Newspapers / The Weekly Star (Wilmington, … / June 10, 1898, edition 1 / Page 1
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WILMINGTON. N. C, AT 1 '.00 A YEAR. IN ADVANCE. S8888S8888888888S sinnojn El S3ggS88ggggjggggg 88888888888888888 88888888888888888 88888888383888888 83888338883888388 maoiw i 83388898888888888 88S8S88S888S88888 8888888838883888 1M t u Ou & Entered at the Poat Office at ilmtgton, N. C, as Second Class Ma'ter.l SUBSCRIPTION P ICE. The subscription price of the We j BtUP it as allows : -ingle Copy 1 year, postage paid. .ftl 00 ,f 6 months " ....... 00 " 3 months " " ....t... S DH.UOCRATIC TICKET, FOR SUPERIOR COURT JUDGES. First District Hon. George H. Brown, of Beaufort. Second District-T-Hon. Henry R. Bry an, of Craven. Fifth District Hon. Thomas J. Shaw, of Guilford. Sixth District Hon. Oliver H. Allen, of Lenoir. Seventh fDistrfot Hon. Thomas A McNeill, of Robeson. M TTY an TV! - a X TT P A 1 . juevemn msirici tion. w, Alexan der Hoke, of Lincoln. LOOKING FOB PEACE. As jar as Spain and the people of Spain are concerned, the indications multiply that they are becoming more and more anxious for peace. If the people of Spain knew the true condition of affairs, knew the straits to which their country is re duced and the utter hopelessness of achieving anything but disaster, they would be more anxious for peace than they are. They are the dupes of a studied system of-, un scrupulous deception, which in or dinary life would be called shameless lying. They do not yet know that the Spanish fleet was demolished by Admiral Dewey in the bay of Ma nila, and have been made to believe that the Spaniards are masters of the situation there, and that the American fleet is penned up and at their mercy. They have been told thafthe Philippine insurgents had returned to their allegiance and were now uniting with the Span iards to resist and destroy the American soldiers who might put foot on Spain. They have been equally deceived as to the situation in Cuba and in Porto Rico, and have two or three times celebrated victories when there hadn't been any fights at all, noth ing more than a few shots fired from some of our ships, for strategic rea sons, after doing which the ships re tired, and then a cable dispatch to Madrid went announcing an Amer ican repulse, and a "glorious" vic tory for the Spaniards. This thing has been played on them so much that they have become suspicious and are not in such a mood for "cel ebrating" now as they were some time ago. They were congratulated on the great victory of Admiral Cervera which consisted in being led or driven into a, trap in the harbor of Santiago, but they can't understand why this valiant, sagacious and mighty Admiral with his fine ships, persists in hugging the high hills which surround that harbor while . there is an American fleet inviting him out and eager to have him come. They can't understand why a com mander, with four of the best of Spain's war ships in hi fleet, shonld avoid the American fleet and sneak fnto a harbor and stay there behind the forts, while the American ships are aicily steaming around and shooting at those forts' whenever they feel like doing so. This is jthe game the Spanish statesmen are playing on the people to deceive them and keep them quiet while they are earnestly hop ing that some, way may opep.that would give them an opportunity to seek peace without sacrificing every thing. They are looking for more reverses andf have already begun to prepare the people for, them by making it appear in advance that these are only a part of a deep-laid piece of strategy. ' They got Cervera with liis fleet cooped up in Santiago harbor and thus they have narrowed the sphere of one American fleet, we are told, which will be required to keep guard over that bottled 'fleet. Having succeeded so well in this piece of strategy they are send ing Camara's fleet from Cadiz to be bottled up in another port, which will give occupation to another fleet to keep watch over it, and thus they hope to prolong the war until other nations become weary of it and pro ceed to intervene. ' In the meantime they are prepar 'g the people for the invasion o; Cuba by American troops by giving - itjmt, that no effort will be made to prevent their landing, the plan be ing to let them land and march into the interior, where the Spanish armies will fall upon themund cap ture the whole turn out. This is the kind of thff that comes from Madrid, but this isn't VOL, XXIX. the kind of stuff the Spanish states men are thinking. They know the folly of all that, and they know Spain's situation too well. There isn't one of them that doesn't know that Spain is hopelessly bankrupt, hopelessly demoralized, utterly un able to stand long alone and utterly nnable to secure the services of a friend to help hold her up. And there isn't one of them that hasn't directly or substantially confessed as much. A few days ago the Spanish Am bassador at London in an interview said the prolongation of the war meant "destruction to Spain" and he hoped that some way would be discovered of putting an end to the war. The bellicose, arrogant, defiant tone which was characteristic of the Spaniards in the first-days of the war is heard no more. They now speak in a very sober-sided way, and express a desire for the peace that may come "without dishonor". They have vainly pleaded for the sympathy of other nations, not