Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-21

mander of the Bombsheu, however, re-
ported that he had surrendered to 1.-THE
second In line" which was the Sassacus.
In the evolutions following the attempt
OF the Albemarie to ram the Sassacus. and
the receiving of the surrender of the Bomb
shell by the Sassacus. the Mattabessett
cropped astern of the Albemarle while the
Sassacus was abeam and at distance OF
from three hundred to five hundred yards.
Lieut.. Commander Roe saw the chance for
which he had hoped and asked his naviga-
tors, can you strike herr" Yes" an
swered Boutelle (afterward representative
from Maine). Then go for her." was the
order. Boutelle shouted to the engineer
that the time had now come to get all pos
Slble speed out of his engines. Engineer
Hobby understood the situation, and to get
all possible steam power resorted to gag
gfng his engine. the handwriting gear
being called into play to hold the steam
valves open. Hobby thus became a part
Of the engine itself, and by the regular and
unerring motions of the lever hurled for
ward the boat, giving II a fearful momen-
tum. With mighty crash the sassacus
struck the Albemarle abaft her port beam
with so terrible force that her bronze
stem was driven many feet into the hull.
For thirteen minutes the SassaTus hung
there and worked her engines at full speed.
trying to ride the Albemarle down while
firing from all the small arms that could be
brought to bear.
At Close QUARTER
The forward movement OF the Albemarle
and the showing of the Sassacus brought
the vessels around to such an angle that the
starboard batteries of each vessel could be
used effectively. The second shot from the
Albemarie entered the Sassacus abreast of
her foremost, four feet above the water
line, on the starboard side. travelling OBJ
iquely through the dispensary. a bulkhead
coal bunker, starboard boiler and engine
room, cutting in two the three-inch stanch-
Ion; then passing through the steerage
ward room bulkheads. smashing doors and
siueboard, and, cutting through the maya
zine screen, glanced off and rolled into q
starboard state room.
Instantly there was a terrible rush of
steam through the engine room, driving
all hands from the engine and fire rooms.
killing one man and badly scalding four
teen. Without was scene of confusion;
the view was cut of by the smoke and
steam, and the noise of the guns was
drowned in the screech OF escaping steam
from oyercharged boilers The men on
deck were bewildered by the sight of the
scalded men rushing from below while the
live steam and water filled every part of
the vessel. In the confusion an officer
shouted, 'All hands repel boardersi" In
stinctiyely the men fell in and resumed
their stations. and order was once more re-
stored. Fortunately, there were no board
ers to repel. The first intimatien that the
rest OF the fleet had that the Sassacus had
not been blown to pieces was the flash from
her guns through the clouds of steam and
smoke While clearing the Albemarle her
starboard paddle wheel rolled over the
stern guard of the enemys vessel, and was
tangled up like cobweb. The false stern
Of the Sassacus was bent so out OF line and
the ship steered SO badly that she was COM
PEELED to steam backward on her return to
Hampton Roads. As soon as she was out
Of the fire zone the engineers set about re-
pairing her. and after about nine hours the
engines were ready. She then resumed her
duties at the mouth of the sound.
The Sassacus was I'm the first attack on
Fort Fisher, and In the capture of VIII
mfngton, N c., on Washington's birthday,
in 1868. She went out of commission at the
navy yard at Philadelphia on May Ii, 1865
and was sold to the old Knickerbocker Ice
Company and converted into an fee barge,
at which peaceful occupation she has been
employed ever since. Few who see this
barge, one of tow of boats which nightly
ascends the Hudson. know or care what its
history has been, but to those who do know
this vessel is an object of interest and re-
gard