Year: 1863

~ kHbW Wueit ~ came lU-Dut II was
very serious around the forecastle and
anchor. 1t was about 8 o'clock, and the
pumps were set in motion. They rapid
ly gained on the water, but in about half
an hour they kept about even pace with
each other. The gale had increased to
hurricane--the Monitor reeling and
shuddering from end to end. Faster and
faster the water came. 1t was gaining
on the pumps. BY half past 10 O'Clock
the water was reported as gaining rapid
ly. A few minutes later and the report
was that it would soon be up to the fires.
This again was followed by the report
that the vessel could not live more than
two or three hours longer. The water
rapidly neared the fires when they were
put cut the pumps could not be worked.


When it was reported that the Moni-
tor could not stand it more than an hour
or two longer, the signals of distress
were at once made. Red, white and blue
rockets were thrown up, and were an
swered by the Rhode Island. This was
at IL o'clock, when il had been decided
as impossible TO save the vessel, and at
tention was turned to saving their own
lives. One of the hawsers connecting
the Monitor with the Rhode Islard had
parted between and o'clock. When
the Rhode Island answered, a voice on
the Monitor cried out through trumpet
that they were in sinking condition.
Those appealed TO on the Rhode Island
went TO work with the utmost speed to
send boats to the rescue.


II was most daring undertaking, but
they got out launch and manned her,
and riding on the crests and sinking in
the hollows of the waves, she made to-
ward the Monitor. At this time the sky
was filed with clouds through which
little light from the moon appeared, so
that objects could be distin suished. The
remaining hawser is now cut SO that the
boats shall not get entangled the haw-
ser becomes entangled with the paddle
wheel of the Rhode Island the rope
clogs the wheel, and the Rhode Island, a
large war steamer, is drifting towards the
Monitor; the launch is between the two
vessels thus nearing each other, and ap-
pears doomed to destruction the launch
reaches the side of the iron-clad.


The proximity is dangerous to all, for
two or three lurches and the sharp PROV
of the Monitor will stave in the wooden
walls Of the steamer. All feel that they
shall go to the bottom. There is terri
BILE silence so far as those on the Moni-
tor are concerned. AS two or three
Jump out of the boat the oars are seen TO
flash in the air the launch is heard
crashing; in a second the crew have
sprang on the deck of the Monitor. AT
the same time the hawser is cleared from
the paddle wheel, and the Rhode Island
runs off, without the fatal shock, TO a
safe distance.


While the vessels lay alongside, sew
eral of the Monitors crew sprang for
the ropes that dangled from the side Of
the Rhode Island. and some succeeded
in climbing up, while others were wash
ed into the sea. The crew of the launch
now sprang back into her, but those Of
the Monitor were very reluctant to trust
themselves to make the attempt, as sew
erals were washed off the deck by the
great seas swashing over. They clung
therefore to the top of the turret, fearing
they nigh: share the fate they had wit
messed overtaking others, and preferring
their chance to live a little longer, al
though there was the moral certainty
that they could not remain and live long.
Finally the launch was filed, having
taken on probably some fifteen from the
Monitor. All that were on deck at the
time got in, and the launch was ordered
on. Some stuffed the crushed side with
pea,jackets, while others bailed out, and
the rowers tried 10 get to the steamer,
which was their only hope. Meanwhile,
the Rhode Island had launched whale
boat. The sea, which was now terrible,
dashed the whaleboat upon the launch
with terrible velocity. One of the officers