mere lip-sympathy, which they" had, but the active sympathy which might do Spain sbme good. This they failed to secure because the nations which sympathized didn't deem it prudent to go so far as to extend active sympathy. Having failed in all their schemes, with no possible hope of being able to formulate any plan that will im prove the situation for Spain, their only hope is to seek some way to put an end to the war, the prolongation of which they realize to be, as their Ambassador at London explains it, "the destruction of Spain." With peace she may yet save something from the wreck. Every day the war is prolonged diminishes what she may save. Unless the directors of Spain's affairs are entirely dazed they will lay aside the Spanish pride and seek peace while there is still something left to be saved. They have done all they could to vindicate Spain's "honor," which has proved to be a very costly thing to her. They are fighting now, or rather pretending to fight, without a pur pose. They are simply going it blind, another illustration of "the blind leading the blind." MINOR MENTION. A Madrid dispatch published yes terday, speaking of the growing peace sentiment, says the military men are not for peace, because they are convinced that the Spanish posi tion is strong enough at Santiago to repel Americans both by land and sea. The militarylmeh are not ex pected to be in favor of peace, it is the business of military men to make war, and in this instance they have more to gain by war than by peace, for now the military men are under cloud. Weyler and the faction be hind him have schemes of their own which peace would defeat, and hence they do not favor peace. But if they, away over there in Spain, feel convinced that Santiago is strong enough to repel the Americans both by land and sea, what is there to prevent the Americans from turning their atten tion to-some other point less formi dably protected than Santiago and landing their troops there? With Cervera's fleet locked up, Santiago becomes a place of minor impor tance, and could be very soon starved out, making it necessary to keepponly a few vessels of the lighter armed kind there, while the more formidable could engage the atten tion of the Spaniards at Havana or other points in the event of landing troops. As narrow as the entrance to Santiago is a few hulks would block it so effectually that no ship could get out and no ship could get in. Our commanders have the San tiago game in their own hands, and the military mett who are banking on that as a formidable obstacle to American movements are entirely overestimating its importance. -. Some of the Republican organs have shown a very narrow, partisan spirit in their references to and com ments upon William J. Bryan since the war with Spain began. At first they persistently asked why he didn't offer his services to the Gov ernment, and when he did that, they made him the sole exception, and have ever since been popping away at him, as if he had done something deserving of punishment in under taking to raise a regiment for ser vice, and determining to go with it. Mr. Bryan might have anticipated that his motives would be ques tioned and misrepresented, for he is too distinguished a mark for the par tisan organs to let escape their mal ice. This little, mean spirit is cut tingly rebuked by the Washington Post, a paper opposed to Mr. Bry an's money views, in the following: "It appears that Mr. Bryan may get his regiment after all. We hope Tie will. He has come forward at his country's call, anxious to serve it in anjMiaeful way, and has devoted him self to the creation and organization of a Nebraska regiment He has not vaunted himself. He has displayed no spirit of vanity or ostentation. While hordes of popinjays favorite sons, proteges of great men, curled The darlings of society clamored for staff positions or big commands, "William J. Bryan, with more ability than any hundred of. them put together, has gone to work modestly and without self-seeking. He recruited a force and it was taken from him. He persisted and got another force. The newspa pers have made fun of him, his ene mies have sought to cover him with ridicule and derision. He has taken no notice and has pursued his purpose. Now there is another Nebraska regi ment and both the soldiers and the Governor want Bryan to command it. We trust it may be so. Mr. Bryan is young, he is patriotic, he has courage, nerve," brains, initiative, equilibrium. There is nothing discreditable in his ambition to lead a regiment of his fellow-citizens in this emergency. We do not know where Bourke Cockran, Billy Bynum, and the rest of the spluttering heroes who deserted the Democratic party two years ago, are at present exhibiting their prowess. We do know, however, that Mr. Bryan is trying to do his part, and we believe that he is worth more to the country and deserves more at its. hands than any of them. The Democratic party of North Carolina was never in better shape, more compact, or more determined to rescue the State from the grasp of the Rep-Pop-lican party than it now is. Without any tangling, dead weight, handicapping alliances it goes into the contest free and con fident, to make battle on its own lines, aggressive battle. If it had fused with the Butler contingent of the Populist party it would have been demoralized, dispirited, and the campaign would 'have been from the first