The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-05
EIGHT BRAVE YANKEES.
Concluded from First Page1

Concluded from First Page)
starved out or surrender Sampson will be
free to detach most of his powerful squad
ron for service elsewhere. This means, ac-
cording to common belief, an immediate at,
tack upon San Juan. Peace signs Have been
multiplying; there has been a notable
change in the tone of the Spanish press,
and although up to this moment no advances
have been made to the State Department by
any of the European powers, there is an
| indefinite suggestion in the air that any
moment may bring overtures of this kind
For this reason the campaign against Porto
Rico probably will be hurried in order to
insure its possession by the United States
before peace is attained
OF the Cadiz fleet no fear is entertained.
Notwithstanding the manipulated reports,
probably all ascribed to Spanish ingenuity,
| to the effect that this fleet has already start
ed for either the West Indies or the Philip
pines, it can be stated that the government
has information which it regards as reliable
that the Spanish fleet had not left Cadiz
up to yesterday. Meanwhile army prepara-
tons go forward without the slightest sign
of cessation. To-day bids were opened for
supplying one million and half cartridges,
two more transports were purchased and ar
engagements were made to use four of the
large Spanish steamers captured as prizes
for the transportation of troops to Cuba and
Porto Rico.
1t is now known that the Navy Depart
ment about ten days ago was considering a
plan for closing the harbor at Santiago
very similar in scope to that put into ex-
ecution yesterday. 1t was proposed to get
two large hulks or scows and fill them with
big powders such as could be easily OBJ
tanned in the neighborhood of New York
These were to be dashed on either side O.,
a tug and run into the harbor and at tn,
proper point were to be scuttled. Provision
was to be made for the safety of the crew
by attaching to the tug torpedo boat stern
foremost. At the proper moment the crew
| was to go aboard the torpedo boat scuttle
the hulks by an electrical contrivance and
cutting loose from the hulks, make rush
for liberty and the open sea. There are
signs that yesterdays project was a devel-
opment of this idea. Probably the plan of
taking in scows was rejected because Samp-
| son could not waste valuable time waiting
for such craft to be brought from the
United States.
|
ing removed by the Spaniards, as is re-
ported to be under way at Santiago, the
officials at the Navy Department declare
that this is likely to be difficult, danger
Gus and time-consuming operation. The
hulk could be blown up by the use of dyna-
mite charges, which would not be difficult
to place in the shallow water where the
Merrimac lies, for the reports say the top
of the funnel is above water, indicating
a depth of about forty or fifty feet, but it
is believed that the wreck lies in sight from
the and it is not doubted that Samp-
son will post some of the heavy ironclads
in such position as to be able TO command
the place with her heavy guns and prevent
the Spanish wreckers from working. At
night something might be accomplished by
the wreckers, but even then the work would
be full of danger.
The Merrimac was of little value as ma
val vessel. She had broken down in her
machinery and was kept at work only with
difficulty. Some of Engineer r. j. Cranks
| ol,l
in the recital of the trials and tribulations
the young officer suffered Che is about TWEEN
ty-five years old, in his efforts to make the
machinery work at all. This is just the kind
of craft that would be selected to block up
the channel. She is of iron and therefore
rot to be easily removed by the Spaniards.
The Merrimacs complement of officers
consisted of Commander j. NJ. Miller.
Lieutenant w. W. Gilmer, executive officer;
Ensigns J. r. Y. Blakely and ]. NJ. Luby
and Assistant Engineer r. X. Crank Miller
is from Missouri. Gilmer from Virginia.
Blakeley from Pennsylvania. Luby and
Crank from Texas.
The Merrimac was purchased by the gov
eminent from the Lone Star Steamship
Company. The transfer was made in Balti-
more early in April She was formerly the
steamer Solvig and was nearly destroyed by
fire at Newport News in 1896 She was built
at New Castle. England. in 1894, was $50
feet long "A feet beam and had a net regis
ter of 21ss tons. The Merrimac left Nor