Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-06-10
A Heroic Deed

uW day 40, II WI reported 10y
IA, A-,,"iatcl Press that an American
W.r>hp had hrcn blown tap and total
lN DESTROYED l'y the Spaniard-, at sam
tagu. III" account was 50 cIrcum-
~'autial a. To- seem perfectly truthful,
aud IT va r"lruh"ratrd l> subsequent
dI>r.;ci.r~ in which il was stated that
thu enemy, filled with awe at the lrav
~ "i ia" part.clpatur> in the exploit,
allowed the ship to pass over the first
corlpn oi mines and gain full entrance
g. the harbor, when a torpedo sent
from the shore stove great hole in
her side and she sank Immediately,
with all on board. The news, of
course, depressed orr people, although
disa>tcr-and grave di>a>ter-must of
necessity be expected in waging a war
OF such magnitude as this has become.
For several days nothing came, in the
shape Of dispatches, which gave any
different version Of the matter.
This week, however, the truth came
creeping along, and wholly changes
the aspect OF what was, If true, an APP
palling misfortune. 1t turns out to be
daring deed of victory; that the ves-
sci destroyed was the collier Merrimac,
and that instead of being sunk by the
torpedo of an enemy, she was purposcly
blown up by volunteer crew, at the
narrOwc>t point Of the harbor's en-
trance, to seal up Cerveras fleet by an
obstruction that, under the most favor
able circumstances, the dOns would find
some trouble in removing. The prof.
ect was one which had its inception in
a thorough knowledge of the bravery
of the American marines, for it was a
mission of extreme peril. Only six
men were required and over 400 VOL
unteered to go, and two Struggled
themselves aboard against orders, to
share in the honors of the daring ex-
plot.
Lieut.. Hobson, whose name is now
inseparably connected with the deeds
of daring in modern warfare, finally
selected his crew and started to drive
in the cork. 1t may be true that this
nerve and dash elicted the profound
admiration OF the foe, for subsequent
acts show that the Castillian is not
backward in acknowledgment of deeds
OF bravery though performed by the
enemy.
1t was arranged precisely what each
man was to do on board the doomed
vessel at the suspicious moment. The
helmsman was to guide the ship to
the brink of her watery grave, the en-
gineer and fireman were to direct the
last vibrations OF her powerful ma
chinery, to prepare her for immolation,
every man was to do just the thing
required to throw the whole mass into
ruin, and jump into the water, when
the eliminating act of heroism, the
making of electric connection from
the bridge by which four torpedoes,
stored in the hold were to be stimuli
taneously exploded, was still to be per-
formed and it was done by brave Lieu
tenant Hobson. Strange to relate
all the gallant crew live, despite the
fearful ordeal. How Lieutenant Hob
son escaped he hardly knows, for there
was II brief period in which the hu.
man intellect could keep but faint
record of the thrilling passing events
that were making their mark on pages
Of history. All that is known is that
the small boat sent to pick up the dar-
ing crew, although she made most
noble effort to find the crew, was un-
able to do 80, and they floated ashore
on portions of the wreck. They were
Immediately seized by the Spaniards
as prisoners of war, and, under flag
of truce, the gratifying information
was conveyed to their anxious COM
rades on the feet outside the harbor,
with the intimation that they would
be held for exchange.
Probably no more daring exhibition
OF bravery was ever made than that
which accompanied the demolition of
the collier Merrimac in Santiago har-
Dor, on the morning of June 4th.