Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-06-06

construction and is accounted one OF
the most able laval constructors III
the service, being entirely wrapped up
in his profession.
The preliminary work of this daspef-
ate undertaking was a strain upon the
officers and men. On Wednesday morn
ing directly after Rear Admiral Samp-
sons arrival, ana as soon as IL was
certain the Spanish fleet was in the
harbor, the preparations to scuttle the
Merrlmac in the channel commenced.
All day long crews from the New York
and Brooklyn were on board the CCi-
lier, never resting in their efforts to
prepare her. She lay alongside the
Massachusetts,, discharging coal when
the work was first 5agun.
The news Of thG intended Spedition
Travelled quickly through tie fleet and
1t soon became known that sEolunteers
were needed for a desperate undertake
ing. From the Iowa s signal yard
quickly fiuttered the announcement that
she had one hundred and forty yOlun-
teers. and the other ships were not far
behind. On the New York the e1Jhusi-
asm was intense Over two hundred
members of the crew volunteered to so
into that narrow harbor
AND FACE DEATH.
The junior officers literally jumped over
each other in their eagerness to get
their names on the volunteer list.
Commander Miller, who had charge
OF the Merrimac, pleaded with the I'D
miral to let him go; but the latter
thought he had better not
When if WAS learned that only six
men and lieutenant Hobson were to go
there was considerable disappointment
on all sides, and when the New York S
contingent went over the side late on
Wednesday night, some Of those who
were left were almost ready, brave and
strong as they were, to sit down and
cry.
All Wednesday night the crews work
ed aboard the Merrimac, which then
lay close to the New York and the 9TH
er ships, as they passed the collier, be
fore shutdown cheered her with the
same spirit that the British men-of-
warsmen cheered the American sailors
heroism at Samoa.
Lieutenant Hobson paid a short visit
to the flagship shortly before midnight
and then returned to the Merrimac, on
day. AS he started down the ga lad
der there were
MANY HANDS STRETCHED OUT
to grasp his and many quiet-spoken.
earnest wishes for his success, as it
was thought then that HobsOn would
take the Merrimac in early yesterday
morning.
AT o'clock the admiral and Flag
Lieutenant Staunton got into the alunch
to make an inspection Of the Merrimac
The working gangs were still on board
Of her and on board the New York the
officers of the flagship stood on the
quarterback, 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
Merrimac, but, at last, boat load of
men, black and tired out, came over to
the flagship. Last Of all, at 4:30 came
the admiral He had been delayed by a
breakdown of the steam launch.
Dawn was breaking over Santiago de
Cuba and nearly everybody thought it
was too late for the attempt to be made
that morning.
Then somebody cried: "She's going
in"
Surely enough, the seemingly desert
ed collier was seen heading straight for
Moro Castle.
The torpedo boat Porter was lying
near the flagship, and, ut the admirals
order, Lieutenant Staunton snatch
ed UP the magaphone and
hailed the Porter, saying: Porter,
there, Tell Merrimac to return imme-
diately."
Smoke quickly poured from the Por-
ters smol1estacks and the dark little
craft darted toward the shore.
Some time after o'clock the Porter
came tearing back and the Merrimac,
to every cle's surprise, kept her posi-
ton.
Fremont, from the deck Of the tor
pedo boat, shouted: Lieut.. Hobson
asks permission to continue on his
course. He thinks he can make it."
But the stern tones Of the Admiral
sent Hobson a message to the effect
that the Merrimac must return at once,
and in due course Of time the doomed
collier slowly steamed back, her COM
mander evidently disappointed with
the order.
When the Merrimac started yester
day morning on the trip for which she
was recalled she had on board Of her
two men who had
NO RIGHT TO BE THERE.
They were assistant Engineer Crank,
of the Merrimac and Botswain Mullin,
Of the New York, who had been work
mo on tnn collier all day
These two men refused to leave the
ship and as their disobedience was of
the nature which produced Cushing's
and Farraguts for the American navy,
it was not officially recognized
The spirit shown by the men and
officers of the fleet in connection with
the Merrimac expedition IS really grand
and beyond being merely expressed in
words.
Under these circumstances one can
imagine the immense feeling Of salts
faction experienced when it became
known that Hobson and the crew Of
the Merrimac were safe. Later in the
day a boat with white flag put out
from the harbor and Captain Ovledo,
the chief of staff of Admiral Cervera,
boarded the New York and informed
the admiral that the whole party had
been captured and that only two Of the
heroes had been injured. Lieutenant
HobsCn had not been injured 1t APP
pears that the Spanish admiral was so
struck with the courage of the Merri-