Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-02
TELLS Of THE FIGHT
IN HAMPTON ROADS
John Driscoll Relates Incidents Of
Nonitor.Merrimac Encounter
>of Civil War.
Survivor Of the Memorable Conflict
Pays His Respects to Secre-
tary Daniels.

Private John Driscoll. one Of tho two
survivors Of tho crew aboard the Mon
itor when that craft encountered the
Confederate warship Merrimaa was
introduced this week to Secretary Dam
lois by Charles W. Stewart, librarian
OF the Navy Department After his call
upon Secretary Daniels Private Dris-
coll paid his respects to Capt H. H.
man on the Merrimac during the his
torfc encounter in naval warfare.
Private Driscoll. following a sugges-
ton by Assistant Secretary Roosevelt,
will write his personal recollectibns of
tho engagement Driscoll is residing
at the Hampton. Va. Soldiers Home,
and Is a member Of Chaplin Post. G. A.
R.. of Buffalo.
Record Of Prompt Service.
1t is due to the promptness of John
DHscoll in jumping into the flreroom
Of the Monitor and taking charge when
his shipmates had been overcome with
gas that the record Of the fight be-
tween the Monitor and Merrimac fills
a space in American history
He was in attendance aboard the
flagship Hartford Of the Naval veter-
ans. having come from the Soldiers
Home at Hampton. Va, which over
looks Hampton roads. where the his
torc battle of the armored ships which
revolutionized naval warfare took
place.
February Il. 1862, Driscor volun-
teered his services to the navy, and was
assigned to the Monitor as a first-class
fireman. He boarded the vessel then
hitting out at New York. In tho fall
OF that year, he says. in as mean a
storm as has ever been encountered
by mariner, the Monitor left New
YORK harbor for Hampton roads, The
storm delayed the vessel.
Water Pours Over Vessel.
ION the trip down the coast the water
rolled right over the vessel, and poured
down the tunnels and blower pipes. We
used anthracite coal in those days, and
the water pouring in served to force
the gases right into the freroom. ]
was on watch. and was asleep, when
| heard commotion.. Looking around
saw them bring my shipmates out OF
the freroom. All had been overcome
grabbed a silk neckerchief, wet it.
and tied 1t around my face, and then
jumped into the freroom and took
charge. There was no one else to help
me. I chiseled holes in the pipes and
let the water out SO that the gases
could pass on, and then we got along
all right.
we arrived in Hampton roads a
Saturday morning and took position in
the lee of the Minnesota We sighted
the Merrimac, and were ordered to pro-
coed and keep her away from the
Minnesota. The Merrimac was much
speedier than the Monitor, and we had
a hard time.
During the battle I was stationed
under the turret to see that the revolving
mechanism was kept in good shape, and
l heard every word passed from the fire.
control officer to the officers and men in
the turret. and although way below decks
1 could tell just how the battle was going.
Everybody Remains Cool.
1T was an exciting time, but every
body on board was very cool II we had
had a lieutenant on board to take charge
when Capt. Worden was blinded by q
shell bursting right in the openings of
the coming tower through which the
officers were directing the fire the Merri-
mac never would have reached Norfolk
She would be resting at the bottom Of
Hampton roads. We did not get another
lieutenant until the following day, one,
later Rear Admiral Selfridge. being sent
over from the Cumberland"
After the battle the Monitor came to
washington for repairs, and there Ship
mate Driscoll left her. and was not
Cape Hatteras.