davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1898-06-05
Merrimac's Hulk Blown Up
Special Dispatch to THE Sun.

Special Dispatch to THE SUN. 3
PoRT-AU-PRfScE, June 4.-News re-.
ceived here from Santiago de Cuba con-
firms the reports that the hombardment
OF that place began at 3 o'clock yesterday
morning.
After the action the Spaniards blew up
with dynamite the sunken American
collier Merrimac and have since been at
work clearing the channel, SO as to, in
all probability, permit Admiral Cervera's
fleet to put out to sea should the Cadlz
squadron, under Admiral Camara, arrive
in Cuban waters to relieve the blockaded
ships.
In the meanwhile, the dispatches from
Santiago de Cuba says the Spaniards pay
tribute to the audacity of the Americans
in so cleverly attempting to block the
channel.
According to the Spaniards, it would
be foolishness upon the part OF the
Americans to attempt to force tine har-
Dor entrance, which is described as be-
ing long and narrow, and thoroughly
mined. seemingly forming an insurmoun-
table barrier
There are great number Of insurgents
in, the vicinity of Santiago probably
waiting for some decisive action, upon
the part of the American fleet, which
will undoubtedly be the signal for land
attack upon the town.
The sun., 1898-06-05
Fighting to be Forced.
Dispatch to THE Sun.

Special Dispatch to THE SUN.
WASHINGTON, June 4.-The next move
# the Administration in prosecuting the
war undoubtedly contemplates the i'm
mediate destruction OF the notifications
and the Spanish fleet at Santiago aud the
taking OF the city. The ships of Samps
son and Schley will act in conjunction
with the insurgent forces and. the troops
that are to come from Mobile and per
haps other coast points. 1t has been
positively known here by those close to
the President and Secretary Long that
Sampson was going to strike, and he was
expected to do so on Thursday.
Now that the fleets of Sampson and
Schley are both at Santiago and troop
ships are on tn. way to join forces with
them, there can be no doubt as to the
immediate plans of the Administration
President Mckinley, it can be said
with authority, not only expects the
fighting To- fercea froHi" ems Moment,
but Is also extremely hopeful that the
war will be practically over when the
plans for the capture of Santiago and
Cervera's fleet have been carried out. He
expects that after that Spain will sue for
peace, anu at the Cabinet meeting yes
terday the chances of her doing 50 were
freely discussed.
The sun., 1898-06-05
Delay Caused.

An important step in the campaign
which has already opened for the elec
ton next November will be the district
ing of Wilmington by the Department o
Elections, to make the election districts
fall within the legislative districts pre-.
scribed by the new Constitution and
the appointing OF the registration OF.
ticers.
Before completing this work, the de-
partment is awaiting the action of the
Governor on the Reg 'stratinn bill passed
by the last Legislature. The Governor
has not yet given his decision either on
this or the new Ballot bill.
According to the Registration act, the
two leading political parties must recon-
mend six men for each officer to be
named, and must submit the recommen-
dations by June 18th, the appointments
to be made by the department in this
city, and by the Governor for the rest of
the State, Wy June 18th.
In case the Governor vetocs the bill,
the old system Of appointing registration
atliccrs will continue.
The sun., 1898-06-05
Samps0n's Master Stroke
Special Dispatch to THE SUN.

