Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-06-07
LIEUT.. HoBsON's PLANS WORKED
TO A NICETY.
MERRIMAC is WELL LOCATED
LIES ACROSS THE CHANNEL EXACT
LY WHERE SHE SHOULD BE.
Captain Miller, of the Merrimac. Tells
the Story of the Daring Expedi-
tion-ChivalrOus Action of
the Spanish Toward
-, Their Captives.

KEY WEST, FLA. June 6.-Captain
Miller, of the collier Merrimac, arrived
here to-day. He said:
Lieutenant Hobson's act was the brav-
est I ever saw or heard of. The idea was
to block the narrow exit from the harbor.
Whether Hobson proposed sinking the
Merrimac or not, do not know, for he
arranged the details between himself and
the commander. Every officer and man IN
the fleet would have volunteered to go, but
Hcbson, being a naval constructor, was
the man for the place. Three of the men
belonged to the Merrimac. They were
Coxswain Deignan, Chief Machinist Phil
lips and Water Tender Kelly. Another of
the heroes was Gunner's Mate Charterelle.
The details were arranged and the crew
on board Thursday morning, and the YES
sci had started, but day had commenced to
break and the admiral signaled for her re-
turn. Hobson begged to be permitted to
proceed, saying he would be successful.
However, the admiral insisted on his re-
turn. The men were given good sleep,
and early the next morning the Merrimac
started again. She had been thoroughly
stripped of valuable articles. even the
clock and bell being taken Off. =
Along one side torpedo belt had been
arranged, about ten feet below the water
line, six torpedoes being placed so as to
pe6oes had electrical connection with
battery on the bridge and were to be dis
charged by pressing button.
1.-THE channel is only a few hundred
yards wide. It was arranged that the
Merrimhc was to be swung across the
channel till one end grounded. The man
that let go the starboard anchor was to
let the life rail fall and then jump over
board: Last of all. the man that pressed
the key would plunge into the water. The
man at the key undoubtedly was Hobson.
lie would be unlikely to assign another
man to the most dangerous post. Besides.
he is the best swimmer in the navy.
1.-THE plan was carried out perfectly. The
only thing We had not counted on was
the Spaniards keeping such a sharp
watch. Undoubtedly they knew something
was afoot. They permitted the Merrimac
to pass between the MORO and Istrella
forts without noticing her. When she was
| In range of the other forts every gun In
| the harbor was opened on her. We could
not count reports, the firing was SO fu-
rious The forts must have fired a thou
sand times.
IT was on the New York, watching, and
| the hearts of all of US faltered, for 1t
seemed as If no ship could live in that
| hell of fire, and that no one on board
| could escape. The Merrimac anchored, the
| men jumped overheard and the forts then
| subsidized, refusing to fire at the men
struggling in the water. The men reached
| the raft, where they were captured and
| taken to Moro fort.
] .-s TO nh III
of staff came aboard the New York. He
said the Merrimac's men were safe and
would be well treated. Two of them were
| slightly wounded. They lacked clothes and
| money and their friends might send them
| anything but written communications. We
| sent them clothes, money and food. OH-
| GERS of the New York asked to be allowed
| to exchange places with Hobson. but this
was not permissible.
"Cervera's officer could not find strong
enough language to express his admiration
| for the bravery of the Americans.
His courtesy and the action of the forts
in sparing the men struggling in the wa.
ter changed our opinion of the .Spaniards
| and made us think the stories OF their hon
or and chivalry not SO far wrong.
AFTER daylight we could see the masta
and funnel of the Merrimac sticking out
Of the water. She was sunk exactly
where we wanted her. We saw IN the
harbor three cruisers, the Cristobal Colon
and Infanta Maria Teresa being among
them, but / don't know whether the 9TH
er cruisers or the torpedo boat destroyefs
are there. The black thing that some Of
the officers of the ships thought they saw
coming after them has not been identified
yet. and we are not sure that any Of the
destroyers are at Santiago. -''
1.-THE insurgents sent us word that the
men and guns from the cruisers had beer
sent ashore and 1t looks as though thu
vessels would not try to get out and tht
Z Spanish officers had no hope Of escape o.
victory, but were determined to make {
brave. stubborn fight to maintain Spain!
honor. The story printed in New Yorl
. that Lieutenant Hobson and Rear Ad
miral Sampson quarreled Just before TIL,
| Merrimac went in is an entire falsehood."
WITH THE FLEET, OFF SANTIAGO
June 3, via KINGSTON, JAMAICA, June s
l-(Delayed in transmisaon.) Copyright 1885
by the Associated Press.) All the member
of the Merrimac expedition are safe. Tw'
are slightly wounded. but Lieutenant Hob
son escaped without a scratch. This almos
incredibly good news was brought out thi
afternoon to Rear Admiral Sampson b.
Admiral Cervera's chief Of staff, under
flag of truce.
II Tremendous enthusiasm reigns over tn
complete success of the expedition. Dur
ing the day the Merrimac was plainly seel
lying athwart the channel. She could hard
ly have been placed better had she heel
| sunk in the daylight and with no &C
compartment of fire. 1t was an anxiou
day on all the ships. By noon officers an
men feared the Merrimac's heroes had die
in their noble work. but at o'clock thi
afternoon a little black tug, flying whit
flag, was seen coming out from the saffro
hills of the harbor. Slowly she moved to
ward the New York, the flagship. Assistan
Chief of Staff Staunton boarded the Vix
en-, flying a flag of truce, and met tn
Spanish tug. which proved to be the Color
r half way. ... ...--
Captain Oviedo signiied his desire to Sc
Admiral Sampson personally and he wa
I taken on board the flagship. The enthus
asm as the news spread from signals fror
the Vixen was so intense that the appear
ance Of the Spanish captain over the Sid
3 of the New York hardly excited the SUI
! 4: prise that might have been expected. AZ
! miral Sampson thanked Captain OWED
E most cordially, thanked Admiral Cerver
5 for his gallant courtesy, and made the prt
70 for he ha 90 Z