tame, listless, apologetic one, in which the leaders could not have taken much interest and the rank and file very little. A speaker who has to begin by explaining or apologizing for something his party has done, is always embarrassed and cannot evoke the enthusiasm which is necessary in an aggressive campaign, and to win the Democratic party must be aggressive and "carry the war into Africa." Instead of being a help to us in such a cam paign Marion Butler and his faction would be a dead weight, which would pull us down and foredoom us to defeat. DEATH AT RED SPRINGS. Mrs. Eliza Street Robeson Dies at an Advanced Are. Star Correspondence. Red Springs, N C, June 3. Mrs. Eliza Street Robeson, relict of John A. Robeson, died at the residence of her son, David G. Robeson, Esq., in Red Springs, June 2d, 1898, in the eighty ninth vear of her age. Mrs. Kobeson was born in .Bladen county, N. C, January 28th, 1810, and was the daughter of Manor David B. Gillespie, a distinguished engineer and officer in the United states army. Her grandfather. Hon. James Gillest)ie. died in Washington City in 1804, while representing the (Jape ear district in the United states Congress, she was a devoted member of the Missionary Baptist Church for nearly hfty years. The funeral services at Red Springs were conducted by Kev. J. D. Moore, assisted by Rev. D. W. Pox, and the interment took place at Carver's Creek (Jhurch in Bladen county. A PITTING TRIBUTE. What the Tammany Times has to Say of the Late Sol C. Weill. The following tribute to the mem ory of the late Sol C. Weill accom panied by an excellent half tone illus tration, appears in a recent issue of the The Tammany Times : The death of Solomon C. Weill, the Democratic Assemblyman from the Nineteenth District is a loss, not alone to the Democracy of the city and State, but to the community at large. Mr. Weill was a prominent member of his . party, a leading, able and widely respected practitioner at the bar. and a valuable citizen. His standing: in the community was of the very highest and he enjoyed the esteem and respect of the best men of all parties. Me was born in Charlotte, Mecklenburg county, N. C, on May 18th. 1864. He has. since 1886, been engaged i n the practice of law, and was the senior member of the firm of .Weill & Mayer, of 40 Wall street. MOVEMENT OP TRUCK. Large Shipments of Beans and Potatoes from Newbern. The Journal says: "There isa heavy movement of potatoes and beans from here to Northern markets. Last night the steamer Neuse was unable to take awav all that was offered; but took away a comfortable cargo of about six thousand packages of potatoes and beans. Thursday, the A. & N. C. ran three truck trains to accommodate the demand, and to-day will likely run the same number, as there was heavy hauling last evening by truckers to the railroad. They Were Not There. The Star learns that some of Sena tor Butler's close friends say the State Democratic convention was largely composed of "corporation lawyers." Well, here are the occupations of the hi v HAlpro-atps who represented New Hanover county in the convention: rtna insurance no-en t. one grocer, one editor., one farmer and ,wiA hnnlrseller and stationer. The "corporation lawyer" was conspicu ously absent from that delegation, Correction. MAssrs. Latham. Alexander & Co. New York, estimate the decrease in cotton acreage in the United States for 1898 at 5 per cent, or 1,335,000, acres; not "1,336,000 bales" as it ap peared in the Stab yesterday. A leading Democrat of Meck lenburg closes a letter to the editor of the Stab as follows: "I note with pleasure that you say the party is now in good shape. It is certainly so in this section. It has more spirit than I have observed in it for four years. " Weekly WILMINGTON, N. ., SEVERE HAIL STORM. Hailstones as Large as Walnuts Many Panes of Glass Broken in Skylights and Green Houses. Only the oldest inhabitants remem bered having seen such a hail storm as visited the-city yesterday between half-past 3 and 4 o'clock. The hail fell for several minutes in pieces in creasing in size until it was as large as walnuts ajmost as large as the pro verbial goose, egg. It beat a perfect tattoo on paved streets, roofs and sky lights,' and in many places collected in white drifts, which the accompany ing rain soon melted. The Cape Fear was extremely beautiful as the count less hailstones beat furiously upon its bosom. The damage was not' serious. Sev eral panes of glass were broken from the sky-lights of the photograph gal leries. There was damage also to green nouses. Mrs. H. Render had her's pretty well protected, and only a few panes were broken. Miss Lucy B. Moore was not auite so fortunate. while Miss Fannie Johnson had about fifty pangs broken. The storm did not cover a wide area. There was only a little hail at Brad ley's creek, and in some parts of the city it was not so severe as in others. The damage to crops could not be ascertained; but tender plants were of course more or less injured. There was the usual painstaking accuracy in estimating the size of the stones. The prevailing testimony, however, was that the largest of them were about the size of walnuts, though one gentleman said he saw a piece as large as half of his hand and about the same shape. The hail storm cooled off the air considerably. Before, it was oppres sively warm; after, it was refresh ingly cool. Later Reports. Reports