Evening journal., 1898-04-04
SAW THE GREAT FIGHT.


One good thing begets another. The
publication by the Wayfarer of the
fact that Captain Nelson, of Eighth
and Madison streets, was an eye-wit-
ness of the celebrated Virglnius mas
sacre in Cuba, has given him another
story, equally good.
William II. Lee, of No. 1927 West
Eighth street, ex-register of births,
marriages and deaths for this city, was
not only in Havana at the time Of the
Virginius massacre, buU he was also
an eyewitness of the naval battle
which revolutionized the warfare Of the
world. For years the Wayfarer had
known him and had heard him discuss
many matters, but never, in all that
time, did he ever hear him touch upon
those two points in even the most in
direct manner. 1t was through Cap
tain Nelson's story that the matter
came to his ears.
Yesterday morning the Wayfarer
called on Mr.. Lee at his home and ask
ed him to tell him all about the mat
ter.
"At the time of the Virginius mas
4 sacre," said Mr.. Lee, Il was purser on
( the Juniata, trading between Philadel-
4 phia to New Orleans, and touching at
. Havana. l can't say just what time OF
4 the year it was, for l never charged my
mind especially with the date, but
Il know that excitement ran high in the
4 Cuban capital, and it was almost worth
a mans life to go ashore wearing a
B blue necktie or anything else indica-
tive of sympathy for the revOlutionists.
x We were all careful not to take any
s risks, for the Spaniards were in a
most ugly frame OF mind, and particu-
Il larly bitter against Americans. / did
e not hear much about the Virginius af
< fair and we left for New Orleans a day
or two after it occurred. After remain
ing in New Orleans for about forty
eight hours we returned to Havana and
found that things were just as hot and
as dangerous as they we're before we
left. For that reason we did not go
81 ashore any more than was absolutely
necessary, and then did not tarry in
the transaction Of our business"
How did you come to see the fight
between the Monitor and the Merri-
# mac?" asked the Wayfarer.
Il am a Virginian," replied Mr.. Lee.
81 was born a few miles from Char
lotteville, and not far from Monticello,
Thomas .JeffersOn's home. When the
L a
obtained employment in the GOssport
navy yard at Norfolk-that is, as soon
as the Confederate secured the yard
and began using it. was engaged in
assisting to make ordnance for the
Confederacy.
-"The Confederates seized the United
States frigate Merrimac, which was ly-
ing there They cut down her sides
as far as possible, and then built roo
over her, just the same as the roof OF ;
barn in pitch, but not in material. FRS
they took yellow pine timbers, twelve
inches square, laid them close to-
gether, allowing an opening at tbs
peak of the roof for the placing q
gratings to let out the smoke. Thesl
timbers were bolted securely together
and thoroughly braced. On the top o
that we laid the old-style U railroad
rails, and they we're all lashed to
gether and bolted Then on top o
that we placed iron plates made espe
cially for the purpose. They Wen
about four inches wide and threi
inches thick. These, too, were boltel
and lashed securely. On top Of all thi
we smeared all the grease we coul'
find in the neighborhood, so that tn
balls striking the roof would glanc
off. Commander Frank Buchanan wa
in command, with B. Catsby Jones a
executive officer.
1T was in March, 1862, that we fin
ished work on her. Her mission wa
to destroy the Union blockadin
feet in Hampton Roads. She was fl
ted with ram, but it was Of cast iroI
On March 8 she steamed out Of MOI
folk A lot of us Fellows belonging
the navy yard, knowing that a bi
fight was about to take place, wei
down to SewalYs Point to see it. "
saw her sink the Cumberland, with a
of her officers and crew, and the Cor