Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1898-06-11

'erS races and they won't see much Of
US lhen' If we are torpcdoed we
a'louiu even then be able to make the
oeslrcd position in the channel H.
won be so easy to hit us, and | think
,''c men should be able to swim TO the
Uihgy' l may jump before am blown
up but | don't think that makes much
ullterence, have fair chance of life
ei'ier way If o"r dingy gets shot to.
pieces we shall then try to swim for
the beach right under Morro rastle.
we shall Keep together at all hazards
men we may be able to make our wav
alongside and perhaps get back to Tn.
SNIP We shall fight the scntries Of a
squad until the last, and we shall cnlv
surrender to overwhelming murders.
ana d"r surrender will only take place
as u last emergency"
No. volunteers Plenty.
me news of SIMPSONS intended cx.
peoitioh travelled quickly through the
'iecc' ana II soon became known that
volunteers We're needed for a desperate
Embarrassing From the Iowas signal
yard quickly futtered the announce.
ment that she had lao volunteers, and
the other ships were not far behind
on the New York the enthusiasm was
intense. Over 200 members of the crew
volunteered. The junior officers liter
ally Jumped over each other in their
eagerness to get their names on the
volunteer list. Commander Miller who
iau charge of the Mcrrimac, pleaded
win the admiral to let him go, but the
latter thought he had better not.
AT 3 o'clock the admiral and FLAG
Lieutenant Staunton got into the
launch 10 make an inspection of the
Merrlmac' The working gangs were
stlIl on board of her, and on board the
New York the officers of the flagship
stood on the quarter deck, their glasses
focused on the big black hull that was
to form an impossible obstacle for
SPANS best ships, The minutes slipped
by, the crews had not completed their
work on the Meffimac, but at last A
BOAT load of men, black and tired ont,
came over to the flagship. Last of all,
at 4;3O o'clock, came the admiral. He
had been delayed by breakdown OF
the steam launch.
Dawn was breaking over Santiago de
Cuba, and nearly everybody thought il
was too late for the attempt to be made
that morning, Then somebody cried
"She's going in.
The torpedo boat Porter was living
near the flagship, and at the admiral S
order Lieut.. Staunton snatchcd up the
mcgaphone and hailed the Porter, say.
ing; Porter, there, tell the Merrimac
to return immcdiatclym
Called Her Back.
Smoke quickly poured from the Por
ter's smolicstaclis, and the dark little
craft darted toward the shore. BY that
time darkness had quite disappeared
and quickly as the fast torpedo boat
tore through the water it seemed as i
she would never head off the Merrimac
At last, when within range of til,
guns of the Spaniards, the Porter
crossed the Mcrrimac's bows and a sigr
of relief went up from the eager watch
ers, for they thought it sure death fol
llobson to venture in at that hour.
Some time after o'clock the porter
came tearing back and the Merrimac
to every ones surprise, kept hcrposi
ton. Admiral Sampson, Capt. Chad
wick and Lieut.. Staunton could not un
dcrstand until Lieut. Fremont, from
the deck of the torpedo boat, shouted
Lieut.. llobson asks permission to con
tinue on his course, thinks he can make
it."
But in stern tones, the admiral sen'
lIobson message to the effect that The
Mcrrimac must return at once. and in
due course of time the doomed colliel
slowly steamed back, her commander
evidently disappointed with the ordci
received from the admiral through the
commander of the Porter, Ilobsons fig
ure standing out wildly on the lonely
bridge of the Mcrrimac.
All day Thursday the collier lay neal
the flagship, and more ella aboratc prepar
ations were made to carry out the mis-
sion of the Merrimac successfully. Dur
ing those preparations llobson was tire
less, cool and confident, supervising
personally every little detail. Whel
finally Hobson went on board the Mer
rimac Thursday night he had beer
without sleep since Wednesday morn
ing. His face was begrimed, his hands
were black, and he looked like a MAJ
who had been hard at work in anC
about an enginc-room for a long time
As he said goodbye the lieutenantfc
marked that his only regret was tina
all of the New York's volunteers coulc
not go with him.
When the Merrimac started Thursday
morning on the trip from which sh'
was recalled, she had on board of hel
two men who had no right to be there
They were Assistant Engineer Cranl
of the merrimac and Boatswain Muller
of the New York, who had been work
ing on the collier all day. These tive
men refused to leave the ship, and al
their disobedience was of the nature
which produced Cushings and Far
raguts of the American navy it was no
officially recognized.
A MANILA HERO DEAD.
Capt. GridIey Expires While En- Rout
Home-Iiurt in tho Famous Fight
WASHINGTON, June 5.-Capt. Charles