which came in late last night show that the damage to crops was much greater than was thought at first. It was greater north and south of the city. The young crops, such as tomatoes, watermelons, can taloupes, cucumbers, and corn were beaten up badly in the Acorn Branch neighborhood, and towards Federal Point the damage was great Mr. S. W. Westbrook returned last night from a trip to the Federal Point sec tion and says the truckers have suffered considerably. The truckers in East Wilmington will be losers by the storm hut not like those in the other two sections named. Mr. Sol. Jones says his stuff is damaged right badly, though as yet he cannot calculate how much the crop will be cut short Messrs. W. H. Mills and T. J. Kenan also suffered materially. Further east the storm was less violent and on the beach there was only a light shower. MANDAMUS APPLIED FOR. To Compel County Treasurer Chadbourn to Honor Orders of Chairman Moore and His Board of Commissioners. A new move was made yesterday in the fight between the Democratic and CoL Foster Boards of County Com- noners. This time it is the issuing of a mandamus, praying Judge Allen to compel County Treasurer James H. Chadbourn, Jr., to honor the orders made upon the county funds by CoL Roger Moore as Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners composed of Chairman Roger Moore and Commis sioners Alexander, Boatwright, Barry and Cowan, instead of the orders ; of Col. Foster, Dempsey and Nixon, whose right to act as Commissioners has been forfeited by the acceptance of positions on the Board of Education The mandamus was issued through Col. Jno. D. Taylor, as Clerk of the Superior Court, at the instance of John D. Bellamy, Esq., and Col. T. W. Strange, attorneys for Col. Moore's Board of Commissioners, and is made returnable before Judge O. H. Allen in this county June 14th. Notice will not be served upon " Treasurer Chad bourn until some time to-day. The papers were put into the hands of Sheriff French yesterday afternoon, but Mr. Chadbourn's absence from the city prevented their being served. The object of this mandamus pro ceeding is to obtain from Judge Allen a ruling as to who the rightful commis- uers are. It is expected that Mr. Chdabourn, in answering the man damus before Judge Allen, will affirm that he believes Col. Foster and his as sociates to be the lawful Board and an investigation by the judge will fol low. The law and facts examined, attorneys for the new Board think, Judge Allen will hold that Col. Moore and his Board are the lawful commissioners and instruct Treasurer Chadbourn to honor their orders in paying out county funds. The reason that the mandamus is made returnable before Judge Allen is that Judge Adams, who has this circuit from January 1st to July 1st, has completed his circuit and gone home, Judge Robinson does not take the circuit until July 1st and therefore Judge Allen, being the resident judge of the district is the proper judge to hear the case. Respectfully Submitted. The 'convention" that nominated Col. Office Hunter Dockery for Con gress had a negro chairman and negro secretaries. Why didn't the delegates make Col. O. H. one of the secretaries and nominate the negro chairman for Congress? It is said the latter can give the former big. odds and beat him out of his boots in oratory. Besides, the negroes poll three-fourths, Or more, of the Republican votes in the sixth congressional district. FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 1898. FRUIT AND TRUCK GROWERS. Important Meeting of Officials and Others of the East Carolina Association Business Matters Discussed. A joint meeting of the Board of Di rectors, the Executive Committee and the officers of the East Carolina Truck and Fruit Growers' Association- was held yesterday at The Orton. The officers present were Messrs. W. L. Hill, J. S. Westbrook and D. H. Harnly, president, vice president and secretary, respectively. The directors present were Messrs. J. S. Westbrook, J. H. Moore. J. A. Westbrook. O. P. Middleton, C. M. Steinmetz, J. H. Westbrook, T. J. Armstrong, G. W. Westbrook, J. A. Brown, S. H. Strange, G. F. Lucas; of the Execu tive Committee, J. A. Brown, chair man' C. M. Steinmetz, secretary, J. S. Westbrook. J. H. Moore, J. A. Westbrook, O. P- Middleton and G. W, Westbrook were at the meeting. All the local associa tions were represented, except those at Magnolia and Teachy. There were meetings both in the morning and afternoon, and at different times Messrs. W. L. Hill, president of the association, and J. A. Brown, chair man of the executive committee, pre sided. Messrs. C. M. Steinmetz. sec retary of the executive committee, and J. H. Moore, secretary of the board of directors, kept record of the proceedings. The finances of the association were discussed at length. Messrs. G. W. Westbrook, T. J. Armstrong and S. H. Strange were appointed a com mittee with instructions to settle up the finances of the association and re port at the next meeting. Mr. H. T. Bauman, shipping master, was called before the meeting and stated that ne would submit his an nual report at the next annual meet ing. On motion, each director was in structed to notify his local association that payment of annual dues must be made on r before June 20th. It was decided to have the next an nual meeting in this city on Tuesday, June 21, at 12 o'clock M. 