The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-06-05
HOW WASHINGTON TOOK IT

| kindness.
HOW WASHINGTON TOOKIT
washington, June i.-"The cork is driven
into the bottle was the comment of the
naval officers at the navy department IN :
morning upon the news Of the sinking of
the collier MerIiinao in the channel at
the entrance of Santiago harbor. They
were absolutely satisfied that the shin VIZ,
sent in by design of Sampson to cioeo
the channel and prevent The escape Of the
spanish squadron, and that the undertak-
ing was successful. If so, It was claimed
TINS would rank as one Of the bo:dest
achleVem EMS in naval history, outranking
even Cusning's famous attack unon TIE
A'oemar with his Httle torpedo boat
mat was tie opinion at the navy dansrt-
ment' at least. The officers said that Cusb-
ing mad fighting chance 10 escape after
making MS attack, and he did indeed es-
cape. Ihere was no such chance FOR the
men who took the Merrimac into San
uago harbor under the guns which
SchIey's report described of great power
ana over nests of submarine mines anv
me bottom Of the ship. 1t had no. then
oeen learned Nho made up this crew, thus
destined TO be famous IN American his
tory' for me opinion at the navy depart
ment was that admiral Sampson directed
that no man be ordered into such danger
Gus duty but that volunteers be called for
mere was no doubt, however. that Al
ieast TWO of the officers wee aboard |
namely Commander ]. NJ Miller of Mis- |
souri, and Assistant Engineer r. X. |
crank of Texas. The captain could he |
relied upor, it was said, TO stick 10 his
snip 10 the last and from what is known
d franks character, he would not be
iAeiy % leave the ship. being ;he only
,ommlss oned engineer officer on board.
mere was only one opinion at the depart-
nent Of the courage of the men who coolIv
1000 4; the engine levers down in the
lo'G and directly above the bottom Of The
nip that he momentarily exp>,.red n
ONE flying upward on the blast of a
nine D. torpedo.
One Of the reasons that formed the
asts Of III: conviction that the Mer tn4c
vas purDosely sunk in the channel was
ne I@ct that the ship was of little value
S naval vessel. She had broken down
her machinery and was KEEP ar work
My with difficulty. Some Of ,-rank's let
7rs are al once laughable and pathetic
Nhelr recital of the trials All tribula-
ons the young office suffered i've is
"o%t ? Wears old) in his effor7s 10 make !
ne machinery work at al. This i, lust
= Kind oil craft that Woull be selecte,,
0iock up the channel. She Is of lr3n
nd therefore not likely TO be easily re- !
IoVed b. the Spaniards Then sre was
npty and 50 of no further immediate
alua 10 the feet I
Another reason for believing that the =.
errimac was purposely sunk was the
nall number of the crew on board. ac-
'rding to the reports. There seemed to
ave been just enough men on her 20 >
eer the ship and keep the engines NOV
3 The FORMAL crew of the collier was q
bout forty men, 50 that the others must !
I'VE been taken off in advance.
Il was said at the navy department that L
ere was no possibility that the Amcri- o
n sailors captured by the Spaniards d
1uld suffer. They were not spies in aav
nse, bu- prisoners Of war, and so tar .
ere had been no disposition shown by y
e SpaniardS 70 mistreat such prisoners. .
As 10 the change wrought in the s;tua- II
n by this bold exploit il was said that u
would now be possible 10 draw off the -
ser plrt of the American feet for SER y
e elsewhere than at Santiago, perhaps -.
San juaa de Porto Rico or Havana, for =,
stance. A mail force of, say. .wo mon =.
rs and a cruiser would suffice 20 keep =,
ard ~ Santiago. for all that was nee 4,
AIRY non was 20 be able 20 bring enough -
rs 10 bear upon the channel to prevent
Spaniards from attempting to clear IN
ay the wreck by the use Of torpsloes. I'm
1 TO prevent the escape OF the small 60
pedo boats that nigh: be able 10 pass IN
sr the MerrimacS hull al
Z course. il was pointed out. there were mr.
-wbaclss to the present situation. for. IA
lie tho Spaniards could not set cut. an
ships could not get into the harbor.
any land attack upon Santiago would tr.
male At great disadvantage for lack WI
i,e support 81 the American feet mp
ne Merrimac's complement OF officers %
sisted % Commander J. " Miller. sh
utenan: ". w. GImt-. executive off, ri,
; Ensisns J. r. Y. D. Lakely and :. / at
Luby. and Assistant Engineer T. X. s
nix. Miller IS from Missouri GIner ca
n Virginia. Blakely from Pennsylva- spl
Luhy and Crank from Texas sid
was expected that reports would be is;
lived today from Admiral Sampson. 7
ch would give details OF the Merr;- bio
5 destruction and the names Of ;ha 7
j; men who had been captured. Tn
le Merrimac was purchased by The pes
arnmen, from the Lone Star Steam 'he
company. The transfer was mase in the
-imore early III April; She was for gle
" the Norwegian steamer Solved l.
was nearly destroyed by fire :; New me
News in 1896 She was built At New sr-
L. England. II 1874: was 80 feet lorE
set beam. and lad register 81 2Iqs "a
/. The Merriusc left Norfolk. where II l.
>yas fitted Tor government purposes. az,
J; = month ago. -~-
EYES SEEIT \
drid. June k,-The version OF the ms
iur nf mo Zfa--fr7a~ ,xEsoL - Ia