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T had always been my inclination to enlist in the American Navy as fireman. I saw my opportunity on the 21st of April, 1898, when the war broke out between the United States and Spain. On that date, I went on board the U. S. R. S. Franklin at the Navy Yard, Norfolk, Va., and through a special request, enlisted for one year. I passed all the required examinations, having had ten years of experience in the merchant service, in engine and fire rooms, as well as on deck. The next day after enlisting, I was detailed to go on board the Merrimac, which was then loaded with coal for the use of Rear-Admiral Sampson's fleet, then blockading the island of Cuba. Arriving at Key West on the 7th of May, we anchored outside all the fleet which was there at that time. I passed the remark to my shipmates that it looked as if they were going to leave us there for a target, we lying so far out to sea, and on the 17th, when we received orders to paint her all black, over her war color, I believed it still more. But all such thoughts soon vanished, for on the night of the 19th, we got orders to get ready for sea and to proceed to Cienfuegos to meet Schley's fleet, which was there at that time watching the harbor, in which Cervera and his ships were thought to be.

On the 24th, we got a signal from the Brooklyn to go along

* Mr. Kelly was the only man below the deck of the Merrimac after she came well within range of the Spanish guns. He gives a most interesting statement of one of the bravest deeds of history.

THE PUBLISHERS.

side the U. S. S. Massachusetts and give her all the coal she wanted. As we had over 5,000 tons aboard, several small ships of the fleet came alongside and took on coal.

On May 28, we were compelled to leave early, proceed to Santiago, and begin coaling the remainder of the ships as soon as possible, because the Commander-in-Chief wanted to have the Merrimac dismantled so that she could be sunk in the harbor of Santiago de Cuba, to bottle up the Spanish fleet, which, by that time, was known to be there and not at Cienfuegos.

It was the first day of June when we were ordered to dismantle her. At that time she had on board about 2,500 tons of coal. Then the crew got orders from Lieutenant Gilmore to take all their clothes and transfer them to the Massachusetts. After this, the crew of the Massachusetts began to dismount the Merrimac's guns and her other gear. At the same time, a working party from the flag-ship New York was detailed for the cable to be run right aft, so that when we should enter the harbor of Santiago, we might be held by an anchor aft as well as fore.

On that same day, the first of June, at four o'clock in the afternoon, Admiral Sampson on the bridge of the New York signaled to the fleet, asking for volunteers to go in and designedly sink the Merrimac in the entrance to Santiago harbor.

At the same hour, Mr. Crank, chief engineer of the Merrimac, came down into the engine room along with Lieutenant Hobson, for the purpose of showing him all the connections. of the keelson valves on board, which might be of use in assisting to sink her. He also showed him the bunker doors which we had opened. When those seven mines, which were hanging over the port side under water, should be connected and exploded, that side of the ship would be blown in, the water would rush through those bunker doors, and fill up fireroom, engine-room, and holds numbers one, two and three. Hold number three had been filled with coal for our own use. It was all gone. We had cut two holes in the wooden bulkhead twenty feet in diameter, which would allow the water to travel from hold number three to holds numbers two and one. So, you see, we were prepared to make a good job of it,

Now I, Francis Kelly, was present with Mr. Crank and Lieutenant Hobson when all these things were being discussed. After the plan of action had been decided upon, Lieutenant Hobson went up on deck.

As Mr. Crank still stopped in the engine-room, I asked him if he was going into the harbor with her. He answered that he was going, as far as he knew. By this time it was six o'clock at night. Then I asked Mr. Crank if I could get to go in along with him, as I had heard that our machinist, George Phillips, was going in with him.

He asked me if I was willing to go. I answered that I certainly was, and that was the reason I had asked him. Then he wanted to know if I realized the job I was about to undertake. I told him I did. Then he took me up from the engine-room to the bridge, where were Commander Miller of the Merrimac and Lieutenant Hobson. Mr. Crank said to Commander Miller,-" Here is Kelly, the water tender, who wants to go in along with us to help sink the Merrimac." Lieutenant Hobson asked from what ship I came. Mr. Crank told him that I was one of the Merrimac's own crew. Then Lieutenant Hobson said he didn't want any of her own crew; that the men he wanted were volunteers. Mr. Crank said, “I am going in with her myself, so I would like to have Kelly and Phillips along with me, as they thoroughly understand the work they have got to do. I do not think I could get better men for the same job, as they understand the run of the ship." Then Lieutenant Hobson called me by name. Kelly, go and get Phillips, as I want to see you together." You see, the flag-ship New York was supposed to chase the Merrimac into the harbor, firing blank shots. blindfold the Spaniards, and make them believe Spanish ship that the New York was chasing. was expected about this time by the Spaniards with provisions for their fleet. In reality, the New York had captured this merchantman several days before.

This was to that it was a Such a ship

When we both came back to Lieutenant Hobson, he gave us the following instructions. The signal, two bells, was to mean that I was to knock the bonnets of the keelson valves and cut the pipes. When this had been done below, I was to

come on deck, go to the bridge and report to Lieutenant Hobson that I had performed my duty. I was then to lie down on the bridge. Then Lieutenant Hobson was to signal one bell to Phillips, the machinist, to stop the engines. As soon as this was done, I was to leave the bridge, dive overboard and get into a small boat that had been towed alongside the Merrimac. In this boat we were supposed to make good our escape if possible. After I got into the boat, I was to cut away the lines fore and aft which held her to the Merrimac. By that time Phillips would be up on deck from the engine-room to report to Lieutenant Hobson. I was supposed to have pulled the boat about twenty yards from the side of the Merrimac and to be ready to pick up the remainder of the crew. At this time Lieutenant Hobson would give the word of command to let go the two cables as he was putting her across the entrance of the harbor, and, by that same command, the rest of the crew were to dive overboard and swim for the small boat which I was keeping ready for them. The crew would not mind the swimming part of it as we were all supposed to be good swimmers. Lieutenant Hobson was to be the last man to leave the Merrimac. He was to stand on the bridge and touch the button which connected the mines hanging on her port side and so explode them. We were also told that if the small boat in which the crew was to escape was blown up by the Spanish, we would have to swim over three miles. Now those three miles of water were alive with sharks, and before we could strike the beach it would be necessary for us to pass among all those man-eaters. The clothing we had for that trip was very light, consisting of a pair of pants cut off above the knees, a life belt, a revolver and belt and thirty-six rounds of ammunition well covered with tallow to prevent the water getting to them, and three pairs of stockings. We had to have as many as that on our feet, to keep them from being cut should we have the good luck to get to the beach. These were Lieutenant Hobson's instructions, knowing that the flag-ship New York would have a steam launch cruising around the entrance of the harbor looking for us.

On the first of June, at eight o'clock in the evening, Admi