'The meet ing then adjourned. The next will be held on June 20th. Matters of more than usual impor tance came up in yesterday's meeting at least they were discussed to con siderable extent if no final action was taken. The association is going to un dergo some changes in its plan of operation and great efforts will be made to increase its usefulness. COTTON ACREAGE. Decrease in the United States Estimated at Five and 'a Half Per Cent. Messrs. Latham, Alexander & Co., New Tork, estimate the decrease in cotton acreage in the United States for 1898 at 5i per cent, or 1,335,000 bales less than last year and the average planting of the crop about the same as last year, when the planting was late. The decrease in North Carolina is estimated at seven per cent and in South Carolina five per cent. The estimate is based upon 2,488 replies to some 3,500 letters, of average date May 26th, addressed to cotton commission merchants, brokers, banks and bankers making advances, and responsible planters. in regard to the condition of the growing crop, Messrs. Latham, Alex ander & Co. in their circular say: "While in some sections much re planting has been necessary on ac count of cold weather, overflow in the Arkansas and White rivers and poor stands, as a whole, the crop can be said to be in a fair average condition as compared with other seasons of the same date." REPRESENTATIVE FOWLER Seriously Sick at His Residence in Wash' ington, D. C. Special Star Telegram. Washington, D. C, June 3. Re presentative Fowler was stricken with severe illness in his hotel here Thurs day. His symptoms were so alarming that Lr. W. C. Murphy remained m constant attendance until Friday. His condition is better to-night . BROKE HIS RIGHT LEG. A Serious Accident to Adjutant General Cowles. Special Star Telegram. Raleigh, N. C, June 3. Adjutant General Cowles broke his right leg to night while riding in from Camp Russell. His horse became frightened and fell, throwing the Adjutant Gen eral's leg under the animal's body Both bones snapped. N. C. VOLUNTEERS. Recruiting for Companies Forming in Wil mlngton Proceeding Satisfactorily. Recruiting of both the military companies proceeded satisfactorily yesterday. Capt W. N. Harriss re ceived the following letter, which shows that there is good prospect of his company being admitted, as it is understood that the battalion of white troops referred to will certainly be formed: Raleigh, N. C, June 2, 1898. W. N. Harriss, .Wilmington, N. C: Dear Sib Your favor of the 2nd inst is received. You will see from the papers that the Third regiment will not materialize. If we have a battalion of white troops the .Governor will ad mit your company. A. D. Cowles, ! Adjutant General. There was a high tide on Wrights ville Beach last night, caused by full moon on Saturday night and a stiff northeast wind all yesterday. (Star. GALLANT HOBSON AND BIS HEROES. Story of Their Daring Adventure in the Harbor of Santiago de Cuba. HOW AFFAIR WAS PLANNED. Its Successful Accomplishment Prelimi nary Work Men Eager to Volun teer The Narrow Channel Completely Blocked. rCopyrightea 1898 by the Associated Press. Off Santiago de Cuba, 3:07 A. M, via, .Fort Antonio, Jamaica, June 4, per the Associated. Press Dispatch Boat Dauntless (delayed in transmission.) The Spanish fleet is now hopeless, being held captive in Santiago de Cuba harbor The narrow channel leading into the harbor was completely blocked early this morning, when the United States collier Merrimac was sunk across its entrance. It is now im possible for the Spaniards to get out, and it is equally impossible for any vessel to getnto the harbor. Therefore the Spanish hrst-class ar mored cruisers Maria Teresa, Cristobal Colon, V lzcava and Almirante Oqen do, with the two torpedo boat destroy ers. Furor and Fluton, are no longer of any use to Spain. This result was accomplished through the heroism of Lieutenant Kichmond F. Hobson, sistant naval constructor, and Daniel Montague, Ueorge Charette, J. U. Murphy, Oscar Deignan, John P. Phillips, John Kelly and H. Clausen. The latter a coxswain of the New York, took part in the expedition against orders, Montague is chief master at arms of the New York. He has served four years in the navy, is 29 years of age and his home is in Brooklyn. vieorge Charette is a gunner-mate of the hrst-class on board the JNew York. He has served fourteen years in the navy, is si years old and resides at Lowell, Mass. J. C. Murphy is a coxswain of the Iowa. Oscar Deignan is a coxswain of the Merrimac and is about 24 years old John P. Philhns is a machinist of the first-class, belonging to the Merri mac. He is 3b years of age and his home is in Boston. John Kelly is a water-tender, about 35 years old H. Clausen, who slipped on board the Merrimac without permission, in order to take part in the expedition, is a coxswain of the JNew York The three men from the Merrimac's crew were all green hands and shipped recently for the war. The Merrimac had on board boo tons ot coal when she was scuttled across the channel Lieutenant Hobson started on his daring errand at 3 o'clock this morn ing. me Merrimac was lying to tne westward. Under cover or the clouds over the moon, she stole in toward the coast and made her way to the east ward, followed by a steam launch from the New York with the following crew on board : Naval Cadet J. W. Powell, of Oswego, N. Y. : P. K. Pe terson, coxswain; H. Handford, ap prentice of