The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-06-24

holding the bonne,s Of the main lnjec-
,i1n valve and the sea suction valve OF
the big FIRE pump were slackened of
ready FOR instant removal. and wooden
proDs were wedged in on top Of the bon
nets so that after the nuts had been TAX
en- on from the athwartship bulkheads
20 give the water free access 10 all parts
Of the ship.
All these preparations were made with
great haste as 9; was desired 20 send the
ship IN before daybreak on the morning
.cf the second. one OF the ships llfeboats
was 70 be towed from a line amidships
on the starboard side All cans contain
ing stores were knocked open. The off,
GERS and crew, with the exception of
Capt. Miller, Assistant Engineer Crank.
Machlnlst Phillips. Ordinary Seaman
Diegnan. end Acting Water Tender Kelly
We're sent TO the flagship New York.
Mr.. Hobson was, OF course. 70 remain
aboard to take the ship in. In addition
Boatswain Miller. Gunn5rs Mates Cher
ette and Montague came aboard in the
afternoon from the New York 20 form a
not completed until nearly daylight.
Finally all preparations were eomplet-
ed and the start was made. The ship was
headed only a very few minutes when she
was directed TO return 10 the flagship.
This recall was great disappointment
10 Mt Hobson, who wished 10 90 in and
have the thing over. despite the daylight.
This was at daybreak on June .. Word
was then sent 10 US in the engine room
that the fires might be banked and that
the engines would not be needed further.
Il had been decided to postpone the at
tempt. OF course the nervous strain had
been very great on the men and had
acted as a stimulus to keep them up.
The men left their stations and the ship
steamed out further from the shore. She
was separated from all the fleet and in
her abandoned, gut;ed condition certainly
seemed like the doomed vessel she was |
The Marbelhead came near the ship |
about o'eloek TO get the personal effects !
OF the officers, which. however, had been |
sent aboard the Massachusetts, the after
noon before. Il was requested that some |
food be sent aboard. as there had been |
none left, and no means OF preparing |
any, Some coffee and hardtack were ac- /
cordngly sent aboard from the Marble |
head. This was all the men had until !
late in the afternoon. except those who |
went aboard the flagship to rest and get |
to eat Boatswain Miller went /
aboard the flagship and did not return .
for the second and final attempt. Seaman
Murphy Of the Iowa came aboard TO take
his place. The men lay around the ship !
most of the day attempting to get a little
rest and some slight changes in the orig
inal plans were made
At S15 a. m. the first shot was fired,
bridge. All the men who were to go in
with the ship-MonJague, Chereyte. Phil /
'pps. Diegnan, Murphy, and Kelly, We're
called up and given final instructions as
to their duties. Everything was made
ready below. The relief crew and my
self were sent aboard the Texas The ship
was steaming in toward the entrance at
dead slow speed SO as TO enable the
launch to so over to the Texas and then
catch her This was about 2:SO a, m.
At S:l5 a, m the first shrot was fired,
coming from one Of the guns on the hill
10 the left of the entrance The shot was
seen to splash Sraward from the Merri-
mac, having passed over her The firing
became general soon after, being especi-
illy fierce and rapid from the batteries
inside and on the left of the harbor prob l
ably the batteries on Cayo Smith. The
iashes and reports were apparently
hose of rapid-ire guns, ranging from
small automatic guns to four-inch or .
arger, For fifteen minutes a perfect
'usilade was kept up Then the fire
'lackened, and at $50 had almost ceased.
a close watch was kept on the mouth
If the harbor in order to pick up the
steam launch. There was a little desul-
.ory firing until about S;i5, when all be-
came quiet Daylight came about
o'clock. About 5;l5 the launch was seen
'teaming from east to west near or across
he mouth Of the harbor She steamed
back from east to west and then began
'kirting the coast to the east Of the en-
rance.
Mr. Powell came alongside the Texas
ma reported that mo one had come out
If the entrance Of the harbor."
His words sounded like the death knell
If all who had gone in on the Merrmac.
It seemed Incredible, almost impossible,
hat any Of them could have lived
through the awful fire that was directed
It the ship. There was probably no one
n the fleet who did not think that all
seven of the men had perlshed.
In the afternoon, much to the surprise
" everyone a tug flying a flag of truce
CONTINUED on third page)