South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-08-11
At END
AF TER % YEARS
Efforts to Secure Memorial
For Capt. Ericsson Are
Finally Successful.
international News Service:

international News Service:
WASHINGTON. Au. IA fight
which has been going on in the
house of representatives for more
than a quarter of a century. came to
a successful issue when the commit
tee on library recommended an ap-
preparation Of $4,000 for
memorial in Washington to Capt.
John Ericsson. inventor and builder
of the Monitor Already 27O repre-
sentatives, more than a majority,
have pledged themselves to vote for
the memorial.
The proposition for congress to
recognize the Indebtedness of the ma
ton TO Ericsson, for the Monitor.
which revolutionized naval warfare,
has been before every congress since
Ericsson died in New York in 1889.
Ericsson was Swede by birth but
most of his inventive work was done
in the United States and all of it was
placed at the disposal of the gov
eminent
When the great inventor died at
the age of &c years. the government
of Sweden intimated that the father
land would like to claim him in
death Accordingly the body was
taken back on the cruiser Baltimore,
under command of Rear Admiral
(then Capt) W. s. Schley.
In receiving the remains aboard
the Baltimore Admiral Schley said:
"Ericsson's genius created a new in
strument Of war and il is not too
much to say that the latest modern
hattleshipS are but notifications in
one form or another Of his original
idea as perfected in the little Moni-
tor"
Never Claimed Honor.
Ericsson never claimed the inven-
ton of the revolving turret. the dis
tinctive feature of his vessel. But
he always did claim that il first was
put to practical use in the Monitor,
which he built. The Monitor also
contained 40 distinct patentable
devices. all originated by the great
inventor
Capt. Ericsson came to America in
1889 and his first important work
for the navy was the building of the
old Princeton. the first warship in
all history with her machinery below
the water line. out Of reach OF shot.
She was also the first vessel to be
equipped with fan blowers for fore
ing the furnace fires. But his great
contribution 10 history was the IRON
clad Monitor with her revolving tur-
ret-'the Yankee cheesebox AS
the Confederates called her
Early in March. 1862, the Confed-
crate ram Merrimac. under COM
mand OF Capt. Buchanan. rammed
the Union ship Cumberland, and
threatened TO sink the entire Union
feet in Hampton Roads. a great
army was being massed in Virginia,
and the Merrimac's success threat
ened every Union port.
But on the next morning the Mer-
rimac upon her return 10 destroy the
rest of the Union fleet. found that
Lieut. Worden had unexpectedly ar
rived with the little Monitor The
Merrimac opened fre and furious
battle ragged. The shots seemed TO
have little effect on either vessel but
both smokestacks were shot away
from the Merrimac. as we'll as the
muzzles Of two heavy guns. The
Merrimac retired and never return
ed 10 the fray. Each side claimed
the victory and although il may be
fa11a6 "A drawn barrTe neyerf less
the Monitor remained the undis-
puted mistress Of the sea and John
Ericsson became the hero Of the
hour.