The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-02-14

at IT Garuett. examining case Of sur.
slcai Instruments, with lint and band
aSes lying around. The sight took away
al my appetite. and returned to my
TOOK DESPERATE CHANCES,
Mark you well the chances we ran.
Here We were with an untried experl
ment making bee line to fight single
handed fleet OF the best material IN
sne United States navy, composed OF the
l.isates Congress. Minnesota, Roanoke
%. Lawrence--each with batteries of ANY
SUI ana the Cumberland with thirty
guns. II was ten guns against 400 any,
soo men against 1000. and at ths same
.lhe exposed to the fire of the batter. -
W Newport News. manned by ATTY runs
alu aVVo men. Surely the crew Of the
| Merrimac were brave men.
IN the meantime we were getting
nearer and nearer the fleet. CHANGING OIL
me port | read the signals from thu
. .oiored little flags running up and
uo"n the rigging. They read, The Mer-
rlmac has come down, but OF course she
VIII not dare to attack our large force
lhey all thought she was going to escape
up the James river and run away, but
tney were soon to be undeceived. Std
ueniy the Merrimac headed directly To-
wards the Cumberland. This caused the
n'~''.'~S " vi op tneiT eyes IOpSal
We're shaken out and the clothes lines
holding the sailors clothes are pulled
down unceremoniously @-ee
Just at this time Admiral Franklin
Buchanan, one of the grandest men who
ever drew breath of salt air, assembled
the ships crew around him on the gun
deck and addressed them as follows;
Saliors,in few minutes you will have
the long expected opportunity to show
your devotion to your country and our
cause, Remember that you are about to
strike for your country and your homes
your wives and your children. Every
man Is expected to do his duty. Beat
to quarters
A SPECTACULAR BATTLE.
The surrounding shores for miles are
lined with people. Norfolk and Ports
mouth are emptied of their $4,000 troops.
Nearly every one in the two cities rushed
to the waters edge to witness the result
OF what many considered an ill-starred
No naval battle was ever
by more people.
Suddenly there was puff OF smoke
and flash from the rifled-pivot gun OF
the Cumberland, followed by continu-
ous crash OF artillery from the Congress.
the Newports News batteries, and the
gunboats. The Merrimac churned her
way grimly toward the Cumberland ana
her fire. When We We're much
nearer Lieutenant Charles Simms. in
charge OF the forward seven-inch rifle
gave the order and the Merrimac fired her |
,irst gun. She followed this with a star |
board broadside which was delivered with |
earful efrect-as we afterward learned |
against the black hull OF the Congress, |
which vessel we were then passing. Now
anne the crucial test. Would the Merri- t
rs h 1, Of Il
'ur ironclad ram be a success? The Con-
,ress belched forth most terrific broad
de against our shield, tons OF iron rained
n our easement. Hurrah and hurrah The
ron hail glances off like pebbles. The
rev give cheer after cheer.
I'VE are exposed TO very hailstorm of
ron projectiles of al: descriptions from
90 guns. The balls strike, glance up
yard, fall back on our shield and roll
into the water. In the mean
ime we are nearing the Cumberland. All
N the ship are still as death. Not |.
ound is heard save the pulsations OF the
ngines. buchanan stands alone and ey-
osed on the upper grating. He enters the
blot house and sends for me. came or
erred to reverse the engines Immediately
fter rsmming the Cumberland. and not
o wait for orders to do so. I salute and
eturn to the engine room. Now the sig
al is given to stop. The gong sounds two
ings. quickly followed by three rings, the
rider to back. The throttle is opened.
nd the engine starts again in the reverse
ERECTION.
SINKING THE CUMBERLAND.
IAN awful pause; then the crash. start
,g us from our feet. Tho engines labor
nd groap. and the vessel strains In
very fiber and joint.
"Thud thud !! th,d !! comes the
hin Of shot on our shield from the double
anked battery OF the Congress- and a
srrific crash in the boiler room but a
Nv feet away, Have the boilers burst? !
10, thank God It's the explosion OF
,ell In the stack. Any one hurt? No.
After stagger. the ship. which had been
oppressed in the bow. rights herself. and
e know that we have disenGaGed ourselves
-om the Cumberland.
1.-THE crew on the gun deck cheer and
neer again. We have crushed in the side
I our adversary MS knife goes through
cheese. and she is sinking rapidly. Her
rev OF gallant heroes fight her 10 the
st
"How about buchanan. who has been
aking a target OF himself? All right. {
he men on deck tug away at their guns,
aiming and Fighting them! STEADY. so. !
ire!' as the officer gives the word. Quick! /
,ongel Load! Fret There are the ex- c
amations heard on all sides as the men 4
ad and fire continuously. The muzzie
NV gun has been shot away. No mat
r., do the best YOU can with her. Keep
yay from those open ports and don I
an against the shield Some men have y
zen stunned and bleed at the ears, rake I
em below to the cockpit. Simms has
Q bow rifled gun and Wood the stern
IN, which they aim and fire with TER
fic effect. Captain Kevil. with his United {
tillerymen. are doing good service with I
5 gun The marines, under CAPTAIN '
,om. are drawn up Just below where q
lchanan stands. ready 10 board should t
e order be passed. and also - hight one /
the broadside guns. Was >lre ever a +
ore fearless crew and gallant set OF ON a
rse The exertions Of the men are super /
man. No flag. Its fire and cheer: cheer d
fire, as. with unbounded enthusiasm, Il
e men work awav at their pieces: IN
"This is faint picture Of what was 4
ing on aboard the Merrimac during the c
ttest Of the fight. During this time a
, we're a target for the entire iieet and h
4 shore batteries. In the heal OF the
hit We had to look in every direction. v
t.t<- a nrfra