The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-06-18
CARROLL SOLDIER BOYS.
Two Letters from Harry Huber and One
from W. R. Reese.

The following letters from Carroll county's
sailor boy, on board the New York, were
received since the publication of his previous
letters:
u s. FLAGSHIP New YORK, KEY WEST, FIAT
MAY 20, 1885.
DEAR BRorHER.-I received your letter and
would have answered it but was taken sick and
have been so ever since. Weare just in from Porto
bark bound from Montevideo to Havana. We put
q prlze crew aboard her and sent her here, where
she arrived two days after we did.
The oregon is here coaling ship. The protected
cruiser New Orleans is also here. sac is fine
looking ship We are bnsy coalingIa schooner on
one side of us and barge on the other.
Send me writing paper and envelopes, because
l can't get ashore to get any.
= ms letter is not long one, as you see put m
you brother HARRY.
The second letter WAS received on Monday
last, the 18th, and was written 10 his sister
MARGARET.
L. 5. FLAGSHIP NEW YORK,
OFF THE COAST OF CUBA, JUNE ), 1898
DEAR SISTER, received your letter while was
at Key West, but was taken sick the same day that
received it. 1 was sick ior a week. While sick
1 wrote letter to Winter. We left Key West soon
er than supposed would. else would nave
answered your letter, and this has been my first
chance since.
We now back again in front of the harbor
ana forts Of Santiago de Cuba suppose you nave
heard of the way we have shut up the Spanish
feet here.
1t had been intended to sink the collier Merrimac
on Wednesday night, 1st of June, at three O'CLOCK
in the morning, but arrangements were not COM
pleted in time, so it was put off until the following
night. 1t determined, if possible, to SINK the
collier across the entrance to the harbor so that
not a single ship could cross the channel Inc
ed n up TO mag IN IS but
single vessel can pass. 1t was at one OF THESE
places that the Merrimac was sunk. A.. w..
About three o'clock i'll the morning the New
York's steam launch left our ship in the wake OF
the Merrimac and followed it until nearly under
the guns of the Spanish forts and took off all but
seven from the collier. These seven were TO carry
the ship to the narrow channel, drop the anchors
sink the vessel and then get back to our launch by
boat or raft as best they could. The Merrimac was
sunk all right but the men never came back, at
least not yet. Our steam launch waited until day
light and then returned, reporting TO the admiral
the successful blocking of the channel but that all
the men were probably lost. The boys on the
launch told us that they could see the Merrimac s
tops plainly from the entrance Admiral Sanp-
son stationed ships all along the beach and kept
strict lookout but the men were nowhere to be
seen.
The Merrimac was sunk by exploding eight
eight-inch powder tanks under the snip, each
fastened to the other and to the ship with heavy
lines These tanks were flied with the same klnd
of powder that we use use in our elght-lnch guns
and wire run down into the tanks from the
top. An electric primer was put on each end and
i'll the centre these were connected with single
wire that ran to the top of the bridge One of the
men stood bv on life-raft upon which they were
to Jump or swim to the moment the button was
touched from the bridge. and then endeavor to
reach the New York's launch
About three o'clock in the afternoon following
the explosion Spanish tug was sighted coming
our boats met her and found that it was Spanish
officer who desired to our admiral. He came
aboard our ship and met Admiral Sampson in the
cabin l understand that the object of his visit
was to inform the admiral that the men were prs-
oners and were in need of clothing. He said that
they were taken from the raft by of their boats
He spoke highly of the bravery of our boys. He
remained about half an hour and then left with a
lot of clothing.
On Friday night, 3rd, about midnight the New
Orleans opened fire object that looked like =.
| torpedo boat We sounded general quarters and
Sta beach. Within half a
shore we something that had the appearance
of torpedo boat that was close i'll shore We
opened fire on it, and kept it up about five mill
utes, when suddenly the torpedo boat or whatever
| it was disappeared Yesterday afternoon while
! our torpedo boat-the Porter-was cruising along
| shore it found an eneXploded torpedo of Spanish
manufacture. The crew took it aboard and found
that it had been fired, but had failed to explode.
1t was probably fired at the New Orleans the night
| before, but missed its mark
| This morning we received fifteen apprentice
! boys from a transport that came from Key West.
lam pretty well again, but let me tell you the
| heat down here is fearful. With love to all re-
MAN, your brother, HAIRY.