The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-08

named Winslow were the builders. The
vessel was designed by Ericsson as rs
we'll known, but these three men were TO
construct her. The navy department was
skeptical OF the practicability or Erics-
sons idea, and declined TO advance money
unless bond could be provided TO secure
the department against loss II the plans
should not work out successfully.
There was great commotlon about the
building OF the Confederate ram Mcrri-
mae. We knew that she was going ahead
at the Gosport navy yard and would be
the most formidable vessel afoat. She
was ironclad. and the thought Of that I'm
Vincibe ship being turned looss among
the wooden vessels of the coast was ter
rible one.
"She could have levied tribute ON Every
city along the coast from the Chesapeake
10 Maine, and would have had every
thing her own way. Well, when the Mon
itor was proposed. people said that was
just the thing II IL would work out. But
many people were doubtful about tho
cheese box. as they jeeringiy called
r,ricsson's vessel
Mr.. Bushnell thought she could be
built So Mr.. John Drew, of New York,
and myself went on his bond with tho
navy department and the work was
started at Greenpoint, N. Y. IL was nip
and tuck between the two rivals which
was not willing TO back, which great
many people thought was foolish one,
bat the success OF which marked the
turning point I'm the naval fights or the
War of the Rebellion.
Mr. Sperry never speaks OF his connec-
tion with the affair. He lis very modest
upon that score, and IL is only with diff
Guilty that he can be drawn into discuss
ing it. He got results-and that's all
there was to IL.
But Mr. Sperry's story OF the bonding
NJ hn ~ "a
fiscal act which was antecedent TO the
great military drama, Is very interesting.
Il was n young fellow" said Mr. Sper-
ry but was fun of patriotism and ardor
for the success Of the Union cause, and |
guess that was why the projectors of the
Monitor approached me to back the
scheme with a bond for the successful
building OF the vessel
John A. Grswold OF Troy at that time
member of congress; Cornelius 5. Bush
nell of New Haven. and a Western man
should be completed and get 10 sea first.
Everybody knows how the Union vessel
was finished, went down the coast, and
was in Hamilton roads when the II II
mac came out.
II will never forget the day OF the bnt-
tie. 1t was an exciting time in New He
ven, for we had a kind OF local pride in
the Monitor. on account OF Mr.. BushnelFs
connection with her construction. All day
long crowds clustered around the tele-
graph office, receiving bulletins OF the
fight.
"Mr. Bushnell and / were there, too,
you may depend upon IL. At last, along
about or o'clock i'm the evening came
the news that the Merrimac had been
disabled by the Monitor and had put back
TO port. Bushnell. who was a strapping
big fellow, with a hand in proportion 10
his size. brought his hand down on my
shoulder with a whack that nearly
knocked me down.
"'Sperry.' says he, your bond is safe
tell you. there was great celebrating in
New Haven that time. peculiar thing
is that the original bond we signed has
never been found. No one knows what be-
came of t."-Washington Star.