THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. 322 confidently announcedthat the Spanish fleet was successfully bottled up. As a plain matter of fact, the enterprise had failed. From Ramsden's diary we get a precise description of the position of the wreck. Under date of Sunday, June 12th, he writes:— "I have now ascertained that the Merrimac is sunk twelve fathoms, halfway between Smith Cay and Soldados Point, which latteris the onejust opposite to Churruca Point, just across the entrance of Nispero Bay. Between the ship and the shoal on the Smith Cay side there are 45 metres of channel,and house or chart-room roof, and therefore blowing away her chimney and masts the channel will be clear right overher." Comparing this statement with our plan of the harbour it will be seen that theMerrimac went down far beyondthespotthat Hobson had chosen. Even if she had been actually sunk in the narrowsit is verylikely that the Spaniards wouldhave been able to clear the obstruction away with dynamite. But though Hobson's plan thus failed,his splendid daring in its execution madethe sinking of the Merrimac oneof the most notable incidents of the whole war. Even the fame of Admiral Dewey was eclipsed by that of young Lieutenant Hobson in the popular mind throughout the United States.

35 between her and the shoal on the other side ; therefore there is plenty of room for a vessel to pass on either side of her. Again, there are six fathoms of water over her bridge and round-U.S. GUNBOAT "CASTIN.''