles S!mms, III charge of the for
ward scrcn-inch rifle. gave the order,
ald the Mcrrimac fired her frs, gun
She followed this with starbGurd
br"adside. which was delivered with
fearful effcCt-as we afterwards learned
against the black hull OF the Con-
ErcsS. which vessel WE were then
inSSlng Now came the crucial test
Would the Merrmacs hide of iron pro
iect her? Would our irOn-clad ram be
4 success? The Congress bclched forth
a most terrific broadside against our
Shlrld: tons OF iron raincd on our case
nltnt' Hurinh and hurrah! The iron
haii Elanccs of like pebbles. Tho crew
gives cheer after cheer
W" are exposed 10 4 very hail storm,
81 IRON projectilcs of all description
rom ashore aud afioat. We are tar
get Tor 300 guns. The balls strike.
Sance upwards, fall back on our shield
ana an roll harmiessly into the water
III the meantime we are nearing the
Cumberland All on tho shin are stjIl
as aeath. Not sound is heard save
me pulSations Of the engines Buchan-
IN stands alone and exposed on the
upper grating. lie enters the pilot
mouse ana sends for me. | am ordered
10 reverse the engines Immediately
attcr ramming the Cumberland, and
not to wait for orders 10 do 50. sa-
lutte and return TO the engine room
Now The signal is givtn to stop. The
gong sounds two rings, quickly fol-
lowed by three rings. the order 10 back
me throttle is opened ana the engine
starts again in the reverse direction.
An awful pause, thea the crash start
'nF us from our feet The engines labor
ana Eroan and The vessel strains in
every fibre and joint
Thud! Thul.. Thudm! comes the rain
"i shot on our shield from the double
backed battery Of the Congress, and a
terrific crash IN the boiler room, but n
lew feet away. Have the boilers burst?
No! Thank God. It's the explosion of
q shell in tho stack. Any one hurt? No.
After SiagEcinG, the Ship, which has
been depressed at the bow. rights her
self and We know that we have olsen
%aEed ourselves from the Cumberland.
ne crew on the glIcl deck cheer and
shecr again. We have crushed in the
SIDE OF orr adversary as knife goes
thro' cheese, and she is sinking rap
idly. He" crew OF gallant heroes fight
her to tbs last.
How about Buchanan, who has been
making Il target of himself? All right!
fhe men en- deck tug away at their
suns, training and Fighting them
the word. Quick! Sponge! Load!
Fire! These are the exclamatlons
heard on all sides as the men load ana
llre continuously. The muHZle of nv
gun has been shot away" mo matter.
40 The best YOU can with her" Keep
away from those open ports and don't
lean against the Shield" Some men
nave been stunned ana bleed ut the
ears. Take them below to the cock pit
S!mms has the bow rincd gun and
Wood the stem gun. which they aim
and fire with terrific effect. Captain
heN!l. with his United Artillcrymcn.
are doing good service with his gun
The marines. unJer Captain Thorn. are
drawn up just below where Buchan-
an stands, ready 10 board should the
order be passed, and also tn f"ht one
Of the broadsidc guns. Was there ever
more fearless crew and gallant set
OF officers? The cXcrtions of the men
are supcrhuman. None flag. It's fire
and cheer. Cheer and fire. as with I'M
bounded enthusiasm the men work
away at their places.
This is 4 faint picture Of what was
going on aboard the Alerrimac during