The National tribune., 1907-08-08

ing Master Louis N Stodder. Acting
Master John Webber. Acting Asst Surg.
Daniel C. Logue. Acting Asst Engineer
Isaac Newton, Second Asst Engineer
Albert B. Campbell. Third Asst Engi-
neer Robinson w. Hands. Fourth Ass I
Engineer Mark Trueman Sunstrom,
Captains Clerk ID. Toffey. Quartermas-
ter p Williams. Gunners Mate j. crown
and Boatswain's Mate ]. Stocking. Chief
Engineer Alban G. Sinners volunteered
to go on board as a passenger. and per-
formed valuable service in the vessel.
For the Crew.
For the crew volunteers were called
for from the frigate Sabine and the re-
ceiving ship North Carolina. and as is
invariably the case in the American
Navy. where volunteers are called upon
for the most desperate enterprises. the
number OF men eagerly Offering was far
more than the requirement. Lieut.
Worden therefore had his pick of Il
great number of men. and he selected 4
crew of 80. and ne says with iustitiable
pride: "A better one no naval COM
mander ever had the honor to COM
mand''
The fact that the Monitor was to go
to sea and that many experienced Off
GERS. naval and merchant. seriously
doubted her ability to keep ailoat in
any but the calmest weather. made it
look still more desperate. but made no
encouragement upon the gallant vol
unteers.
The Trying Sea Voyage.
But little time was given the officers
and crew to acquant themselves with
their strange craft Thursday March 6.
only nine days after the Monitor was
put into commission. she started down
the harbor, and in the afternoon she
was in the open sea on her way to the
mouth of the Chesapeake, towed by the
Seth Low, small tug, and accompa-
MED by two unseaworthy sunboats. The
wind was moderate during Thursday
night and Friday morning: but about
noon, off the Delaware, it frcshcned to
strong breeze from the northwest,
and caused a rough sea- which broke
over the vessels deck. forcing the water
in floods thru the hawSc-p pes and un-
der the turret- In the afternoon the
sea increased. and breaking over the
smoke-pipe and blowcr-pipe, caused the
blowcr-bands to slip and break. This
stopped the draft in the furnace, and
filed the engine-room firc-room with
gas Newton, with the other engineers
and the firemen. strovc in vain against
the gas trying to repair the injury. and
they were only rescued as they lay I'M
conscious on the floor of the engin'
room. AS the engines were now use
less either for propulsion or pumping
the water gained rapidly. The hand
pump was used and the men set to bail
ing, but with little effect. as the waite,
could only be carried off over the wall
If the turret. At last the tug was
headed for the shore. After five hours
,i-..u'..s the vessels came int,
smoother water; the engine T00iF;
cleared of gas, the blower bands were
repaired. and the engine once more
~ inn
until shortly after midnight, when tn
Monitor, in crossing a shoal. suddenl!
ran into a heavy head-sea. The water
came up thru the anchor well. forceG
the air through the hawse-pipe. and
lowed in stream over the ward room
table to the berth deck. Efforts wer
made to close the hawse pipe. and tn
rush of water was partly checked. BIZ
the sea now broke violently over T.:
deck, and again entered the blowt.
pipes. Another disaster seemed immi
nent. The head wind prevented Wor
den from hailing the tug. and in tht
hurry of preparation no arrangement
had been made for signalling at night
Every sea that dashed the spray owe
The blowers was anxiously watched
and every few minutes word came fro,:
The engine room that the engine ooult
not go much longer unless the wate.
was kept out. About this time the
wheel ropes jumped off the stcerin.
wheel, owing to the pitching of the
ship. and became jammcd. The vessel
was now unmanageablc and began to.
sheer about wildly; but the tow-ropC
held. and Il half hours work repaired
the injury. After five critical hour
daylight broke. and the tug was ordered
20 go nearer the shore. BY s o'clock
the danger was over. At in tho after
noon of the Sth of March the Monitor
passed Cape Henry. Immediately aft
erward the hawScr parted. but the YES
sci was now in smooth water. She haf
arrived at her destination, but her crew
were worn out.
(To be continued.)