The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-10
LAST TRIP OF THE MERRIMAC.
Fire to Which She Was Subjected
from the Spanish Forts.

The Galveston (Tex.) News prints a long
letter from Louis Merriman, yeoman on the
battle ship Texas, to his brother, Conductor
ii. Z. Merr1Lnan, OF the Santa Fe Railroad,
in which he says
Last Friday we blocked up the channel
by one of the most daring undertakings tnat
any navy or any country in the world has
ever attempted. 1t was by sinking a coal
laden. transport across the channel, thus
blocking the Spanish fleet inside.
Il had been on watch, deck lookout from
II until a. m, and had gone below for a
short nap, knowing that the attempt would
not be made until some time after 3, and
had told my relief to call me just as soon
as the collier came by us. 1t seemed to me
as though 1 had just dropped to sleep.
though | guess | had been at it for some
time, when he came down and called me.
L lost no time in getting up on deck. Tine
moon had dropped behind mass of clouds,
and it was almost as dark as the inside of
an ink bottle; could not see anything of the
collier, but was told that she had passed US,
steaming direct for the entrance of the har-
bor waited about thee minuteS-eVery-
thing on deck as silent as could be.
Suddenly, right in the entrance a sim
gle gunf1ash told US that she had been
sighted by the enemy, and they. opened up.
At first we could distinguish the separate
flashes from different guns, but almost i'm
mediately it became impossible to tell one
from another 1t was steady rainpour,
one combined solid sheet of fire, with SEEM
ingly not single break in it; looked some
thing like mammoth sheet lightning, only it
did not come and go as does lightning, but
was one continuous, steady glare, which
made the harbOr entrance resemble some
what a monster furnace door thrown WIDE
open, with all the fires of hell raging within
1t was something beyond all previous con-
ception of NINE
could be seen the plucky collier shouted
in clear-cut lines, every spar, mast ana part
of her rigging as distinctly visible as If it
lay before a setting sun. Finally the fire
slackened and she disappeared from sight
though the forts kept up desultory fire at
intervals. We, as a matter of course, gave
Aal fhah VaNy o1 l0I1yc har a. q
had almost been foregone conclusion from
the outset. Just as daylight was breaking
we sighted our steam launch coming. out
from the entrance under heavy nre from
the DagoeS' guns (she had been sent In
there after the collier to try to pick up our
men, who were to jump from the collier
after their work was finished.)
"On she came shell ploWing the water
around her; big SHE'LL too, and it looked as
did it, and came alongside the Texas and re-
ported: Gould not see anything OF our
men, Well, all hands gave sigh for the
memory of our brave shipmates and chaiked
it down as one more score to settle with the
Spaniards when the day of reckoning comes
to us.
the day following the quartermaster on
watch reported boat approaching from the
harbor, flying a fiag of truce: Soon she
came up TO our lines was met by the vixen
Zone OF our scouts) and escorted to the flag
ship. You can imagine the relief OF all
hands when, shortly afterward, the flagshlp
signaled to the fleet to the effect that the
crew of the Merrimac had been taken pris-
oners, and only two of them slightly wound
ed AS we have several Spanish prisoners
they will be exchanged for our men soon
unless we go inside and take EN- back be-
fore the Spanish prisoners arrive. we nave
sent for them, believe.
when you think of the fire that was d.
recteG on that collier as she steamed up the
narrow entrance to the harbor 1t Is nothing
short of miraculous that every man on her
was not blown to atoms. Either one of two
things: The. Dagoes can't shoot straight or
use blank charges. If this work is a sam
pie of their gunnery, feel confident that
they won't be in it with us whenever we
do get ordered to get at en-