Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-24

strong hopes for success that he turned the
Prov of his vessel up the bay, sent his men
to quarters and made ready for his part in
the most desperate naval engagement ever
fought In the waters of the United States
But there was one thing upon which he
did not count, which was his undong in
the end, and that was the invincible cour-
age, the calculated recklessness and the
headlong dash of Admiral Farragut. He
was the admiral who did the unexpected
thing, and in so doing he took the only pos
stble means to meet and master the danger.
Any other course would have ruined his
feet and might have lost him the battle
I know Of no naval action in the history
of the world in which both commanders
were SO old and so gallant. Farragut and
Buchanan, both past three score, set an ex-
ample OF headlong, desperate, risk-taking
valor to the most reckless boy in the squad
ron.
The instant the watchers on the long ships
discovered the approach Of the Tennessee
the signal for battle was flown from the
Hartford. The engines were started at
once, the ships gathered way, and this time
under full head Of steam, as fast as it could
be made in the boilers, they opened out and
made for the approaching enemy.
Signals were flying from the masthead Of
the Hartford ordering the fleet to close in
and ram the enemy. In the admirars steam
barge Loyal, named for his son, boat
which he said was 1.-The wettest devil he
ever sailed In" DR.. Palmer, noble volun-
u, w
ing the signal and carrying verbal orders
from the admiral, while from points of
vantage on the flagship the army signal Of
f1cers were transmitting messages to the
different vessels of the feet. The slow, UNI
wieldy, numbering monitors were also get
ting under way as rapidly as possible.
The ship nearest the Tennessee, which
was now close at hand, was the Mononga-
hela, which had been especially provided
with an iron PROV with a heavy wooden
backing for ramming purposes. The slight
collision in the channel had done no harm
to either vessel. Captain Strong was eager
to see how the ram would stand the impact
Of his iron PROV backed by two thousand
tons of ship going at full speed. He conf
IDENTIFY expected to cut her down or overrun
her.
The Tennessee was headed straight for
the Hartford. Buchanan rightly judged
her to be the most important ship. and
thought IL he could dispose Of her his ter
rible task would be materially lessened and
great advantage gained. Confident in the
strength of his own ship, therefore, he dis
dained the approaching steamer Never
swerving hairs breadth from his course,
he kept steadily on. He would bide the
shock, let 1t be what 1t would. His game
was the noble Hartford and the great adj
miral.
or on the port quarter the Monongahela
under full speed rushed down upon the Ten
nessee, the water boiling and foamng under
her forefoot. Buchanan did not even shift
his helm to avoid the blow. She struck him
fair and square on the port quarter, at right
angles to his broadsIde, a terrific blow.
The two-thousand-ton wooden ship was lit
orally hurled upon him. The crash was
heard down on Fort Morgan. Men on both
ships were thrown violently to the deck by
the force of the collision. The iron cut
water of the Monongahela was wrenched
off and her bows stove in. The Tennessee
swung around to port from the thrust of
her enemy.
At the moment of impact the rifles in the
casemate OF tho ram poured shell into the