The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-06-07

| AoHI "4tiiOul Struggle Wilile tIle pElFl4eSe
OF the decks had been accorded all those
who were able to move about or anxious to
watch the green hills as the good ship
moved in shoreward. The Solace anchored
OFF TompkinsviIle, Staten Island, early
yesterday morning where she was board
ed by representatives OF the Associated
Press. She left Key West on Wednes-
day afternoon last and made the run TO
| New York without incident until Saturday
night. when the gale tumbled her about
while and made things 20 some extent
uncomfortable for the patients she car
/ ried. But the sea voyage was a tonic TO
the men. They had left behind the swell
tering heat of the tropics: had exchanged
! sufocating and exhausting winds for re-
freshing breezes. many were nearing
home: all at least were to rest in the
heart Of the great country they had been
! fighting for.
The Solace-ftly named-with her white
sides and the Red Cross flag flying at her
mast head, brought in many little band
or heroes, among the fifty-four. They had
gathered around in little groups on the
voyage up many time and told again the
story OF brush with the Spaniards or
the night on watch at the blockade. And
TO those VINO knew, a brush with the Span
iards is hardly to be compared with the
dangerous work of scouting in gale at
/ night without lights. off the Cuban coast.
Four of the heroes from the Nashville
and the Marbiehead were among the pa
TENTS on the Solace. Robert otis, of San
Francisco and Henry Hendricksen, John
Davis and H. W. Kuchmeister, of New
York. They are the wounded Of that gall
liant band Of volunteers who cut the cable
at C1enfuegos. nearly a month ago. II is
tale that has been told before, but that
noble effort will live in history side by
side with the Merrimac's journey down
into the narrows at Santiago t1arbor.
Hendricksen and Volts. the former from
the Marblehead and the latter from the
Nashville. are the others of the gallant
expedition who will carry the marks of
heroism to their graves. When the reve-
nue. cutter Window brought Hendricksen
and Volts to Key West the hospital sur
geons said that both would die One had
three bullet wounds; this was Volts. A
22-calibre bullet had passed through the
skull at the base of the brain and out.
Compared with this the other wounds
were Insignificant. He was unconscious
for several days at the barracks hospital
at Key West, but gradually they brought
him around. Now Volts looks well. To be
sure he is stil Thin and haggard and
wears the bandages. He says that his
head troubles him somewhat, but Volts
Is hero, like his three mates. and there
are many heroes in the American navy.
Hendricksen was shot through the abdo-
men. The bullet passed completely out.
80 great Is the velocity of these tiny steel
missiles under the new methods Of pro-
pulsion. Hendricksen, when seen aboard
ship today. however, said he would be
fighting the Spaniards again before the
end of the month, if there was fight left
In them
The Winslow sent one man here TO re-
mind the people north of that now famous
torpedo boat and Of the terrible engage
ment at Cardenas, when Ensign Bagley
was killed-the first officer of the Ameri-
can navy to fall in this WARMTH four Of
his men. He is Robert T. Grub, a lands
man. It was on that memorable occasion
that Lieutenant Bernadou in command Of
the Wlnslow, under orders from Com
mander Todd. Of the gunboat Wilmington,
attempted to force the Cardenas harbor,
for the purpose of drawing the fire of the
masked batteries. The fire was hundred
fold more effective than expected. and
the first shell from shore exploded over
the plucky little boat, Lieutenant Benara-
dou being the only man wounded. A piece
Ill W. his leo hIrr
tying bandage about it. he ordered his
boat still further in. Then came the four
teen pound shell that crashed through the
boilers and disabled the Winslow, and
few moments later Ensign Bagley and
four Of the men were stretched dead on
the deck. Grubb was among those aboard
at the time and with others was rescued
by the Hudson.
Lieutenant Bernadou spent some days
at the hospital a Key West, but ne IS
now again in command of the Winslow,
tiny craft. daring and audacious even
among those murderous boats. In Place
of moor Ragley. ]. l. Lattimer is the
Winslow's ensign. Grubb is the second
man to come to New oYrk, OHearn' a
fireman, having been sent on a furlough
from the scene OF action after the terri
HE ordeal which he had passed with the
others.
4 victim OF the Porto Rico lombard :
ment was also brought here on the SOL
ace. George Merkle, a slender. pale faced .
marine. He was on the Iowa az San Juan
and came out OF the engagement lacking
one arm. Those who have been through .
the thick Of the shot and shell and nave .
emergen unscathed may tell Of marvellous .
4scanes and thrilling encounters, but Mer-
l,le tells another story. The order 20 cease
firing had been given, the great guns Oh
tho Iowa were sTenced. men came from /
the turrets to draw fresh breath OF NE
and some went below as routine course
Ma ,rrhi7s the Monitor Terror, lying IN
o,ossr than the others. and falling 20 see
.ra siqna1s. CONTINUED 70 pour in IRON mes
sa,gars Men gathered on the gun decks
. watch the progress OF the fight Merk4e
20 mo III from below and was IN the act
~ rrt+ing on his coat when she-l
-,1,1ged through the air and expioded u
,so.l,, over him. one piece struck MerFle
IN the right elbow, tearing out the 1oTe-
.,,s= flor the battle was over
T-,-as men from the greatest q battie-
zbins the oregon, were among the pa
.,e1.s Of the Solace. who, by the way
have been transferred 20 the Marine fi's-
,,.a1 &, Rrooklvn-I.ouis Epson p }
,.,ob and Alonzo GartIey. They we-~
not the only ones to suffer from me heart
7-eaking voyage OF the oregon. but they
..sre the most seriously Ill after the bat
4esbf, reached Key West. and It was