Rock Island Argus., 1914-06-20

Q by Review Of Reviews company.
GENERAL o. A. RICE, Z. 8. A., HERO OF DEs-
PERATE DEFESsE AT JENKINS FERRY.
steam cleared UP and for the first time
the shots took effect. The smokestack
of the Albemarle was riddled and some
OF her armor broken. The headway OF
both vessels was such that after the
collision they driftcd alongside one an
other and this position gave the Fed
eral gunners their chance. One gun
of the ram was diSnbled and she fought
the rest of the battle with one only.
The ramming Of an ironclad by
wooden vessel WAS bold undertaking
and something unusual In naval war
fare. But the Sassacus was a fast
steamer and she went at the ram under
a speed Of between ten and eleven
knots an hour. Her bow was armed
with beak weighing several thousand
pounds and the result was such that had
She had the aid OF two or three more
vessels Of the same class in the nick
OF time when she lay fairly aboard of
the ram the latter might have been
destroyed.
While the Sassacus was engaged
with the ram. the next In line. the MI
ami, stood for the ram. but failed to
get within striking distance. This YES
sci was provided with spar torpedo.
and as soon as the Sassacus backed
away from the ram. Captain Smith.
seeing that the latter was surrounded.
sigualed the Miami To go ahead and
try her torpedo. The steering ap-
paratus OF the Miami was defective
and she could not move with the Abe
marie. Orders were now given to get
in line and cease firing. The Wyalu-
sing was ordered to attack the ram.
but the reply came that she was sink
ing. and she Immediately backed off.
The line wns now broken as far as
the Mlttabesctt, the fourth and last OF
the large vessels. She was moving in
circle. and. coming up to the ram.
delivered IL broadside. She then pass
ed in ahead OF the ram and attempted
to lay a seine and snare the propeller
Of the ram. but it was torn and rem
dered useless. Then the Nattabesett
rounded TO and delivered all her fire
on the Confederate ut close quarters. .
one damaging return shot.
The battle was principally an artil- /.
lery duel between some fifty guns on /
the Federal vessels and one on the /
ram. The effect OH the latter (much 4
OF the fire being delivered at ships /
length soon disabled her smokestack |
and destroyed her draft. Finally, by /
burning large quantities Of bacon and
lard. her engines got power enough TO
move her from the battle-ground. The I
engagement lasted about three hours.
ending at dark. The ram had ia
holes in her stack. and there were
fired st her between 400 and 500 shot
and shell. The loss on the feet was
four killed and twenty-five wounded.
A Confederate eyewitness of this
battle gives the following description
Of the scene az the close:
The shore bears innumerable evil
lences of the damage done to the enc
ny-splinters and large fragments of
,ak sheathing. copper fastened: por-
ions OF window sash. with bits OF
,lass and putty still adhering: pieces
u paneling and other ornamental
work. from cabins or saloons; several !
Inc launches. tryo OF which were bad
y shot to pieces: oers. gun rammers.
window shutters. cabin doors. hatch
nents. fragments of furniture. and
ven little articles OF toilet and table
urniture. with hundreds OF other
roofs OF the destruction wrought by
he gun. rather than TIE guns. OF the
n