Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-13
Copyr1oat, 1908. by Cyrus TOs0nsend Brady
By Cyr1xS TosOrase1d Brady
Author of ''WOveN With the Ship" ''Hohenzoilern." ....... "The Ouiberon Touch." Etc. ..:..

Both vessels were under run steam, and every available ounce of power was churning the screws. They ap- preached each other bows on The prolongation of their keels would have made a singular straight line. If the Tennessee struck the Hartford in that way she would tear the whole bow out of her. Both vessels would be tele- scoped. the Hartford would infalllbly sink, but she would overrun the Ten nessee and 1t would be impossible for the ironclad to back away before be- ing carried down by the Hartford.
 The officers of the squadron who could see through the smoke the two vessels rushing at each other fairly held their breath with anxiety and terror. Forward on the Hartford, leaning over the bows endeavorfng to peer down through the smoke at his approaching enemy, stood Drayton. Aft on the port mizzen rigging, stand ling on the sheer poles, clfnging to the forward swifter, the admiral leaned far out watching ahead. The vigilant Watson had seen to it that another line had been passed about him as be- fore, demonstrating vainly with the admiral for his exposed position as he did so. Going at such speed, the two ships already fearfully near, the col lision would only be a matter of time, and the results would be fatal to both vessels unless the helm of one or the other were shifted.
 The flagship, save for the throb of the engines, was fearfully silent. The Officers forward nervously waited for the shock, the men at the guns in the batteries shifted restlessly, the gun captains frightened the loclSstrings in their hands, wistful and hopeful that they could get shot in before they went down, if down they must go. Everybody on the ship was of course aware of the situation, even though most of them could see nothing of it. Mcfarland, veteran seaman, who neld the helm of the Hartford in every one of her tremendous battles, was at the wheel with two assistants. He was coolly steering the great ship with the mathematical nieety of an expert seaman.
 "Quartermaster," called out the sharp voice of the admiral suddenly in the deathlike silence, keep her steady as she goes! Don't swerve hairs breadth from your present coursew
 Aye, aye, sir,' answered the man at the wheel as with beautiful accuracy he held the heaving vessel straight on her course.
 A thrill of relief and anxiety went through the ship. The admiral would try it out then! Bully for the old fight CT! He meant to sink the ram if he could even if he went down with her. The Hartford was trembling like an earthquake under the beating of her : engines, leaping like a hound through the troubled waters She was drawing nearer, nearer. Another moment they would be in contact, there would be struggle for life in the water. Ah what was that?
 Just before reaching the Hartford the bow of the Tennessee swung to star board. At the last moment Buchanan had concluded it would be wiser for him not to throw away his ship merely to sink the Hartford. He ported his helm suddenly, but not quickly enough to avoid the collision. Instead of strik-
  ford struck the Tennessee on the port bow. A few minutes before the Man. haitian had delivered a bolt from her fifteen inch gun fair on the port side of the rams casemate. It shattered the plating, broke the wooden backing and sent shower of splinters into the protection nets, but did not penetrate. As the Hartford rasped along the port broadside of the ram she poured rap- i'd fire upon the casemate from her nine inch guns and one hundred pounder Parrott rifed pivots at distance of perhaps ten feet. None of her shot penetrated, although the casemate was racked by the blows and some of the port shutters were damned on their pivots, blocking the guns. AS the two ships ground and rasped alongside each other the Hartfords guns, served with painful rapidity, roared out again. The marines and small arm men poured a rattling fire in at every port.
 So close were they as they reeled and gritted together that from where he stood on the mizzen rigging Farra gut might have leaped aboard the ram. Meanwhile the fire of the Hartford was returned by the two broadside guns of the Tennessee. Heavy shells ripped through the flagship. One of them exploded, sending mass of splin- ters in every direction with terrible ef- feet. One of these huge pieces of tim- Der struck the head of Lieutenant Boyd Peyton, gallantly fighting bis division. He was hurled senseless to the red Z deck Of the Hartford.
 The Tennessee was now sore beset. The Chickasaw had taken position un- der her stern, and with rapidity of fire astonishing, when one considers that the guns were muzzle loaders, she was pouring solid shot upon the ram. The Monongahela fercely rammed her again on the starboard beam. Broad side after broadside had been hurled upon the casemate from the heavy nine inch guns of the other ships, now fairly surrounding her. She was very cen a 1 O. -4-..- T