Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1898-06-10
THE WAR WITH SPAIN.

formed one OF the bravest acts in the
war with Spain, an act that ranks with
C%ushing's attack on the Albemarle
and Decatur's attack on the Philadei-
phia at Tripola. 1t further had the
effect Of showing that Admiral Ger
vera is a good deal more of a man
than the average Spanish officer has
the credit of being. Sampson and
Schley had the Spaniards bottled up
in Santiago harbor. They could keep
them there without much trouble
under ordinary circumstances. But
at this season of the year tropical hur-
ricanes are liable to make themselves
felt, aud the blockading fleet might
be unable tostay of Santiago, and the
Spaniards might escape from the har-
Dor before it could return. The
channel into the harbor is a narrow
one, and if a vessel could be sunk in
the right place the cork would be in
the bottle and Admiral Cefvera could
mot get out OF the harbor. 1T was de-
Icided that a vessel should be sent up.
there and sunk. The collier Merit
mac, an iron ship, whose machinery
was out of killer, was selected. 1t.
was practically certain death to the
crew of the Merrimac, aud Admiral
Sampson would not order any one to-
go, but asked for volunteers. 1t is
said that every man in the fleet
offered to go. Lieutenant HubSon
and six sailors named Daniel Mon
tague, George Charette, j. Il. Muir
phey, Oscar Denigan, John p. Phillips
and John Kelley were selected. Cox
swain Clausen of the New York, stole
aboard the Merrimac and made the
eighth member Of the crew. 4 torpedo
was liked 10 the hull Of the Merrimac
so it could be exploded and the vessel
sunk at the place selected, aud 10 the
darkness the doomed vessel started for
her place OF sepulcburc. There were
chances that she would be sunk by
Spanish shells. mines or torpedoes be-
fore she got To the proper place, and
all her crew killed. If she got to the
proper place the chances are her crew
would be killed by the explosion or by
Spanish bullets, but that made no diff.
ference to the crew, they were ready
and anxious to go. AS soon as the
Spaniards discovered her they began
Chnotfp,r at ba- and cba vunc'hs MANY
times, but not disabled. She was run
to the narrow place IN the %cnaunel,
anchored, and the fuse to the torpedo
was fred and all hands went over
beard. The boat they had intended
10 escape in had been shattered, and.
the only thing they had left was an
old cetamaran. On this they got.
Lieutenant Hobson saw it was u case
OF "HobsUn's CHOICE The bullets
were 50 thick that he never could get
back TO the fleet, so he steered right
UP to Admiral Cervera's vessel and
surrendered as prisoners OF war
Ouly two of the men had been wound
ed and they not severely. Admiral
Cervera was so struck with the reck-
less bravery OF the men that he treat
ed them with all the courtesy Of
prisoners OF war. Under 4 flag OF
trace he sent his chief Of stan out to
Admiral SampsoI's flag ship and
told him that the men were safe,
that none Of them had been Sc
rlOusly hurt, and offered TO exchange
them for any Spanish prisoners that
might be cOadned ia the United
States.
Monday Admiral Sampson did more
shooting at the forts and shit at San
tiago de Cuba. 1t is reported and
denied that a large number of Ameri-
can troops have been landed neal San
tiago, and are helping the insurgents
from the land side make an attack on
the S%paniards In the city,
The S~paniards made an attempt to
dynamite The wreck OF the Merrlmae,
but were driven away. TGe Riena
Mercedes was at this work, and a
twelye-inch shell wrecked her,
A torpedo boat, supposed TO be the
Terror, was discovered trying TO steal
along the shore. She wa hailed, but
made no answer. The Oregon opened
1Fe on her. One OF the twelve inch
shells struck her amldships aud she
was seen no more.
Reports from Admiral Dewey indi-
cate that he is getting along all right.
The insurgents are keeping up a run
ming 1ght with the Spaniards in Ma
nilla, and it may be that To keep from
being overwhelmed by them that
the Spaniards will surrender to Dewey
before the American troops get to the
Philippines.
The Charleston has been reported al
Honolulu, and the Pekin was spoken
about an hundred and fifty miles easi
of that port.
The Arizona & New Mexico railway
is doing so much business that Il. X
Shine cannot attend TO all the worl