The Washington times., 1915-09-29
used.

but ali Of them like NIicawber waiting
for something to turn up" that would
relieve the monotony Of the months
'rh The THsn aSietness ss and calmness of tn.
surroundings was broken by the stem
torian voice Of the quartermaster.,,
n.%sr SnSy Mss xyen b. Boat oeer s
the stern Of the boat announcing his
name and that he was on special
service" and he was then requested tG
come alonEside. The hosun na,,as. mate P'PSe Pee
deck. manned the "gangway." Mount.
Ing the sides and over the gangway
stepped q young man OF medium size
With ees.d,sss IA face long ss.ds'n dark hs,, "a,
collar of his coat. and in the uniform
Of a lieutenant Of the navy. He was
ushered to tho captains cabin"
All Seek Dangerous Task.
A short interval passed when the
Executive Officer" appeared on deck
and all hands were piped. An un-
dercurrent Of excitement rapidly
spread among the crew that some
thing unusual and important was
about to take place. The executive
officer" announced that three seaman
volunteers were wanted for q very
Imme mediately every able-bodied and
ordinary seaman Of the crew stepped
to the front. Lansmen. firemen. and
coal-heavers would have responded as
quickly. but were given no opportun-
The three men were chosen
Houghtcn. Harley, and Smith. splen-
did types Of American sailors they
proved by their courage. fortitude,
and sufferings' in the hour OF danger
,..I - 81 ~ In
and brave companions Of this young
officer should be kept green in ouE
memories. They were honored by
<heir countrymen and given our coun-
tsys Ssdss 81 Of psx and
Acting Assistant Paymaster Francis
Acting Ensign William 1. Howarth.
Acting Masters Mate John Wood
Acting Masters Mate Thomas S.
Acting Third Assistant Engineer
Charles l. Steever.
Acting Third Assistant Engineer
William Stotesbury.
Samuel Higgins. fireman.
Richard Hamilton. coal HEAVIER.
William Smith. Bernard Harley.
Edward J. Houghton. seamen.
Lorenzo Demina. Henry Wilkes.
Robert H. King. landsmcn.
Confederate Ram Albemarle.
The Confederate ram Albemarle was
built in a cornfield at a point on the
Roanoke river. in Halifax county.
North Carolina. about thirty miles be-
low the town OF Weldon. She was 15z
feet long. width forty-five feet. and
from gun deck to the keel was nine
feet. When launched she drew six and
half feet Of water, but when COM
pleted. her draft was eight feet. Her
armament consisted Of two rifled
Brooke" guns, mounted on pivot car
riages. each gun working through three
port holes, one on each side of the
shield and two on each side. The shield
was sixty feet In length, and the iron
plating consisted of two courses seven
inches wide and two inches thick, with
a wooden baching sixteen Inches in
thickness. The story of the building OF
the ram Is one Of interest and fasci-
nation. No vessel was ever constructed
under such adverse circumstances
lack of machinery. innumcrable diff
culties and incessant labor day and
night. 1t would be story in itself
On April II. 1864. Plymouth. n. C.,
located about eight miles on the Roa
noke river above Albemarle Sound, was
attacked by a land force with the Al.
bemarlc. The town was captured witt
all the Union troops. The Southfield
gunboat, was sunk by the Albemarle
On May 5, the Aibemarle descended thu
river with two steamers and engaged
the fleet Of seven vessels, but was
forced to retire to Plymouth. after Z