the first class: J. Mullings, coal passer; U. H. Kusseii, machinist of the second class. In the launch were bandages and appliances for the wounded. Merrimac Under Fire From the crowded decks of the New York nothing could be seen of the Merrimac after she had got under the shadow of the hills. , For half an hour the officers and men strained their eves peering into the gloom, when, suddenly, the flash of a gun streamed out from Morro Castle, and then all on board the New York knew the Mer rimac was nearing her end. The guns from the Spanish battery opposite Morro Castle answered quickly with more flashes, and for about twenty minutes flashes of fire seemed to leap across the harbor entrance The flagship was too far away to hear the reports, and when the firing ceased it was judged that Hobson had blown up the Merrimac. For an hour the anxious watchers waited for day light. Rear Admiral Sampson and Captain cnadwick were on tne briage of the New York throughout. At 5 o clock the streams of smoke were seen against the western shore, auite close to the Spanish batteries, and strong glasses made out the launch of the New York returning to the flag ship. Scarcely had the small craft been sighted, before a puff of smoke issued from a battery on the western arm of the harbor and a shot plunged far over the launch. Then for fifteen minutes the big guns ashore kept, up an irregular lire on the little launch. As the shells fell without hitting the obiect thev were intended for, the men on board the JNew xork jeered at the Spanish marksmanship and cheered their ship-mates. At 6.15 A. M., the launch came alongside the flagship ; but she did not have on board any of the erew of the Merrimac. Cadet Powell reported that he had been unable to see any signs of the Merrimac's crew. It de veloped that, with great bravery the cadet had gone right under the bat teries and onlv returned when all hope of taking on board the crew of the Merrimac had to be abandoned. Cadet Powell also reported that he had clearly seen the Merrimac's masts sticking up just where Hobson hoped to sink her, north of the JdJstrella bat tery, and well past the guns of Morro Castle. Rut, of the heroes who had penned the Spaniards in there was not a sound or a Sign. Rear Admiral Sampson said : "I am pretty sure the attempt was quite sue cessf ul. I hope all those brave f el lows are not captured," Cadet Powell believes the torpedoes previously fixed about the Merrimac Were exploded as planned, as Lieu ten ant Hobson was well up the harbor before the Spaniards opened fire on the Merrimac. What Actually Happened on board the Merrimac can be best iudged from what Lieutenant Hobson said just before leaving the flagship. n-n' " l: Vi e. i j face browned by the sun and his eyes flashing with excitement, he remarked: "I shall go right into the harbor until about four hundred yards past the Estrella bat tery, which is behind Morro Castle. I do not think they can sink me before I reach somewhere near that point. I The Merrimac has seven thousand tons buoyancy, and I shall keep her full speed ahead. She can make about ten knots. When the narrowest part of the chan nel is reached I shall put her helm hard aport, stop the enginss, drop the anchors, open the sea connections, touch off the torpedoes and NO. 35 leave lying is not long. the Merrimac a wreck, across the channel which as broad as the Merrimac is mere are ten a-inch lmpro- vised torpedoes below the water line, On the Merrimac's port side. Thev are placed on her side against the bulkheads and vital spots, connected with each other by a wire under the ship's keel. Each torpedo contains eighty-two pounds of gunpowder. Each torpedo is also connected with the bridge, and they should do then work in a minute, and it will be quick work even if done in a minute and a quarter. "Un deck there will be four men and myself. In the engine room there will be two other men. This is the total crew and all of us will be in our underclothing, with revolvers and ammunition in watertight packing strapped around our waists. Forward there will be a man on deck and around his waist will be a line, the other end of the" line being made fast to the bndge on which I will stand. By that man's side will be an axe. When I stop the engines I shall jerk this cord and he will thus get the sig nal to cut the lashing which will be holding the forward anchor. He will then jump overboard and swim to the four-oared dingy which we shall tow astern. The dingy is f nil of life-buoys and is unsinkable. In it are rifles. It is to be held by two ropes, one made fast at her bow and one at her stern. The first man to reach her will haul in the tow line and pull the dingy out to starboard. The next to leave the ship are the rest of the crew. The quartermaster at the wheel will not leave until after having put it hard aport and lashed it so ; he will then jump overboard. Down below, the man at the re versing gear will stOD the ene-ine. scramble up on deck and get over the side as quick as possible. The man in the engine room will break open the sea connections with a sledge-hammer and will follow his leader into the water. This last step insures the sinking of the Merrimac whether the torpedoes work or not. isy this time 1 calculate the six men will be in the dingy and the Merrimac will have swung athwart the channel to the length of her three hundred yards of cable, which will