Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1898-06-15
DAILY INDEPENDENT.
WEDNESDAY. JUNE Is. 1893
The Sinking of the Merrlmac.

The sinking Of the Merrimac at the
narrow entrance to Santiago Harbor
is one of those events winch almost
reconcile one to war, as affor6ing an
opportunity for the noblest traits of
human nature. The device itself, the
skillful planning Of it, the scientific
knowledge used In summoning to its
successful Accomplishment the re-
sources Of modern knowledge OF na.
lures forces, the cool, calculating
forethought, the calm indifference to
danger and expected death, the eager
volunteering of four hundred men for
service which required but eight.
the hasty farewells between the for
lorn hope and their disappointed
companions who could not join the
expedition, the refusal of the men to
sail in under Spanish colors as though
the Merrimac were a blockade-rnn-
ner pursued by the American fleet,
their grim determination to die under
the American flag honestly flying
rather than accept an additional
chance of safety by sailing under
false colors, the steaming deliberately
into the jaws of DEATH the GOODNESS OF
courage which courted the double
peril OF deliberate shipwreck and
fierce bombardment, the anxious
waiting Of the American fleet outside,
and the still more anxious waiting Of
the little launch and its final return |
i'll the. gray of the dawn in the pa
thetic conviction that the advent
urOuI shipmates had perishel, and
with no real assurance that they had
not persisted in vain; the audacIty of
the forlorn hope i'll snrrerdering
themselves to the foe whom by their
exploit they had imprisoned in San
tiago Harbor as effectually as if they
had locked and barred an iron door
upon them; the chivalric recognition
In the Spaniard Of the bravery which
had dared so much and achieved so
much, his quick perception Of the
anxiety which his eneuIies would feel
for their companions fate, and his
sending ont Il message to relieve that
anxiety and give Information of the
safety Of the adventures unite 10
present picture Of combined intel
igence, skill, beroism, and generous
appreciation for which we think it
would he difficult to find parallel,
and impossible to find a superior, in
the annals of chivalry, ancient or
modern.
Two linen stand ont in this drama
rs the central figures, though not
more heroic or more chivalric than
the men whom they respectively rep
resent. These men are Lieutenant
Richard Pearson Hobson and Adj
miral Cervera. IIonors will fall thick
and fast upon the former--not too
many, not more than he deserves
For he is apparently as n ode st rs NE
ID heroic; and his bravery Ia of that
unconscious kind winch constitutes
the highest type. 1t is probable, ON
the other hand, that the American
press will give less credit than should
be given to Admiral Cervera. Amer
leans have known that the Spanish
were brave fighters, hut have not
credited the III with tineness of feeling.
and especially rot with largeness of
human sentiment and sympatby.
Yet there is nothing finer in human
nature than the capacity to sec and
to admire noble qualities in one who
Is doing you mortal injury. IL
Weyler is an illustration Of one type
Of Spanish character, it is fair to be.
ieve that Cervera is an illustration of
a very different type. 1t is pathetic
that such man as Cervera should
be fighting to defend such policy
as that Of Weyler. When the war is
over, wc believe it will Ne found TINT
Cervera's ohivalric action will prove
itself to be that OF peacemaker, be-
cause IL will win The resnect ~ oil