Sunday Washington globe., 1902-04-13

we concluded it to be the object Of our
search. IL was, however, only a huge pile
of coal that the rebels had stored there to
supply their steamers, including the
dreaded ram. Disappointed, we backed off,
still scanning the Plymouth side Of the
river. Steaming up stream another half
mile we sighted another black object and
on approaching it we discovered that we
had made no mistake this time. There, in
deed, lay the contrivance that had wrought
death among our mates and destruction to
some of our fleet
When we got within hailing distance
the lookout on the ram hailed us, shouting
Boat ahoy Boat ahoy Boat ahoyl What
boat comes there9' Cushings reply, as he
stood by the halyards of the torpedo boom,
was: Wen soon let you know what boat
comes there. At the same time he gave
orders to the engineer 10 give the launch
full speed. Just then volleY of musketry
whistled all around US.
"Our boat was now leaping through the
water FIRE belching out of her stack, when
we struck the boom of logs with which the
ram had been surrounded. The rebels on
the ram then threw open their gun ports
aud fred their heavy broadsides at us but
while they were doing this our boat went
head down and stern up, the boom raising
on the launch and catching on our pro-
peller. So did the torpedo boom go down
under the ram. Cushing gave the torpedo
hammer pull, when there came an awful
explosion. 1t filed our boat with water
and Cushing called out: Boys, save your
selvesl Our work is donep
I'VE swan ashore, and for three days
wandered in the swamps, picking our way
down the river. was picked up by the
United States picket boat Whitehead and
was taken aboard my ship the third night
after had left il. On my arrival at the
feet discovered that Lieutenant Cushing
had been picked up the night before, but
there were others who got the first part of
the portion predicted by Captain Arnold on
our boarding the launch"
Mr.. McDermaid tells the story of subse-
quent events in and about the sound He
had scarcely time to dry his clothing after
he got back TO the Otsego before the whole
fleet was ordered up the Roanoke in an
attempt to capture the town of Plymouth
The rebel guns commanding the river at the
bend compelled them to retreat Then
followed the attempt to get the whole feet
INTO the Roanoke by way of the Middle
River: connecting the sound with the Roa-
noke above Plymouth. This was a narrow
stream, and navigation of it was impeded
by overhanging trees and by snags in the
channel. These distractions were cut down
and the snags drawn out of the stream
when the twelve ships of the feet we're
taken, single file, through the channel into
the Roanoke The rebels were surprised at
the manoeuver and the town was laid waste
On December 9, however the Otsego en-
Countered atsJamestown a torpedo and was
blown up, when the intrepid Rockford sailor
was again compelled to swim for his life
He was present when the Union forces
raised the Albemarle, and he says that the
launch which effected the destruction of
the ram was also recovered.
Mr.. McDermaid was born in Scotland
was raised a sailor and since the war has
resided in Rockford, weere he is now en-.
gagged in a manufacturing business.