Special Dispatch to THE Sun.
WASHINGTON, June 4.-One OF the rea-
sons that form the basis OF the convic-
ton that the Merrimac was purposely
sunk in the channel is the fact that the
ship was of little value as naval vessel.
She h ID broken down in her machinery
and was kept at work only with diff
Guilty.
Some Of Engineer Crank's letters are at
once Iaughable and pathetic in tt cir re-
cital of the trials and tribulations the
Young officer suffered he is about
twenty. 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 anil therefore not likely y to be
easily removed by the Spaniards. Then
she was empty, and SO of no further i'm
mediate value to the fleet. Another rea-
son for believing that the Merrinac was
purposelv sunk i s the small number
of the crew aboard. according to the re-
ports.
There seems to have been just enough
men on board to steer the ship and
keep the engines moving. The normal
crew of the collier was about 10 men,
so that the others must have been taken
off in advance. 1t is said at the Navy
! Department that there is no possibility
that the American sailors captured by
the Spaniards will suffer. They are not
spies in any sense, but prisoners. of war,
and SO far there has been no disposition
shown by the Spaniards to mistreat such
prisoners
Az to the change wrought in the situa-
ton by this bold exploit it is said that
it will now be possible to draw off tie
larger part of the American feet for SER
vice elsewhere than at Santiago, per-
haps at Sar Juan de Puerto Rico OF
Havana, for instance.
( A small force Of, say, two monitors
and cruiser would suffice to keep
guard at Santiago, for all that is neces-
sary now is to be able to bring enough
guns to bear upon the channel to pre-.
vent the Spaniards from attempting t,
clear away the wreck by the use OF
torpedoes and to prevent the escape OF
the small torpedo-b)ats that night be
able to pass over the Merrimac's hull.
OF course, it must oe remembered that
there are drawbacks to the present sit
uation, for, while the Slaniards cannot
get out, our ships cannot get in the
harbor, and any land attack upon Santi-
ago would be made at great disadvant-
age for lack OF he,support OF the Amerl-
can fleet.
The Merrimac's complement OF officers
consisted of Commander j. NJ. Miller;
Lieutenant w. W. Gilmer,. Executive
Officer; Ensigns J. r. Y. Blakely and j.
The sun., 1898-06-05
TO ENLARGE
THE REGIMENT 7
-
First Delaware Infantry to Be-
come the Largest in
Service.
APPLIED TO SECRETARY ALGER
Major Gordon Thinks Soldiers Will
be Fully Equipped in Ten Days
end Then Will be Ordered TO-
the Commands Now at
the Front.
Special Dispatch to THE SUN.

Special Dispatch to The sun.
CAMP TuNNELL, Middletown, June A.
The First Regiment Infantry Delaware
Volunteers, already the largest regiment
of infantry in the service of the United
States, is to be made larger.
Application has been made to the Sec
retary of War to have regiment recruited
up to 1900 men, and it is expected that
the request will be granted.
The idea in having the number Of men
in the regiment increased is that as the
State only has one regiment and the
President has called for more men, the
troops already in the field NAV Just as
well be added to as to have several more
companies raised and ordered in the
ranks OF another States troops.
Major Walter Gordon of the 3rd Bat
TALON said today that the plan was a
good one and that he was already proud
Of the Delaware troops and was glad that
the step leading to the regiments en-
largement was being taken. He further
stated that the regiment would have
numbered perhaps more than 1900 if be
had accepted all the men who had pre-
sented themselves for enlistment. w..
In the matter Of moving the Delaware
TROOPS Major Gordon, who was until re-
Gently Lieutenant in she 18th L. S. In
fantry said that he was confident that as
soon as the boys were all properly
clothed and equipped the regiment would
be added to some of che army corps al
ready to the front.
In speaking OF the matter he said that
all the generals commanding in the army
were anxious for large regiments, and as
the Delaware regiment was one of the
largest yet mustered in, it would I'M
doubtedly be ordered to front as soon as
it was fully equipped.
Major Gordon was of the opinion that
the equipment of the troops would be
finished in ten days more and then, fully
armed, the regiment will be added to the
command of some major-general now at
the 'front.' a.
At headquarters the opinion il grew
ngg that the. DeiaWare Hoops will not be
sent to any OF the volunteer rendezvous
but sent to join either the invading army
off Cuba or Porto Rico. The green
men are rapidly becoming familiar with
the manual of arms and the entire army
discipline.
A car load of rifles is expected the first
Of the week and also another carload of
clothing which will be distributed i'm
medialely OH It's arrival.
On next Wednesday Company + will
be presented with II beautiful stand of
colors by the Irish-American citizen of
Wilmington. The regimental band will
be in attendance on that OCCASION
William Michael Byrne of Wilmington,
will make the presentation speech.
The sun., 1898-06-05
Y. Nj. G. A Notes.

