Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1898-07-09

down when tine news OF the Merrmac
coming was telegraphed, and soldiers
lined the foot of the cliffs, firing wildly
across and killing each other with the
cross fire. The Merrimac's steering
gear broke as she got to Estrella Point.
Only three of the torpedos on her side
exploded when l touched the button.
A huge submarine mine caught her
amldships, hurting the water high in
the air and tearing great rent in the
Merrimac's side.
"lIer stern ran upon Estrella Point.
Chiefly owing to the work done by the
mine she began to sink slowly. At that
time she was across the channel, but be-
fore she settled the tids drifted her
around. We were all aft, lying on the
deck. Shells and bullets whistled
around. Six inch shells from the Viz
caya came tearing into the Merrimac,
crashing into wood and iron and pass
ing clear through, while the plunging
shots from the fort broke through her
decks.
'.N Not q man must move," said,
and it was only owing to the splendid
discipline of the men that we all were
not killed, as the shells rained over us
and minutes became hours Of suspense.
The mems mouths grew parchcd, but
we must lie there until daylight, l told
them. Now and again one or other of
the men, lying with bis face glued to
the deck and wondering whether the
mex, shell would not come our way,
would say, "lIadn't we better drop off
now sirp But | said "Wait till day
light
"It would have been impossible to
get the catamarran anywhere but on to
the shore, where the soldiers stood
shooting, and hoped that by daylight
we might be recognized and saved.
The grand old Merrimac kept sinking.
wanted to 60 forward and see the
damage done, where nearly all the fire
was directed. One man said that if
| rose it would draw all the fire on the
rest. So | lay motionless. 1t was
splendid the way those men behaved.
The fire of the soldiers, the batteries
aad the Vizcaya was awful. When the
when the water came up on the Merri-
macs decks the catamarran tloated
amid the wreckage, but she was still
ma de fast to the boom, and we caught
hold of the edges and clung on. our
heads only being above water.
"One man thought we were safer
right there it was quite light; the fir
ing had ceased except that on the New
York launch, and feared Ensign Newell
and his men had been killed.
"a Spanish launch came toward the
Merrlmac. We agreed to capture her
and run. Just as she came close the
Spaniards saw us and half a dozen mar
ines jumped up and pointed their rifles
at our heads, sticking out of the water
is there any officer in that boat to re-
ceive surrender of prisoners of war?
| shouted. An old man leaned out under
the awning and waved his hand. II
was Admiral Cervera. The marines
lowered their rifles and we were help
ed into the launch.
"Then we were put in cells in Morrc
Castle. 1t was grand sight a few
days later to see the bombardment. The
shells striking and bursting around E
MORO. Then we were taken into San
tiago. had the court martial room il
the barracks. My men were kept prls
oners in the hospital. From my win
dow | could see the army moving ant
it was terrible to see those poor lad
moving across the open and being sho
down by the Spaniards in the rifle pit
in front of me. Yesterday the Span