THE MERRIMAC.
There was no good reason why, as Bill Jones had suggested, Teddy could
not successfully pose as one of the _Merrimac's_ crew.
The undertaking in hand was so important, with such great advantages
to be derived from its accomplishment, that for the time being it was
as if every officer and man in the American squadron had no thought
save concerning the work upon the steamer to be sunk.
That the situation may be made more plain, as it was to Teddy before
he had been on board the _Texas_ two hours, the following description
of the daring venture is quoted from an article written the very day
Bill Jones and his protégé sought shelter on the battle-ship:[1]
"The mines in the narrow, tortuous channel, and the elevation of the
forts and batteries, which must increase the effectiveness of the
enemy's fire, and at the same time decrease that of our own,
reinforced by the guns of the Spanish fleet inside, make the harbour,
as it now appears, almost impregnable. Unless the entrance is
countermined it would be folly to attempt to force its passage with
our ships.
"But the Spanish fleet is bottled up, and a plan is being considered
to drive in the cork. If that is done, the next news may be a
thrilling story of closing the harbour. It would release a part of our
fleet, and leave the Spaniards to starve and rot until they were ready
to hoist the white flag.
"'To drive in the cork,' was the subject nearest Rear-Admiral
Sampson's heart, and he at once went into consultation with his
officers as to how it could best be done. One plan after another was
discussed and rejected, and then Assistant Naval Constructor Richmond
Pearson Hobson proposed that the big collier _Merrimac_, which then
had on board about six hundred tons of coal, be sunk across the
channel in such a manner as to completely block it.
"The plan was a good one; but yet it seemed certain death for those
who should attempt to carry it out as proposed. Lieutenant Hobson,
however, claimed that, if the scheme was accepted, he should by right
be allowed to take command of the enterprise.
"The end to be attained was so great that Admiral Sampson decided that
the lives of six or seven men could not be allowed to outweigh the
advantage to be gained, and Lieutenant Hobson was notified that his
services were accepted; the big steamer was at his disposal to do with
as he saw fit."
This was the work which had been begun when Bill Jones brought Teddy
Dunlap on deck that he might confess to being a stowaway, and it is
little wonder that matters on board the collier were in seeming
confusion.
On the night previous Lieutenant Hobson had received the notification
that his services were accepted, and at an early hour next morning the
work of making the _Merrimac_ ready for destruction had begun.
A dozen boys would have attracted no attention just then, and the lad,
who had mentally nerved himself to meet the captain of the steamer,
failed in finding any one to hear his confession.
Bill Jones, however, was quick to see the possible advantage to be
gained, and Teddy had not fully recovered from his bewilderment before
the little sailor was forcing him over the rail into one of the
_Texas's_ boats, which had just come alongside.
[Illustration]
"Turned out of house an' home, eh?" one of the sailors asked, with a
laugh, and there was no question but that the boy, as well as the man,
had a right to be taken aboard the battle-ship.
The officers had all left the boat, therefore the two were not
subjected to any searching examination, and once on board the big
vessel, it was supposed, as a matter of course, that they had been
regularly detailed to that ship.
Strange as it may seem, these two who had but just come from the
_Merrimac_ knew less regarding her proposed ending than any other,
and, therefore, were most deeply interested in such information as was
to be picked up from the crew.
Before having been on board an hour they knew as much as has been set
down at the beginning of this chapter, and, for the time being at
least, they, like all around them, had little thought save for the
daring adventure which was to be made by Lieutenant Hobson and six
men.
"It's a mighty brave thing to do," Bill Jones said confidentially to
Teddy as the two were on the gun-deck, having concluded a most
satisfactory repast; "but I wouldn't want a hand in it."
"Why not?" Teddy asked, in surprise, for he had been turning the
matter over in his mind until having come almost to envy those who
were to brave death in the service of their country.
"Because I ain't what might rightly be called a fightin' man; owin' to
my bein' undersized, most likely. I take real pride in the deeds of
others, but can't seem to get my own courage where it belongs. I'm
only what you might call a plain, every-day sailor, with no fightin'
timber in me, else I'd been in the navy long before this."
"Do you think they will live to sink the _Merrimac_?" Teddy asked,
thoughtfully.
"There's no doubt in my mind but that they'll hold on to life long
enough to do the work, but it's afterward that the trouble will begin.
Every Spanish gun within range will open fire on 'em, an' what chance
have they got of comin' out alive?"
"When will they start?"