Tomorrow afternoon at 3.45 o'clock, a
grand gospel meeting will be held in the
y. NJ. {. a. Hall, No. 1907 Market street
for men and women. W. l.. Pettiugill,
general secretary Of the Pennsylvania
Bible Institute will deliver his address
on believing God" A special service
OF song will be rendered by the choir of
the Central Presbyterian church.
The final arrangements for the starting
of branch of the Railroad Young Mems
Christian Association in this city are
about completed. More than the re-
1uired amount OF names have been adj
ued to the list and it is still growing un.
til at present 362 names are enrolled.
The movement is considered good one
for the greater part of the $500 men in
the service of the several railroad COM
panirs which run into this city.
The sun., 1898-06-05
Opinions Of Off cials.
Spccial Dispatch to THE sun.

Special Dispatch to THE SUN.
WASHINGTON, June 1.-THE COM
mander who took the Merrimac into GER
tain destruction" said one of the officers
OF the Navy Depa tment, "shonld be
promo'ed a hundred numbers. 1t was
the bravest action of the war, and every
man on board is hero. There is a great
reward awaiting them"
There seemed to be no doubt that the
sinking Of the Merrimac actually took
place, the object being two-fold,to locate
ihe mine and to effectuaIly close the
month of tive ha boz.
Both objects We're pparently accom-
plished, and the greater part Of the
blockading fleet can now be released to
lombard Havana or San Juan while the
remainder keeps guard vver the IN outh
Of Santi go Harbor.
In the m,antme. il morars and siege
guns can BE- Ian led near Santiago and
placed on tie heights, AGmiral Cervera
can he shel!td at pleasure and his ship'
The sun., 1898-06-05
The Last Cable Cut.
lecial Disratch to THE Sun.

! Sleclhl DlsIdtCH W lHt StN
KINGSTON, Jamaica, June 4.-The last
cable binding Cuba to the outside world
was cut yesterday afternoon by cable
vessel conveyed here by the United
States dispatch boat Dolphin.
This black sea-crab delved all day
along the coast, hour by hour, and it,
claws at length brought up the barnacle-
clustered cable strands and snapped
them, and now Cuba is wholly isolated.
The first cable picked up was that rum
ming to Kingston. 1t was found early
this morning. The coast loop connect
ing Santiago and Guantanamo was then
cut. Proceeding to Guantanamo the
cable vessel finally grappled and severed
the Haitian cable.
This ends the cabe-cutting oper-
ations begun a month ago, when the
MarbIehend and the Winsow lost five
meu in a fight off tienfuegos, where
three cables we're crippled and several
hundred Spaniards were killed by shells
from the warships. Afterwards the St.
Louis and the Wampatuck cut the San
Juan te Puerto Rico cable at Santi-
ago.
The strands cut yesterday were the
only ones remaining, except a few coast
loops, and these will probably be severed
in a short time.
The cutting of these cables is almost as
serious for the Spaniards in coast towns
as the cutting of foreign cables the land
wires connecting the coast towns being
wholly at the mercy of the insurgents.
Therefore, in the event of American
troops landing in Cuba, the absence of
the coast loops will seriously Interfere
with the hasty mobilization OF the Span
ish troops.
The sun., 1898-06-05
TO Present Colors to Company II.

