The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1898-07-02
OLD WAR MONITORS.
Ie Ne Drought Out for Service
In Defending Our Sea-
Coast.


Inc arrangements now in progress
60 utilize the survivors of our old mon
nor Meet, which rendered such inyal-
uaoie service during the civil war. for
purposes OF coast defense, revive popu.
Tar interest in vessels of this class. Not.
withstanding the fact that the TYNE Of
tnese boats is now somewhat obsolete
the historic fighting machines seem
wen adapted to the use contemplated.
ana may prove of great service in case
of need.
NO less than 81 of them were fitted
out by the government after their ef.
nciency had been demonstrated in the
famous fight at Hampton Roads. which
inaugurated new era in maritime war
iare and ultimately revolutionized the
nasies OF the world. Most of them were
OF the single turret class, of which the
Tassiac furnishes good example. and
were designed chiefly for use in rivers
haroors and sounds; but ten were
equipped with double turrets. and two
the Dictator and the Puritan. were sea-
going vessels of more than 5000 tons.
from this they ranged downward n |
ABOUT 600 tons. Four more of the |
largest size were in process of construc.
tion when the war ended. hut were
never brought to completion. They
nave since been broken up.
OF this formidable feet. which :, 20.
gay was by far the most powerful arma.
ment afioat, not more than IS vessels
are now extant. Four-besides the orig.
nai Monitor-were lost during the war.
.ne Weehawken laundering at sea. and
the Patapsco, the Milwaukee and tbe
iecumseh being DESTROYED by tor.
pedoes. The rest have been retired
from time to time. OF these still in
Inc service four-Amphitrite, Monad.
'ock, Puritan and Terror-have been
considerably modified to meet modern
oraItoI THIS description are especially G
ldapfed for use in quiet and shallow a
waters, where the low deck, over which /.
ne waves sweep with terrifying VIC
ence IN starm, is not a serious draw.
pack and their light draught gives
mem great advantage, as was made
vldent in the epoch-making copf1;ct
With the Merrimac in 1862.
FOR the open sea they are not so well
uited, even in the improved models. h
Though it is said that in conseouepce b
being SO nearly submerged they are A.
iuch sfeadier than ordinary vessels. c.
nus rendering it possible to use the l
uns with greater precision. Neverthe. "
SIS 1T will be remembered that the
riginal Monitor barely escaped sink.
lg on its first voyage to Hampton
Dads, and subsequently went down OF,
ape Hatteras. taking with it consid. ~
aoie portion of the crew, while the o.
mainder were saved only with the =,
most difficulty. The inventor. II Is W,
ue' alleged that proper precautions en-
ere not taken; but the fact remains 81,
at II has been found very difficult r. *
ep the water from flooding the hold Of
'oer such circumstances, and when "
ce the fires are extinguished the fas
aft is helpless. pa
ahotner serious disadvantage is the 81
* OF speed resulting from deep Inn. o oa'
original Monitor and ITS we
mediate successors being able tc Ling
Ike only four or five knots an hour IN
far as sustaining heavy fire is con. hhSS,
NED however, they have successfully suf
1ured the severest tests. The claim coz
the inventor, that 'sthe least guam. mo
OF thickest armor does most work att
protecting the ship, engines, boil. Sal
and magazine" is well sustained by n ~.
'erience. PROFESSIONALLY, these ono
Gran warriors are entitled To the late
atest respect for what they have poy
ieyed in the past, and it is probable mo- mo-
Z they will hold their own for Ger. and
purposes for long time to Gomez hon
roit Free Press. vas