The evening times., 1898-06-07

New York. June THE Herald print.
Che following story describing the true,
between Admirals Cervera and Sampson
af.er the sinking of the Merrimac in the
channel at Santiago. 1t is dated Oh board
the Herald dispatch boat, off Santiago de
Cuba, Friday. via Port Antonio. Monday
Hobson and the seven other heroes OF
the Merrimac are safe. Admiral Cerve-
ra. as,onished by their bravery and filled
with admiration for the GOODNESS and
daring of their matchless exploit has
sent word to Admiral Sampson that.
though they are prisoners. they will be
treated as friends. Besides Offering TO
exchange them for Spanish prisoners.
held by the Americans, he accompanies
the suggestion with words of the warm
est and most enthusiastic praise of Hob
Son and his men.
Admiral Cervera's offer was brought
10 Admiral Sampson under flag OF truce
this afternoon by Capt. Bustamense y
Ovideo. the Spanish commanders chief
of staff Through him Cervera told Samp-
son that never had he seen deed SO
daring; never had he seen such magnifi-
cent strategy, SO coolly and perfectly
carried out.
Cervera's message continued in these
glowing words:
your boys will be all right in our
hands Daring like theirs makes a Bit
terest enemy proud that his fellow-men
can be such heroes. Afterward they were
taken to the city of Santiago. and then
to the MORO. where they are prisoners
hut are friends. Everything Is being
done to make their stay with us COM
Portable. If you want to send anything
TO them we will cheerfully take 1t"
Admiral Sampson in reply thanked the
Spanish admiral through Capt. Ovideo for
his courtesy and generosity. and had an
abundant supply of money and clothing
sent to the hero prisoners.
When the Spanish captain. after his
conference with Admiral Sampson, was
about to leave the flagship he stood for
a moment at the rail before descending
the iron ladder to the waiting launch
and swept a few keen glances over the
great fleet of American ships OF war
which were spread in majestic circle
about the New York. That he was deep
ly impressed by what he saw IN these
rapid glances was evident. but he said
nothing.
As he went over the vessels side the
officers of the New York saluted him
and he returned the courtesy while the
American jackies and marines stood at
attention. The New York's launch took
Capt Ovideo back to the tug Colon.
which had brought him out to the con-
ference, and that small vessel at once
turned about and steamed into the har-
bor of Santiago.
AS she passed under the shadow OF
MORO Castle her white flag came dowr
and the temporary truce was at an end
The whole American fleet was in a bunch
less than two miles off shore and offer
ang a tempting mark, but not a gun wa:
fired by the Spaniards.
All that passed between Capt. Ovide'
and Admiral Sampson Is not known. bu
the officers of the flagship are confident
that Cervera has no intention of surren
dering Capt. Ovideo reported that two
of Hobson's men. whose names he did moi
know. were slightly wounded. The Others
escaped without a scratch. There was
general qualification in the fleet that the
brave Americans had fallen into the hands
of Spanish naval officers and had not
been captured by the army ashore. Be-
fore he left Admiral Sampson Capt. Owl
deo expressed surprise at the wAalth OF
a nation which could afford tqE sink a
three hundred thousand dollar S'essel to
block Santiago channel.
While the temporary truce prevailed
and during Capt. Ovideo's conference
with Admiral Sampson, the Herald dis
channel of Santiagos harbor and went
within two miles of Morro Castle. Enough
was seen to indicate that there is some
Doubt whether the sunken Merrimac
blocks the channel completely. An excel
lent view of the wreck was obtained.
About ten feet of her smokestack and
mast could be seen. She lies in about
seven fathoms of water. but not directly
across the channel, and it looks as if a
large vessel might pass around her.
1t would be comparatively easy for the
Spaniards to blow her up and clear the
channel but they will probably not do so,
as she prevents ingress as well as egress
and increases their security.
From the deck of the Herald's dispatch
boat a rowboat was seen examining the
wreck of the Merrimac, which contains
2.o00 tons of coal. 1t is not believed that
the Spaniards have any means of raising
the wreck or the coal. 1t is probable the
wreck will be useful as an object lesson
to the Spaniards in American bravery as
In any other way. The same men. they
will realize, who tooks in the Merrimac
could have taken in a torpedo boat. Their
mines would have served the Spaniards
in little stead. and once past the entrance
of the harbor the searchlight on Moro
could not be turned on the daring intrud-
ers. The Merrimac incident and the fleets s
re-enforcements are believed to have de-
moralized tn Spaniards. Capt. Ovideo GER
tainly looked respondent when he con-
templated our ships.