"It'll be quite a spell before they get the steamer ready to make the
dive, 'cordin' to my way of thinkin'. In the first place, as I'm told,
there are to be plenty of torpedoes put in position inside the old
hooker, an' it'll take some time to made them ready. Anyway, you're
snug as a bug in a rug now--"
"Until Captain Miller comes aboard," Teddy interrupted.
"Have no fear of him," the little sailor said, as if the subject was
not worthy of consideration. "When he comes, if he ever does, it isn't
to this part of the ship that he'll pay a visit. Officers spend their
time aft, an' small blame to 'em. It may be, Teddy Dunlap, that he'll
see you; but the chances are dead against it, so take all the comfort
you can--"
"I ought to be huntin' for daddy."
"Well, you can't, leastways, not while we're aboard this craft, but
you can count on comin' across him before this little scrimmage is
ended off Santiago, an' then I warrant there'll be all the chance you
need."
"But what am I to do on board here?" Teddy asked, anxiously. "It don't
stand to reason that we'll be allowed to loaf around as if we owned
the whole vessel."
"That's the way you look at it; but my idees are different. Uncle Sam
will keep us for a spell, that's certain, an' until he gets tired of
the job we needn't worry our heads. You might live to be a thousand
years old without strikin' another job as soft as the one we've got on
our hands this blessed minute, so I say, make the most of it."
"It's different with you; but I'm only a stowaway, an' stand a good
show of gettin' into a heap of trouble when the officers of this ship
find out that I've no business to be here."
"I don't figger that way," Bill Jones replied, with a light and airy
manner. "It doesn't stand to reason you should have been left aboard
to go down with the steamer, eh?"
"They might have set me ashore."
"An' had a precious good job doin' it. Look ye, Teddy Dunlap, are you
countin' yourself of so much importance that a battle-ship is to leave
her station for no other reason than to put you ashore?"
"I didn't mean it that way. You see they ought to do somethin' with
me--"
"Then wait till they get ready, an' don't borrow trouble. This
crossin' of bridges before you come to 'em is likely to make life
mighty hard for a young chap like yourself, an' considerin' all you've
told me, I wonder at it."
Teddy could say nothing more. It surely seemed reasonable Bill Jones
knew what it was proper he should do, and from that moment he resolved
to "take things easy," as his friend advised, rather than fret over
what couldn't be mended.
Therefore it was he ceased to worry, although at the same time
keeping a sharp watch over the _Brooklyn_, and by such a course saw
very much of what happened off Santiago during those months of June
and July, in the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight.
Surely the stowaway had no cause to complain of his treatment by the
crew of the _Texas_.
Every man did his best to make these waifs from the doomed steamer
feel perfectly at home, and when Bill Jones brought his sea-chest
aboard, as he did the day following their abandonment of the
_Merrimac_, there was not a man on the battle-ship who did not suppose
Teddy's dunnage was in the same capacious receptacle.
Rations were served to the stowaway the same as to any member of the
crew, and then he and Bill Jones were called upon for some trifling
duty, but as the latter said, there was no more work than was good for
them by way of exercise.
In the most pleasant fashion possible the time passed until the
_Merrimac_ was made ready for her doom, and these two comrades, for it
can well be supposed they were become fast friends, saw all the
preparations without being obliged to do any of the disagreeable work.
There was hardly an hour during these days of labour when the two did
not hear Lieutenant Hobson's plans discussed, and they knew to the
slightest detail all he proposed to do.
[Illustration]
"Here is the way he'll sink our craft, 'cordin' to all I've heard,"
Bill Jones said to Teddy when the two were alone for a short time on
the afternoon after it had been reported on board the _Texas_ that
everything was ready for the desperate venture. "He'll run at about
ten-knot speed until four hundred yards or less past the Estrella
battery, or, in other words, till he's in the narrowest part of the
channel. Then he'll put the helm hard aport, stop the engines, drop
the anchors, open the sea connections, touch off the torpedoes, an'
leave the old hooker blockin' up the entrance to Santiago Harbour."
"He can't do all that alone," Teddy suggested.
"Of course he can't, else why is he takin' a crew with him? I'm told
that this is the exact way he counts on workin' it. There'll be four
men on deck besides himself, an' two in the engine-room; all of 'em
will be stripped down to their underclothes, an' with revolvers an'
ammunition strapped in water-tight packin' to their waists. One will
be forward with an axe to cut the lashings of the anchor when the word
is given. Of course Hobson signals the engineers to stop the engines,
then the fellow forward cuts the anchor loose; some one below smashes
the sea connections with a sledge-hammer when the machinery stops, and
all hands jump overboard, countin' on swimmin' to the boat that's
bein' towed astern. The lieutenant himself touches the button that
explodes the torpedoes, an' then over he goes; it's a case of every
man for himself once the work is begun. The steamer is bound to go
down athwart the channel, an' there you have the entrance to Santiago
Bay shut up as tight as Admiral Sampson can wish."
