Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-22

of Red river to guard Ellet against at
tack from the rear.
Conveyed by an Ironclad.
Soon after the meeting of the Era
and Indianola the Confederate ship
Webb hove In sight. Not desiring to
close with the ironclad the Webb turned
about and, being the fieeter vessel, got
away. AS Ellet wished to return and
report the fate OF his expedition to the
feet above Vicksburg, Captain Brown
of the Indianola took the Era under
convoy until she had passed the mouth
Of the Red river and then prepared his
vessel to fight the Webb. Meanwhile
the Webb had made q landing and tele-
graphed the news Of the Indianola to
the oaptors Of the Queen Of the West.
The disabled ship was quickly put in
order and manned with q picked crew.
Meanwhile another dispatch had
brought up from Port Hudson the COR
federate cotton clad Beatty, carrying
200 rtfemen from the army camps. 30
the Indianola had three ships to con
tend with instead Of one. The Confed-
crates rated their foe at true value and
made their attack in the night, hoping
to surprise and board her. Waiting
for nightfall, the Queen of the West,
Webb and Beatty moved stealthily up
stream with their lights out. The In
dianola was discovered hugging the
bank, her black figure shrouded in
| darkness.
The Queen Rams the Ironclad.
/ In order to protect his ship from
vicksburg guns Brown had dashed load
ed coal barges to her sides, and these
were still IN position, making the iron
clad q clumsy ship in battle. The
/ Queen Of the West opened fire at fifty
yards and at the same time dashed her
massive ram against a coal barge
crushing it and striking the Indianola
amidships. The Queen of the West
stuck fast to the ironclad, and the two
drifted down the river, meeting the
Webb, which struck the Indianols
head on in the bow. This collision dis
abled one of the engines Of the India
nola. but it also shook her loose from
the embrace Of the Queen Of the West
The gunners of both sides made the
most Of their chance when the yes
sells were at close quarters. The Queer
tried a second savage lunge, moving
with the current, but Brown turned
the Indianola, getting only glancinl
blow, while his gunners landed TIVE
nine inch shots in the ram. which dis
abled two guns. Backing off, the Queer
again struck the ironclad. disabling tn,
starboard rudder. Almost immediatel!
the Webb came down stream with tn,
current and crashed into the bow o
the Indianola, cutting through her hui
so that the water poured in like flood
This charge carried away the prov
of the Webb. but she was Otherwis
unframed.
D. The Queen. however, was the wors
for her many collisions with the iron
clad and listed so far TO port tina
she had to be hghtened to bring he
wheel into the water. After the las
| blow from the Webb the Indianol
/ dropped down stream pointing 70
shore. Signal was given by the Quee
to the men on the Beatty to board
I and as the new antagonist steame
alongside a voice cried out from tn
% Indianola. I'VE surrender
: Brown gave up his sword to Coione
Brand Of the Beatty. who CALAMITY az
70 knOwIedGed that the prize belonged t
the Queen of the West and the Wehl
p The irOnclad had lost but two men I
= battle. so well We're her works pro