The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-01-25

He WAS made commodore in 1862, was
retired in 1866, and received the rank of
rear admiral in 1870, in recognition of
his long and distinguished services.
The career,,ofssthe younger admiral. on
the other hand, has been full OF stirring
and romantic incidents. He saw fercer
fighting, and more of itA during the war
than any other naval officer. On three
different occasions his ship was sunk,
and another time he was blown up with
his boats crew by a torpedo. he com
manded the gundeck battery on the Cum
berland when she was sunk by the Merr1-
mac, the day before the latter vessel had
her big fight with the Monitor.
The story told Of this disaster to the
Cumberland by Admiral Selfridge, Jr.,
is n very exciting one. In conversation on
the subject the 9th err day he said
''If The Cumberland had had steam, she
might have had some sort of show In
fighting the Merrimac. We had ten guns
tosthe Msrrimacs four, ana the hail OF
big shot we poured at her produced con-
siderable effect, knocking away her smok-
stacks and making large dents in her
arrnor But, for lack OF wind, we were
helpless, and the Merrimac crushed us
with her ram 1t SO CHANGED that the
ram stuck fast in the stricken Cumber-
land, and, If ybody at the bow OF our
vessel, where the two great anchors were
bitted, had had the presence or mind to
throw them over upon the Merrimac, she
would have been dragged down with the
Cum berland when the latter sank.
"As it was, the Merrimac struggled for
two or three minutes, and then broke
free, leaving her ram in the Cumberland.
She backed away, and the Cum berland
settled steadily, as the water poured into
her through the great hole in her side.
While we were sinking, kept on direct
ing the fire of our guns at the Al errimac.
When the word came that everyone should
save himself as best he could, 1 found the
hatchways crowded with men, and, see
ing small chanceSof escape that way,
hastily stripped myself to my shirt and
trousers and crawled out through port
hole lust as Gthe ship went under the
water. | went down with her, but. being
a first rate swimmer, | soon came to the
surface again and succeeded IN reaching
a boat. The Cumberland flag was never
struck, but still few from her masthead,
whichEstuck out above the water after she
had sunk to the bottom. Soon lafterward
/ went out in boat and cut the flag
away. meaning to preserve it, and to pre-.
vent it from falling into the hands Of the
enemy. IidoFnot know what became Of it
afterwards; it disappeared. -
Thomas .. Selfridge, Jr., entered the
navy as cadet midshipman in October
1851. and was graduated in 1853 at the
head Of the first class sent out by the
Naval Academy under its present organ
ization. He was the first officer to receive
a diploma from the academy. In Febru-
ary. 1860, he became lieutenant, and
was ordered home from the African coast
to the flagship Cumberland. He took
mart in the bonn bardment and capture of
the Norfolk Navy Yard, and in the as
sault and taking of the Hattsras forts.
Immediately after the sinking of the
Cum berland he was placed in command
of the Monitor, Captain sWorden of the
latter vessel having been wounded in the
fight between the Monitor and Merrimao
AT about this time submarine torpedo
boat called the Alligator was built in
PHILADELPHIA by a scamp of % French ad-
yent11rer. The Federal Government was
in no little alarm on account of a second
Merrimao. which was understood to be
under construction by the Confederates
and n was hoped that the Alligator
might he used to blow up this dreaded
vessel Merrimac No. 2 never made it's
annearance. as it turned out, but mean
wbiie Ebe Government accepted and ppr-
chased the Alligator after one trial on fine
Daiavare. She was brought to WASHING.
ton and Lieutenant Selfridge volunteered
~ command her. He tnok her for a. short
vovage down the Potomac, and the result
was nearly disastrous.
1.-THE Alligator was an odd specimen of
naval construction, says Admins
SaIfridee. Jr. "She was shaped slike .
cigar, and propelled by paddles arranged