The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-09-03
THE LAST DAYS OF
THE L MONITOR

.ldE OLD MONlTOR
Described by an Eyewitness Of Her
End. a Reax-Admiral I'm the
United States Navy.
The last days Of the famous Moni-
tor, the cheese box on a raft
which sprang into worldwide
Sesepibed by ha Reae eeadnoy ss0 :. 1 We
Watson. United States Navy, who
was an y witness Of her end
in n chapter Of The Monitor
and the Merrimac." recently publish
ed by Harper & Bros. Rear-Admiral
~afson's account is as follows:
months after her memorable combat
with the Merrimac. the Monitor. Com
mander John P. Bankhead, left
Hampton Roads In tow of the Rhode
Island, commanded by Capt. Stephen
Deeator r.: T 2o,;na for Beaufort
the time of starting looked fav-
orable for the trip, but on the
following day, when nearing Cape
Hatteras. the wind came out
from tho southeast and gradually |
freshened until by evening it was
erably heavy sea running. 1t was
soon seen that the Monitor was MAX
ing heavy weather of it and the en-
gines were slowed down, but the
course was still kept head to the wind
and sea.
This was a mistake, for experience
later on in towing other vessels of her
class proved that the safest way to
handle them in heavy weather is to
let them lie in the trough Of the sea,
when the waves would wash over their
decks and the roll would not be ex-
oD--. III --2N-,
watched, all on board the Rhode Is
land feeling anxious for her safety.
Toward the end Of the first watch
between 8 p. m. and midnight-the
signal of distress. a red lantern, was
hoisted on the Monitor, and, unknown
to those on the Rhode Island, the
hawser was cut and the anchor Of the
Monitor let go.
THE Rhode Island Immediately
stopped her engines and three boats
were called away, with an officer in
charge of each. and were sent to take
or the Monitors people. With the
heavy sea running it was a difficult
matter to go alongside Of her, and the
6rst boat to reach her was thrown by
a wave upon the deck and a hole stove
In her. The next wave washed the
boat off, and with considerable diff
Guilty she took on board as many men
as could make the return trip safely.
when the boats came alongside of
the Monitor her captain and executive
officer went upon the deck and, cling
ing to the life ines with the waves
washing over them, called to the crew
TO come down from the turret and get
into the boats, which they we're re-
luctant to do at first. Some were able
to jump into the. boats and some
landed in the water and were hauled
in. Seeing an old Quartermaster with
a large bundle under his ARM, the ex-
ecutive officer, thinking that it was
his clothes bag. told him that that was
no time to be trying to save his ef-
fects. He said nothing, but threw it
into the boat. When the bundle was
passed up over the side of the Rhode
Island it proved to be a little messen-
ger boy-probably h smallest and
!, youngest one in the service. The
three boats were finally loaded AND
made their way back to the ship.
"In the meanwhile the Rhode Island
In backing her engines, had fouled the
hawser with her port p~addlewheel
and being directly to windward Of the
Monitor, with her engines helpless
drifted down upon her. 1t looked a
one time as If she would strike thu
bow Of the Monitor, but fortunately
she just missed it and, scraping Alone
her side, drifted off to leeWard.
Another boat was sent to bring of
the remainder Of the Monitors crew
but. being to leeWard now she coult
make only slow Roadway against tn
seas, and before she got to her thu
men saw the Monitors light disap
pear, and knew that she had gon'
down. III hawser having finall!
been cleared from the Rhode Island
wheel, she steamed around searching
for the boat, sending up rockets ar
burning blue lights to show her posi-
ton. When the day dawned moth
ing could be seen. After hall1ng
Ya cCir0 CoroVn ont vessel and fQlHn!
her to search for the boat, h Rhod
Island steamed with all speed to Fort
ress Monroe to report the loss.
When the survivors Of the ~ill-fate'
vessel were mustered on the deck o
the Rhode Island four officers an.