have been paid out before the anchors were cut loose. Then all that is left for me is to touch the button. I shall stand on the starboard side of the bridge. The explosion will throw the Merrimac on her starboard side. Nothing on this side of New York city will be able to raise her after that.7' "And you expect to come out of this ahver asked a companion of the lieu tenant. Ah! That is another thing" said the lieutenant. A Desperate Undertaking. He was so interested in the mechan ical details of the scheme that he scarcely stopped to talk of life, and death. But, m reply to frequent ques tions, Hobson said: "I suppose the Jd&treHa battery will Are down on us a bit ; the ships will throw their search lights in the gunner's faces and they wont see much of us. If we are tor pedoed we should even then be able to make the desired position in the channel. It wont be so easv to hit us. and I think the men should be able to swim to the dingy. I may jump be fore I am blown up. But I don't see that it makes much difference what I do. I have a fair chance of life either way. If our dingy gets shot to pieces we shall then try to swim fov the I beach right under Morro Castle. We shall keep together at all hazards. Then, we may be able to make our way back to the ship. We shall hght the sentries or a squad until the last and we shall, only surrender to overwhelming numbers, and our sur render will only take place as a last and as a most uncontemplated emer gency." Lieutenant Hobson might have been lecturing to a class of cadets on the theory of now to build ships, so deliberate was his manner. He was lately at Annapolis, in charge of the post graduate course in naval con struction and is accounted one of the most able naval constructors in the service, being entirely wrapped up in his profession. The preliminary work of this des perate undertaking was a strain upon the officers and men. Un Wednesday morning directly after Rear Admiral Sampson s arrival, and as soon as he was certain the Spanish fleet was in thf harbor, the preparations to scuttle tile Merrimac in the channel were com menced. All day long crews from the New York and Brooklyn were on board the collier, never resting in their efforts to nrenare her. She lav along side the Massachusetts, discharging coal, when the work first begun. Eager to Volunteer. The news of the intended expedition travelled quickly throughout the fleet and it soon became known that volun teers were needed for a desperate un dertaking. From the Iowa's signal vard auicklv fluttered the announce ment that she had one hundred and forty volunteers and the other ships were not far behind. On the New York the enthusiasm was intense. Over two hundred mem bers of the crew volunteered to go into that narrow harbor and face death. The iunior officers literally jumped over each other in their eagerness to get then names on the volunteer list. Commander Miller who had charge of the Merrimac. pleaded with the Admi ral to let him go, but the latter thought he had better not. When it was learned that only men and Lieutenant Hobson were to go. there was considerable disappoint ment 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 worked on board the Merrimac which then lay close to the New York and the other shins, as they passed the collier, before sundown, cheered her with the same spirit that the British men-of-war cheered the American sailors' heroism at Samoa. ssszsPreparing the Merrimac. -Lieutenant Hobson paid a brief visit to the flagship shortly before midnight and tnen returned to tne merrimac, ou board of which craft he had been all dav. As he started down the sea-lad der there were many hands stretched out to grasp his and many j quiet spoken, earnest wishes for his success, as it was thought then that Hobson would take the Merrimac in early yes terdav morning. At 3 o'clock the Admiral and; Flag Lieutenant Staunton got into the launch to make an inspection Of the Merrimac. The working gangs were still on board of her, and on board the NT aw Vnrlr the officers of the flagship stood on the quarter-deck, their glasses focussed on the big, black hull that was to form an impassable obstacle for Snain's best ships. The minutes slipped by and the crews had not com nlfited their work on the Merrimac. But at last a boat-load of men, black and tired out, came over to the flag shin. 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 deserted collier was seen heading straight for Morro castle. Called Back. The torpedo boat Porter was lying near the flagship and. at the admi Ural's order, Lieutenant Staunton snatched up the megaphone and hailed the Porter, saying: "Porter, there! Tell the Merrimac to return immediately." Smoke quickly poured from the Porter's smokestacks and the dark little craft darted toward the shore. By that i time, darkness had quite disappeared and quickly as the fast torpedo boat tore through the water, it seemed as if le would never head on the Mem- mac. At last when within range of the guns of the Spaniards, the Porter crossed the Merrimac's bows and a sigh of relief went up from the eager watchers, for they thought it ' sure death for Hobson to venture in at that hour, i Sometime after 5 o'clock the Porter came tearing back and the Merrimac, to every man's surprise, kept herposi-; tion. Admiral Sampson, Captain Chad- wick and Lieutenant Staunton could not understand until Lieutenant Fre