The _St. Paul_ was too quick
for her; crowding on all steam, the collier was soon overtaken and
stopped by a solid shot fired across her bows. A prize crew was put on
board and the vessel sent to Key West.
The _St. Paul_ is off again; her destination is, however, a secret.
Another "great victory" was reported by the Spaniards on June 4th. In
the despatch from Madrid it was stated that one of our most powerful
vessels attempted to enter the harbor of Santiago de Cuba and had been
blown up by a torpedo and sunk, her crew of six men and one officer
being captured. There was something very inconsistent about the
statement "most powerful vessel" with a crew of six men and one officer,
but apparently the Spaniards overlooked this. The fact of the matter is
that Admiral Sampson decided to close the harbor effectually, and in
order to do this sent the collier _Merrimac_ to the entrance of the
channel and had her sunk there.
This brilliant exploit was planned by a young officer, Lieut. Richmond
Pearson Hobson, who with seven volunteers carried it out in a most
gallant way.
At this distance and without experience of the fearful effect of modern
gunnery, we cannot appreciate what a dangerous errand these brave men
undertook. To sail close under the guns of many batteries and forts,
through a narrow channel known to be mined, was to face death, and
almost sure death--an act which will make their names famous. Yet when
volunteers were called for, every man stepped forward and begged to be
taken.
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