Teddy did not venture any criticism. He had heard the subject
discussed so often that there was nothing new he could suggest, and it
seemed wisest to hold his tongue.
On the close of this day word was passed among the crew of the _Texas_
that the venture would be made during the coming night, and the two
visitors from the _Merrimac_ were on deck from sunset until sunrise.
The work of preparing the big collier was continued throughout the
entire night, and just at daybreak she got under way, as if to begin
the voyage which it seemed certain could end only with the death of
all; but before the men on the battle-ship had time to give her a
parting cheer, she put back to her station, because, as some of the
men declared, the admiral had given positive orders for her to wait
until another night.
Twenty-four hours of additional preparation; as many of speculation
and discussion among those who were refused an opportunity to offer
their lives as a sacrifice, and then came the moment when Teddy was
awakened from his sleep by Bill Jones, who said, as he shook the lad
roughly:
"Get on deck, my hearty, get on deck! This time there'll be no mistake
as to the sailin', an' if you want to see the last of the _Merrimac_,
now's your chance!"
The stowaway did not wait for a second invitation, and a moment later
he formed a small portion of the human fringe which overhung the
_Texas's_ rail, peering out across the waters where, by the pale light
of the moon, could be seen the doomed steamer.
It was even possible to distinguish the forms of her crew as they
stood well forward, much as though taking a last look at the fleet,
and, near at hand, the tiny launch from the _New York_, which was to
follow the collier in with the hope of picking up some of her brave
crew when they leaped into the water.
Among all that throng of men on the _Texas_ hardly a word was spoken
as the _Merrimac_ slowly got under way. Every one remained silent as
if under the spell cast by the bravery of those who were literally
taking their lives in their hands that the starry flag might wave
triumphant.
Boldly the collier steamed in toward the coast, being lost to view
immediately she got under the shadow of the high hills at the entrance
of the bay, and a mile or more astern the tiny launch puffed her way
along as if conscious that this morning's work was of extreme
importance.
Then both craft were swallowed up by the gloom, and yet that throng of
men overhanging the _Texas's_ rail remained motionless, waiting with
an anxiety that was most intense for some sign which would give token
of their shipmates' fate.
During half an hour every man waited in keenest suspense, never one
venturing to so much as speak, and then from the heights at the
entrance of the harbour the flash of a gun streamed out.
It came almost in the nature of a relief, for every one knew that the
_Merrimac_ was nearing her destination at last.
The suspense was at an end, whatever might be the result, and even
Teddy Dunlap believed he could predict the close of that most
desperate venture.
Within ten seconds after the first flash, another was seen, then a
third, and a fourth, until it was no longer possible to count them.
The heights guarding the channel appeared to be ablaze; but yet not a
sound could be heard.
The blockading squadron were so far away that the reports were lost in
the distance.
Then the eager men found tongue, and it was as if each spoke at the
same instant, giving no heed as to whether his neighbour replied.
During full twenty minutes these silent flashes could be seen in the
distance, and then they died away just as the gray light of the coming
dawn appeared in the eastern sky.
"It's all over!" Bill Jones said, as he laid his hand on Teddy's
shoulder. "I reckon the old _Merrimac_ is layin' in the channel to
keep the Spaniards from sneakin' out; but them as carried her in so
bravely are past all troubles of this world's makin'. It's great to be
a hero; but the glory of it is soon over!"
"Do you suppose they've all been killed?" Teddy asked in a whisper,
for it was much like speaking in the presence of the dead.
"There's little doubt of it, lad. Think you a craft like the
_Merrimac_ could stand the storm of shot and shell that was poured on
her from the time we saw the first flash? Just bear in mind that every
puff of flame betokened a chunk of iron large enough to sink this 'ere
battle-ship, if it struck her fairly, an' you can have a fair idee of
how much chance those poor fellows stood."
[Illustration]
Among all the crew there was hardly one who did not share this opinion
with Bill Jones. To them, the heroes who went smilingly to their death
had left this world for ever, and yet the men continued to overhang
the rail, awaiting the return of the launch, with the idea that when
she arrived they might hear something of importance.