Shields Library perfected all arrange
ments last night for the presentation o
the stand Of colors to Company F, Del
aware Volunteers at Camp Tunnel!
Wednesday.
A special train leaving French street
station at 2 10 p. m. will conduct all
those who wish to attend the presenta.
tinn services. About 800 persons are ex-
pected to gu.
The association will be met at the
MiddIetown station by the FIRST Regi-
ment Band and accompanied by Captain
Brennan and his men will march to
Camp Tunnel, Where William Michael
Tyrne will present the coiors.. They will
he accepted on behalf OF the company by
Captain Brennan.
The colors are now on exhibition in
Raloipl's window.
The sun., 1898-06-05

NJ. Ludy, and Assistant Engineer R. K.
Crank. Miller is from Missouri, Gilmer
from Virginia, Blakely from Pennsyl.
vania, Luby and Crank from Texas.
1t is expected that reports will be re-
ceived today from Admiral Sampson
which will give the details OF the Merri-
macs destruction and the names of the
eight men who have been captured.
The Merrimac was purchased by the
Government from the Lone Star Steam"
ship Company. The transfer, was made
in Baltimore early in April. She was for
merly the Norwegian steamer solveig,
and was nearly destroyed by fire at New
port News in 1896. She was built at
Newcastle, England 1894, was $50 feet
long, "A feet beam, and had net regis
ter of 2,l93 tons. The Merrimac left
Norfolk, where she was fitted for Gov
ernment purposes, abort month ago.
The sun., 1898-06-05
Marietta at Ke,: West.
Special Dis atch to The Sun.

Special Dis atch to The Sun.
KEY WEST, Fla, June 4.-The gun
boat Marietta arrived here this morning,
ending her long trip around the Horn.
She joined the Oregon at Callao and ac-
companied the battleship to Rio. There
the two parted, and the Oregon, having
superior speed, forged ahead. The
Marietta stopped one day at Bahia
Honda.
According to Captain Simons the ship
is in excellent condition and the men
are all we'll. The boat will be ready for
active service after few days for coal
ing and provisioning and making a few
petty repairs.
The little vessel showed the effects OF
her long voyage only by many bare
spots on her hull where the paint had
washed off. The men are all eager for a
fight.
All is quiet on the blockade between
Cardenas and Cienfuegos.
The sun., 1898-06-05
DEATH TO WEYLER
An Effigy of the Butcher ami Also a
Spanish Flag Burned by Patriotic
Young Americans.

The attention of the residents in the
vicinity of Ninth and Rodney streets
was attracted last night to a number OF
boys, who had formed a miniature mill
tary company and were marching up
the street dragging what at first appeared
to be a human form, but upon closer
investigation was discovered to be an
etfigy. representing Weyler tine Butcher.
The image was arrayed in clothing,
not unlike Spanish uniform and wore
a belt upon which the word "Weyler"
appeared in large black lettealrs. s,ss'ss w
sfseesevwtis auofned by heavy
muslache and side whiskers. A rope
was placed around the neck and the
boys dragged the unfortunate Spanard
through the streets. When they had
gone about y square one of the boys
called halt and extracted from his
pocket a Spanish flag, asking as he did
so, who had a match.
| One OF the urchins produced the re-
qured article, struck it and applied the
flame to the Castilian emblem which
was soon consumed. Cries OF 'Down
with Spain" "Three Cheers for Old
Glory" and "Burn Weyler," were then
! heard. This last order ~as soon put into
execution, one end OF the rope being sus-
pended over the limb OF a tree.
The boys piled brush around the eftigy
and striking a match they applied it to
the combustible material and the flames
soon arose around the figure. Young
America then reassembled, and after
giving cheers for Dewey, Sampson,
Evans, Schley and Mckinley, respec-
lively, they f'll i'll line and resumed
their march.
The sun., 1898-06-05
Incident Had Been Planned
Special 0i:,ata.: tc TAr Sun. ,s

