Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-06-09
WAR!

WAR!
No decisive blow has been struck
during the week by either contendine
party, in fact the interest in war in the
busy centers has abated slightly and
people are again attending to theil
business interests. 1t is true thai
Commodore Schley did lombard some
OF the forts about the mouth of Santi
ago harbor last week, but this was tt
develop the strength and location Of
the batteries of the enemy, but fol
that and the sinking of the Merrimat
which we give below, the war centers
have been without peculiar incident
1t is known that about 10000 troops
have been sent somewhere, but theil
exact destination has not been learned
though it is believed that they will &c
to Santiago and San Juan, Porto Rico
1t seems to be the purpose Of the
President to strike an effective blow
at these two points and leave Blancc
at Havana undisturbed until the prop
er time arrives for his surrender, which
must follow the two events at Sar
Juan and Santiago.
The most noted event of the week
was that of Lieut.. Hobson, who with
six men, took the Merrimac, large
coal ship, into the narrows at the
mouth of'Santiago harbor and when
in the proper position blew her up
with a torpedo and shut Cervera in. II
will now be necessary for Cervera tc
remove this sunken vessel before he
can bring out a single war ship. We
give the reports of the act which was
one of the bravest in history.
Lieut.. Hobson and six men were
chosen, and at 8 a. m. Friday morning
the Merrimac, under her own steam,
entered the channel under terrible
Spanish fire. The vessel was riddled
with projectlles, but she anchored and
swung around. Lieut.. Hobson then
set off an internal torpedo, with an
electrical attachment, there was ar
explosion, the Merrimac sank, the
channel was closed, and apparently
Cervera will BIZ unable to escape.
Hobson and the heroic crew OF the
Merrimac were saved in the following
manner. Unable, after the sinking Of
their vessel, to make their way back
through the storm of shot and shell
they rowed into the harbor to the
Spanish flagship, and were taken or
board unframed.
The Spanish admiral, under a flag
of truce, sent word to Admiral Samp
son offering to exchange the prisoners
and saving that In the mean time
Lieut. Hobson and his men would be
treated with kindness.
The sinking of the collier Merrimat
| in the narrow channel at Santiago, al
act Of heroism unsurpassed in the
annals of naval history, brings glory
and renown to North Carolina anc
Virginia. Lieut.. Hobson, who took
the vessel into death trap, is 6
| North Carolinian, and two of the si1
gallant men who manned the ship iI
the desperate enterprise were Virgin
ians. The engineer of the vessel de
signed to effeetually bottle up the
| Spanish fleet Was also a southerner
being from Texas.
The commander of the Merrimat
was Richmond Pearson Hob son, grand
son of Chief j Justice Pearson of Nortf
Carolina. on his fathers side; nephew
of Congressman Richmond Pearson
and grandson of Governor Moreheai
on his mothers side.
Some fear has been expressed tha
it would be possible for the Spanish
fleet to fire upon the fortifcation
after they had become occupied by
American troops and thus work havoc
among our forces. This possibility
has been provided against. The army
will carry mortars, which will throw
shells directly upon the Spanish fee
from masked batteries and thus de
stroY Cervera's squadron before it ha.
an opportunity to do any damage. Il
| is not expected that Cervera will bt
able to accomplish any harm what
over, especially as he has not an ade
uuate force to land and hold the city
In short, the day of Cervera's useful
ness to his country seems to have
passed. He cannot even send in hi.
resignation, for the cable that com
municates between Santiago and Mad
rid has been cut.
This cutting of the cable also com
pletely isolates Gen. Blanco. The
latter's position is now one of extreme
| unpleasantness. He does not know al
what minute the mammoth fighters
off Havana will commence to throw
their shells into his beleagued town
and in the mean time he must wal,
for his fate in absolute silence. Nc
longer can he send stirring accounts
Of Spanish victories to the Madrid
government.