The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-07-13
NEW CUTTER HERE.
REVENUE CUTTER MORRILL, MAKES
KENOSHA A VISIT TODAY.
WITH A CARGO OF MEMORIES
Chief Engineer Weber Tells of the Work
of the Cutter in the Late War with
Spain Before Havana-Was with
SIMPSONS Squadron.

Freighted down with O cargo of
memories of the Spanish war the rev.
enue cutter Morrill, tied up in the local
harbor at 10 o'clock this morning and
unfurled the flag in honor of her first
visit to this city.
1t was soon noised about the city
that the little vessel which had taken
so important part in the late war was
tied up in the harbor and during her
two hours stay she was the one thing
of interest.
A reporter of this paper boarded the
Morrill, shortly after it's arrival and had
the pleasure of an hours visit with the
boys who had seen so much of the his
tory making epoch of the last few years.
The crew has been changed but little,
and almost every sailor is able to tell
some interesting story of the time spent
by the cutter in defence of the flag.
Chief Engineer Weber was with the
Morrill, all the time during the war and
had many interesting incidents to tell
of the time when the little cutter was a
part of the squadron under Admiral
Sampson. In speaking of the boat
during the war, he said:
When the Spanish war broke out
she was fitted out at Norfolk for block
ade duty. Two four-inch rifles, enor-
nous guns for boat of her size, were
mounted on deck, one forward and one
aft, and secondary battery of two
one Founders and two Colt rapid fire
guns given her. The pilot house and
engine house we're heavily armore6,
and, thus equipped, the Morrill, was
sent to Havana to help blockade that
port. Copt. 81. D. Smith went to war
in her, with E, P. Weber as chief
engineer, and G. s. Craig and 81. G..
Fisher, lieutenants. The full compile
ment was eight officers and fifty-two
men. " At Havana, said Engineer
Weber, we went on the inner patrol.
If we got inside the three mile limit the
Spaniards would fire at u.s."
I" On May Z we were chasing fish.
ing vessel, with the Vicksburg, and
ran pretty close in. The Santa Clara
battery opened on us and big shell
burst over our deck, between the man
on the bridge and the man at the
masthead. That was too warm for a
little boat like this, but as we drew out
Lieut. Craig fired she'll at the fisher
man from the after four inch gun which
clipped small boat off her stern and
sent the splinters flying.
At the close of the war the Morrill,
returned to revenue service and at
Philadelphia navy yard was restored
to her former condition. Her armor
and her heavy battery were taken off
and a single six-pounder rifle was
mounted forward. But the glory of
this is great, for it is the famous six
FOUNDER of the gunboat Hudson, which,
mounted aft on that vessel, fought off
the Spaniards from the crippled torpedo
boat WinsloW when that little craft
was so nearly lost and Ensign Worth
Bagley killed. Under direction of
Lieutenant Scott it did magnificent
service, and is the pride of every man
on board the Morrill,.
At Philadelphia Capt. A. B. Davis
took command of the Morrill, and
brought her up the St. Lawrence river
and up the lakes. She left New York
Nov. last and went to Montreal,
where she was delayed day waiting
permission to pass up the canals.
Her station on the lakes is at Mil
waukee, where she takes the Gresham's
place. She was at that city during
the carnival, and came here from Chi
cago. Her captain inspected the
papers, condition and life-saving de-
vices of all vessels at this port.