Special 0i:,ist;.: tc TAr Sun. -
WASHINGTON, June "A prominent
official, in speaking about the matter to-
sent into the channel to be sunk the
action would be criminal on the part of
Admiral Sampson to risk the lives of
sailors and officers by sending in an I'M
armored ship for an attack.
The Department oI1cials are of the
opinion that the second attack upon the
Notifications at Santiago siienced the
Spanish guns and made it easy for the
collier to enter the channel. Had the
shore guns been Of service she would
probably have been blown to pieces be-
fore she reached the channel
EThe Department has been calculating
for some time how Instructions could be
sunk in the harbor without risking loss
of life unnecessarily. There was talk of
getting some old hulks to sink in the
channel, but the objection to this, aside
from the time it would take TO secure the
!lulks, was that it would take number
! of men to manage tn m, and, being slow
ard unwie.dy, they might be sunk by
the batteries before they reached the de-
sired position, and that at all events the
chances would be that the entire party
engaged in placing them would lose their
lives D
1t is supposed that the Merrimac was
selected to he sacrificed for this purpose,
because she could be better handled,
was large enough to block the channel,
and her sinking would not involve the
loss of as many lives as wonld probably
have resulted in an attempt to take lot
of old tubs in there. 1t is supposed that
the eight men reported to have been
taken prisoners were all there were on
board and the matter is looked upon as
very successful enterprise.
The sun., 1898-06-05
Troops Afoat for Cuba
ecia] Dispatch to The sun

Special Dispatch to THE sun
W,su1yGToN June Ait is thought by
many that the full official report from
Admiral Sampson as to his last attack
unon Santiago will show that there IS no
furtherneed of large military force be-
ing sent against that city, and that every
effort will now be made to hasten the
expedition to Porto Rico.
That the expeditions against both San
tiago and Porto Rico are afoat is no
longer denied, and, as stated repeatedly
in these dispatches, the engineering and
siege trains are on their way, and re-
norts from the south this morning say
HAT the soldiers at Tampa have also em-
barked. while dispatches from Jackson,
vile indicate that General Lee ana 2oooo
soldiers are ready to leave at that place
for Porto Rico at once. ,..
The military force now on transports
has been especially selected for sharp
and effective work, both for assau!tlng a
fortified town, even vessels "lvl.ln
range Of four miles. The artillery EQUIP
ment on the vessels consists OF sixteen
steel siege guns, manned by oo'o'e
crews, and sixty field pieces. :,
These powerful guns will be supported
by ten batteries Of light artillery ana
fonr of heavy artillery, the former
manned by 76O experienced artillerlsts,
giving twelve men to each gun. large
emn,nt of ammunition has been es.
pecialy prepared for these batteries, and
Wagon trains also go for conveyance OF
rnserye supplies. The artillery, the pom
!oons o nntfits. and General Roy Stones 8
Fad. making machines were embarked
on on six transports at least forty-elght
hours ago. 80. 49, ..oo,s .,;,,
;o;n those with the artillery, and all Will
The sun., 1898-06-05
Brilliant Strategic Move.
,special Dispatch to THE SUN.

