The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1912-10-25
NAVY COLL|ER'S
CREW FACED BY
A REBEL ARMY
Il FeII to Capt. Merriwether and
Ills Little Force to Guard
the Bridge Leading
to C0rint0.

q copy 70 the New York World o
S'undag October ID, which has beer
received in this city, carries an inter
estIng illustrated story " the achieve
ments Ut a small band OF American
navy attaches under the leadership OF
Capt. Henry Il. Merriwether OF the
collier Justin. The spirit displayed
by the Americans is characteristic OF
the men OF the nation, and the par.
ticularly interesting feature, locally
is the fact that the band OF heroic
patriots were commanded by former
Pascagoula boy, q son Of Judge c. $
Merrlwether. 1t Is very apparent
tat toe liz ehting spirit OF the judge,
SO eoicalIy displayed during and
succeeding the civil war, has been
ilhtr ed by his 500, the young
captain OF the collier
Qapt, Henry r. Merriwether visited
PaScagnula several months ago while
on leave Of absence. He was ac
cnmpanied by hts wife and family,
and were the guests Of his father
Judge Merriwether, and family He
was pleasantly rememhered by many
Of the older inhabitants Of the city
ana made himself warm friends out
of The new comers His term OF SER
vice, and splendid ability shown, have
made 81 i'm one OF the eligible list for
early arnmot!on, and the exploit In
Nicaragua. so interestingly detailed
by the New York World correspond
e1t will, no doubt, insure him as the
chosen une for the deserved promotion
10 the very near future.
From correspondent in Cornto
The World has received an account OF
the recent happenings 10 that trou:
bled seaport Of Nicaragua, and Of
the ane work done by the scant crew
Of tie navy collier Justin, pending
the arrival Of the lighting craft and
marines.
The collier Is under the command
81 Capt Henry +. Metriwether, a
graduate OF the New York nautical
school ship, and the youngest captain
in the auxiliary service OF the navy
tbs narrative, in chronological form
deserted the uprising OF the insur-
gents and the flight OF refugees on
board the collier 1T tells how a de-
tail bad been sept frpm the Justin TO
guard tno consulate, OF the firing on
III outskirts OF the town and the es.
tahiishmrnt 0f a guard over the
bridge leading into CorintO until re
liaYd by detail frum the gunboat
Aubapolis.
Continuing, the account says:
News having been received in Co:
riRto that the rebels had captured |
ChInandega, and were about to move
on Corinto, Capt Merriwether, with
his second officer, E B. Small, Assist
ant Engineers E. L. Samuel aud W.
Il. Little, Quartermaster Dalton, five
men ol the collier's crew and three
blne jackets from the Annapni,
formed the little band that marched
oqt to the bridge TO hold IN check
rebel army numbering several thods-
and men. The only piece OF artillery
that could be spared was six-pound
er. This was mounted on fat car
and moved out to the bridge, along
with 10 rounds OF ammunition.
'On reaching the bridge he six
FOUNDER was put in position to
sweep The structure Three sentries
were thrown out to guard the rear
ana front Of the little detachment
III was fouI d that nn the further side
OF the hridge the rebels had remuved
two rails from the track. 1 he night
passed quietly. and on the following
morning the natives living across the
bridge were warned tn come within
the American hue, as their safety
G. ou'd not he guaranteed ~ Case Oi an
attack During tue day The driech-
heit I 'und time To improvi>e armor
lor he gun, constructing this out Of
pieces Of bi'iler plate. Trenches we're
9 dug and Ties were removed from
th' bridge ST. a. IN hinder the rebels
II in"t should attempt t. carry the
a. n>r- 10y rush
EiFly IN the a't-rnb1n warn nnt
ID" Serger staggered Into camp 10 re
1hfi ip Capt. M-rIis-iirr that Chi
h'i d''rA bad i.,, q captured hy The H.
shi ;"i rn the preceding night: mat
lhe Town bad fallen after six hnur> nf
hl'1 lghting. and that tue rebels
We eparing three trains for an ad,
sinre n Cprinto.
m courier had hardly finished
MS report before the advance guard
oil the horde was deserted. Ii halted
ou the opposite side OF the bridge,
and seme OF the number advanced
bearing flag Of truce. Capt. werri-
We w hei went ont To meet the ENJOYS.
They we're DIR. Gabriel Rivas, DIR. Ed
nirhn Nn1tealegoe. aud Seniors Pla (
lava. Navarro and Valadnres They
nthiint-d the immediate peaceful
slrienier uf Curinun. !.
Tan Mari ftor furafsbcI tho