The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-01-20
THE OLD MONITORS.
Brought Out to Aid in Our Sea-
Coast Defense.
They Are Not Considered Valuable
fer Sea Fighting, But MAJ Prove
of Good Service I'm the
Quiet Waters.

The arrangements now il progress
to utilize the survivors OF our old mon
itor fleet, which rendered such inval-
liable service during the civil war, for
purposes of coast defense, revive popu-
lar interest in vessels of this class. Not
withstanding the fact that the type of
these boats is now somewhat obsolete,
the historic fighting machines seem
well adapted to the use contemplated,
and may prove of great service il case
of need.
No less than 81 of them were fitted
out by the government after their eff
ficiency had been demonstrated in the
famous fight at Hampton Roads, which
inaugurated a new era in maritime war
fare and ultimately revolutionized the
navies of the world. Most of them were
of the single turret class, of which the
Passiac furnishes a good example, and
were designed chiefly for use in rivers,
harbors 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 to
about 600 tons. Four more of the
largest size were in process of construc-
ton when the war ended, but were
never brought to completion. They
have since been broken up.
Of this formidable fleet, which in it's
day was by far the most powerful arma-
ment af1oat, not more than IS vessels
are now eXtant. Four-besides the orig
nal Monitor-were lost during the war,
the Weehawken laundering at sea, and
the Patapsco, the Milwaukee and the
Tecumseh being destroyed by tor
pedoes. The fest have been retired
from time to time. Of these still in
the service four-Amphitrite, Monad-
mock, Puritan and Terror-have been
considerably modified to meet modern
requirements.
Craftof this description are especially
adapted for use in quiet and shallow
waters, where the low deck, over which
the waves sweep with terrifying vio-
lence in starm, is not serious draw
back, and their light draught gives
them great advantage, as was made
evident in the epoch-making conflict
with the Merrimac in 1862.
For the open sea they are not so well
suited, even in the improved models;
although it is said that in consequence
of being so nearly submerged they are
much steadier than ordinary vessels,
thus rendering it possible to use the
guns with greater precision. Neverthe-
less it will be remembered that the
original Monitor barely escaped sink
ing on its first voyage to Hampton
Roads, and subsequently went down off
Cape Hatteras, taking with it consid-
cradle portion of the crew, while the
remainder were saved only with the
utmost difficulty. The inventor, it is
true, alleged that proper precautions
were not taken; but the fact remains
that it has been found very difficult to
keep the water from flooding the hold
under such circumstances, and when
once the fires are extinguished the
craft is helpless.
Another serious disadvantage is the
lack of speed resulting from deep i'm
mersions-the original Monitor and it's
immediate successors being able to
make only four or five knots an hour.
So far as sustaining heavy fire is con-
cerned. however, they have successfully
endured the severest tests. The claim
of the inventor, that "the least guam
tity of thickest armor does most work
in protecting the ship, engines, boil
ers and magazine" is we'll sustained by
experience. Unquestionably, these
veteran warriors are entitled to the
greatest respect for what they have
achieved in the past, and it is probable
that they will hold their own for GER
tain purposes for long time tocome.-
Detroit Free Press.