h Special Dispatch to THE SUN
WASHINGTON, June 4.-Several reasons
are given for Admiral Sampson wishing
No close the harbor of Santiago, one OF
them being that as this is the time Tor
heavy storms off the Cuba coast one OF
these coming now might compel the
fleet to beat a retreat and the Spanish
fleet might escape while they were away.
Another is that having prevented the
/ Spaniards from leaving the Santiago
harbor, Admiral Sampson or Commodore
Schlev can withdraw number OF Their
vessels 10 convoy the expedition to
Porto Rico, or if the rumor is true that
Camara's fleet is coming to the West
Indies from Cadiz (but this is not be-
slieved in Washington Admiral Samp,,
son will have his vessels free to 60 and
meet them. Altogether the action IN
sinking the Merrimac is applauded at
i the Navy Department as very brllllant
strategic move.
All II is the opinion OF naval officers that
now that the entrance to the harbor IS
effectively blocked, two monitors with a
swift cruiser and two or three small
torpedo or gunboats will be sufficient to
guard the entrance, while schley and
Sampson can 90 at once to convoy the
troops to Porto Rico and elsewhere. 1t
ID ssaid that the Merrimac was almost
em,,tied of her coal cargo, and the
officials here think that she must have
had a good load OF iron or stone. on
hoard before she started on her perllous
expedit.pn. .., :,
In tile engineering department it is
said that it would be impossible for the
Spanish fleet to clear the channel of the
wreck VI the Merrimac. 1t is SAID 1t
would take several weeks to raise such
an obslruction.
IS The receipt of dispatch announcing
that Admiral Sampso.I had sent the
Merrimac into the harbor for the pur-
nose of blockading the channel led to it
being semi-otiiciaIly announced that the
news Of the sinking of the Merrimac was
expected.
1t was stated positively that this ac-
t;on On ,he part of Admiral Sampson
was a part OF the program for attack
ing Santiago and that it was known that
he was going to call for volunteer crew.
CAPTAIN James M. Miller, who refused to
abandon his ship and led the expedition,
is known to be a wonderfully brave and
daring man, and when it was known
that he had conducted the expedition
the naval officers were satisfied that 1t
would succeed. =
They declare that his feat equals in
daring that of Admiral Dewey: No
alarm is felt at the Department for the
, safety of Captain Miller and his crew, as
thev are simply prisoners OF war and
must be treated as such.
The sun., 1898-06-05
local DOTS.

Miss Hoffeekerof Of Chester, is the guest
OF friends in this city.
Mrs. DIR. Housekeeper of North East
Md, spent Thursday as the guest o
friends in this city.
j. A. liver las returned from Wash
ington PARK, where he was the guest oi
William Thompson.
Arthur C. Davies, of tl.is city, spent
day at MiddCtown.
Parents Day will be postponed until
June II, at the Calvary BAPTIST Church.
because OF the death OF Mrs. William
Maxwell. D..
Five carloads of marines went down
the Delaware railroad to Norfolk in spe.
cial train ON Thursday.
The sun., 1898-06-05
Change of Pastors.

A meeting of the board of stewards
and elders Of Asbury Church will be
held tomorrow evening to con+i,.er the
matter Of the removal of the pastor, the
Rev. Ezra Tinker, from this city to
Towanda, n. Y, in all exchange OF
pulpits with the Rev. DIR. Grow of that
place. Bishop Newman and Presiding
Elder Watt have expressed themselves
satisfied with the change if the members
OF the con ,regation desire it.
The sun., 1898-06-05
Inl:lr.'s Dead Body Found.

On Friday afternoon two boys named
>acrps and Dugan found the dead body
of an infant ON the mud bank along the
Chri. tiana near the Old Ferry Rolling
Mill. The poli:e were notified and made
al investigation. 1t was evident that
the child was dead when born, and the
body was buried near where it was
born.
There is no .clu to the parentage OF
the child, but it is supposed that the
body was thrown from one OF the boats
plying in the stream. How long it had
been in the water could not be deter
mined.
The sun., 1898-06-05
Two Accidents.

William Greenfield, a machinist in
the employ of the Harlan q Hollings-
worth Company, cut his hand by get
ting it caught in some of the machinery
on Friday night at 10 O'clock. The cut
required five stitches to be taken in it by
DR.. j. Y. Y. Blocksonl.
James Ga:nor, foreman Of the Chris-
tianna Glass Company, living at No. 524
Claymont street, was scaded very
seriously Yesterday morning while at
work. He was taken to Allaband's durg
store, where Dir. H. W. Bryan gave the
necessary medical attention.
The sun., 1898-06-05
Trolley Cars Wanted.

A large number of signatures have
been secured to petitions directed to the
Wilmington City Railway Company,
asking it to lay its tracks up the Concord
turnpike towards the State llne 1t is
pointed out that such road should do a
good business by reason ofthe number Of
residents along he turnpike.