mont, from the deck of the torpedo boat shouted: ''Lieutenant Hobson asks permission to continue his course. He thinks he can make it." ).;', But in stern tones, the Admiral sent Hobson a message to the effect that the Merrimac must return at once, and in due course of time the doomed col lier slowly steamed back, her com mander evidently disappointed with the order received from the Admiral through the commander of the Portefc Hobson's figure standing out vividly on the lonely bridge of the Merrimac,. All day yesterday the collier lay near the flagship and more elaborate preparations were made to carry out the mission of the Merrimac success fully. During these preparations Hob son was tireless, cool and confident, supervising personally every little de- During the day Lieutenant Hobson went aboard the flagship. His once white duck trousers were-as black as a coal heaver's, his old fatigue coat Was unbuttoned and his begrimed face deep furrowed by tense drawn lines, but resolution still shone in his eyes. So absorbed was he in the task ahead of him that, unmindful of his appear ance and of all ceremony and naval etiquette, he told the admiral in a tone of command that he must not again be interfered with. 1 I can carry this tlnng through. said he, "but there must be no more recalls. My men have been keyed up for twenty-four hours and under a tremendous strain. Iron will break at last." Such was the indomitable will and courage with which he faced death andjrfory. '. When Hobson lett the ship and the extended hands of his shipmates, more than one of the latter turned hastily to hide the unbidden tear. But the Lieu tenant waved them adieu with a smile on his handsome face. " Final Departure. When finally Hobson went on board the Merrimac last night he had been without sleep since Wednesday morn- " ing. His uniform was begrimed, his hands were black and he looked like a man who had been hard at? work in and about an engine room for a long time. As he said good bye the lieu tenant remarked that his only regret was that all of the New York volun teers could not go with him. Kear Admiral Sampson, speaking of the expedition, said : "I think ho will have a fair chance to get out. Yes, it is plucky. Very plucky." I When the Merrimac started yester day morning on the trip she had on board of her two men who had no right to be there. They were Assist ant Engineer Crank of the Merrimac, and Boatswain Mullen, of the New -York, who had been working : on the collier all day. These two men re fused to leave the ship, and as their diso bedience was of the nature which pro duced Cushing and Farragut for the American navy it was not oiheially recognized. The spirit showh by the men and officers of the fleet in connec tion with the Merrimac expedition is really gr&nd and beyond being merely expressed in words. Hobson and Crew Safe. Under these circumstances one can imagine the immense feeling of satis faction experienced when it became known that Hobson and the crew of the Merrimac were safe. Later in the day a boat with a white flag put out from the harbor and Captain Iviedo, the chief of staff of Admiral Cervera, boarded the New York and informed the Admiral that the whole of the party had been captured and that only two of the heroes had been in jured. Lieutenant Hobson had not been injured. It appears that the Spanish Admiral was so struck with the courage ot the Merrimac s crew that he decided to inform Admiral Sampson that they had not lost their lives but were prisoners of war and could be exchanged. The dingy portion of the programme does not appear to have been carried out, which leads to the belief that she may have been smashed by a shot, for it seems Hobson and his men drift ed ashore on an old catamaran, which had been slung over the Merrimac's side at the last moment, as an extra precaution. They were captured and sent to Santiago under guard, previ ous to being transferred to Morro Castle, where they are now under stood to be confined. The Fleet Rejoicing. The fleet to-night is in a state of de lighted enthusiasm and the Admiral is just as happy as the youngest sailor. The general opinion is that no man ever deserved recognition for personal bravery more than does Lieutenant Hobson. j Lieutenant Hobson's chief anxietv was that in the dark he might miss the narrow cut and run on the shoals at the west of the entrance. To prevent the possibility of this, the. plan of lowing the Merrimac to run in under the Spanish flag with the fleet in feign ed pursuit, firing blank cartridges and blazing the path to the harbor entrance with search lights, was considered but abandoned, because, among other rea- sons, ijieuienant nooson and his vol unteer crew did not want to die if their lives should be sacrificed, under" iaise coxors. xney wanted to go down with the stars and stripes floating' proudly from the Merrimac. VIRGINIA VOLUNTEERS. ueparture of Troops for Camp Alger and Jacksonville. Richmond, Va., June 5. The thiA Virginia regiment left here this morn ing iot amp Alger, taking the train TfSiTapJJee- -T,he Four regiment left for Jacksonville abouHaoon and was escorted through toe cS anThis'staff ffwS .along ttie timttaracterid" departur? women and chiMT i,w H regiments an ovation:
The Weekly Star (Wilmington, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
June 10, 1898, edition 1
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