Not until three hours later did the little craft show herself, and
then she came out from under the shadow of the land followed by a
shower of missiles from the big guns ashore.
The men on the _Texas_ were forced to wait some time before learning
what information she brought, for the launch went directly to the _New
York_, as a matter of course, and several hours elapsed before the
crew heard all that could then be told.
This was to the effect that the tiny boat followed the collier until
fire was opened upon the doomed steamer, and she was so enshrouded by
smoke as to be lost from view. Then the launch was headed in under the
batteries, where she remained until daylight on the lookout for a
swimmer.
At five o'clock in the morning no sign of life had been seen, and the
little craft made for the fleet, followed by a rain of shot from the
shore batteries.
While crossing the harbour entrance one spar of the _Merrimac_ was
seen sticking out of the water, and thus it was known that the little
band of braves had done their work faithfully, at whatever cost to
themselves.
There was neither jest nor careless word among the crew of the
battle-ship during this forenoon; even Bill Jones remained almost
absolutely silent. It seemed that they stood in the presence of death,
and more than one acted as if believing he was taking part in the
funeral services of those who had so lately been among them.
Teddy had seen every man who went to make up that devoted crew, and to
him it was as if his personal friends had met their death; but in such
a brave fashion that it would have been almost a crime to mourn their
taking off.
Then, like a flash of lightning from a clear sky, came the joyful news
that every man among that band who had devoted themselves to death,
was yet among the living, and comparatively uninjured.
It was almost incredible information, and yet, because of its source,
no one could doubt it.
At two hours past noon, while the men of the _Texas_ were sheltering
themselves from the burning rays of the sun and discussing for the
hundredth time the last probable moments of their shipmates, a
steam-launch, carrying a white flag, put out from the harbour, making
directly for the flag-ship _New York_.
At the time no one fancied for a single moment that the coming of this
craft could have any connection with those who had left the station to
wreck the _Merrimac_, but there were some who suggested that the
Spaniards were ready to surrender, and, in support of this theory,
cited the fact that the royal squadron was bottled up so tightly it
could never be used against the United States.
Others declared that the Spanish admiral was about to make an offer of
compromise, and not a few believed the flag of truce had to do with
the capitulation of the city of Santiago de Cuba.
Not a man was prepared for the news which floated from ship to ship,
no one could say exactly how; but in less than an hour from the time
the launch made fast alongside the _New York_, it was known that she
brought a message from Admiral Cervera, commander of the Spanish
fleet, to the effect that the crew of the _Merrimac_ had been
captured, and were held as prisoners of war.
[Illustration]
Lieutenant Hobson was uninjured, and only two of the party had been
wounded slightly.
It seemed too good to be true, but when the men realised that this
information must be correct, that it had been sent by a generous
enemy, they spent a good five minutes cheering alternately for those
who had escaped after having gone down into the very jaws of death,
and for that gallant Spaniard who, recognising bravery even in his
foe, had taken the trouble to announce the safety of those who were
battling against him.
"It's what I call a mighty fine thing for the old admiral to do," Bill
Jones said, as he held forth to a gun's crew with whom he and Teddy
messed. "It ain't every officer as would go out of his way to send
such news as that, an' if Admiral Cervera should ever fall into my
hands as a prisoner of war, he can count on bein' treated like a white
man."
There was a roar from Bill's auditors at the intimation that the
commander of the Spanish fleet might ever be captured by that sailor,
for by this time all had come to know him as a "plain, every-day
sailor, with not a fightin' timber in him;" but not a man within sound
of his voice cared to contradict him.
On that night, after the subject of the venture and its sequel had
been discussed until worn threadbare, the little sailor said to Teddy,
as if telling him some important truth:
"You'll see great doin's now, lad, an' it wouldn't give me such a
terrible surprise to know that the war was ended within the next
twenty-four hours, for them bloomin' Spaniards in Santiago must
understand by this time that the sooner they give in whipped, the less
of a lickin' they're like to get."
And Teddy, thinking more of his own condition than the glory of the
country, asked, with no slight distress of mind:
"If it should come to a stop as soon as that, how could I ever get
word to father? Of course the _Brooklyn_ would go right home, an' I'd
be left here."
"I'll take care of that, lad," Bill Jones replied, in a tone of
assurance. "Never you have a fear but that I'll see she don't leave
this station till you've had a chance to go on board long enough to
sort out the coal-passers."
FOOTNOTE:
[Footnote 1: "The Boys of '98."]