Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-06-11
SAMPSON REPORTS HOBSON.
Tells d he Exploit Of he Daring Lieutenant
and Ms Crew.
Many Were ~. omcers and Men willing Ca
Undertake tho Hazardous work
Letter from Csr,ep.

Washington, June 1.-THE navy de-
pirtment today posted tho following
bulletin. giving O. detailed official re-
port from Admiral Sampson upon the
hcrolsm Of Lieut. Hohson and his men
In sinking tho Mcrlmac In the santin-
30 channel;
United states Flagship New York. on
Santiago, June s. is9S:-pcrmit me Go
call your special attention 10 Assistant
Naval Constructor liobHon, A. stated
In special telegram before c1mIns
here. I ordered 20 make hnrbor on-
trance secure against the possibility NJ
eFrcaa By spanish ships by obstruotinr
the narrow part ~ the entrance hy
sinking q collier al that point Upon
calling upon Mr.. Ilobson for his pro.
feHsiunnl opinions aH 20 n sure method
~ sinking the ship he manifested the
most lively interest IN the problem, Ar
ter several days consideration he pre-
Hontcd q solution which he considered
would Insure the immediate sinking Of
the shin whom she reached the desired
point In the channel This plan we
prepared Tor execution when we
reached Santiago, The plan snntem-
plated crew ~ only seven men. and
MIR. HOhson, who begged that II might
be- entrusted ~ him The anchor chains
were arranged on deck Tor both the
anchors forward ana MT. tho plan
including tho anchorinT NJ the nhlp AL
most automatically As soon nf
reached Santiago ana ! hnd tho collier
10 work upon. the details were com.
uIrird ana diligently prosecuted, hop.
Ing a. complete them In one day rs
the moon and tide served hest the first
night after our arrival NOtwlthHtlnd-
INK. tho hour ~ four o'clock In tho
morning arrived, ana preparation was
scarcely completed. After careful In
spectlon N the final preparations was
forced 90 relingulsh the plan FOR that
morning nH dawn was hrenlllnT Mr.
iIOhann begged tu try II a. an hazards
This morning proved more prnpitinua
~ prompt start was made, SOth-
Ing could have been more calamity
executed, We waited lmnatlently af.
ter the firing hN The SpnninrdH had
ceased. when they did not renppenf
from the hnrbor, feared that they had
all persisted A steam launch, which
had been sent lu charge of Naval
cadet Powell 10 rescue the mon, np-
peared at this time coming out under
q persistent IRE NJ the batteries, but
brought none ~ the crew. A careful
inspection Of the hnrhor from shin
showed that the vessel Merrlmac had
been sunk In the channel,
This afternoon the chief NJ stan ~
Admiral Crryorn came ont under a flnE
uf truce with letter from the admiral,
eNtolllnr the bravery of the crew IN an
unusual manner
! cannot myself too earnestly exc
press my appreciation NJ the conduct
nt Mr.. lohrnn and his gallant crew,
venture tn say that e moro brave ANA
daring thing has not boon done since
Cu7hinW blow up the Alhemnrle.
referring t1 tho inHn.rng letter
which was addressed t0 tho officers al
The beginning ~ tho war I am sure
you VIII offer suitable professional
reward 20 Mr. Iiobson and his COM
paniona
must ndd that Commander J. "
Miller rcllnqulshed his command with
the very greatest reluctance believing
he would retain his command under
an circumstances. He was, however.
finally convinced that the attcmpt ~
another person 20 carry ont the null
tltude Of details which had been In
preparation by Mr.. Hobson might en-