The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-06

tEirty-six years old, and his home is IN Bos-
ten.
John Kelly is water tender. about thir-
ty-five years old. His home is near Glas-
Cow, Scotland.
H. Clausen. who shipped on board the
Merrimac without permission, in order TO
take part in the expedition. is a coxswain
of the New York.
LIEUT.. HOBSON'S CAREER.
Lieut.. Richmond Petersen Hobson. assist
ant naval constructor, was born at Green's
boro, Ala. Aug. H. 1870; was appointed after
competitive examination to the Naval
Academy in May. 1885. He was the young
est member Of his class, but graduted at
the head of his eighteen companions He
has studied engineering under the auspices
of the United States government in France,
and was made assistant naval constructor
in 1891 He Is the author of a semi-political
work entitled, THE Situation and Outlook
in Europe and was assigned to the flag
ship New York when Admiral Sampson
sailed for the West Indies. Lieutenant
Hohson is a nephew of John NJ. Moorehead,
of North Carolina, and is u grandson of
Chief Justice Pearson of that State. He is
unmarried, and his father, Judge James NJ
Hobson. lives at Greensboro. Ala. The three
men from the Merrimac's crew were all
green hands and shipped recently for the
war.
The Merrimac had on board six hundred
tons of coal when she was scutt'ed across
the channel. Lieutenant Hobson started on
his daring errand at o'clock this morning.
The Merrimac was lying to the westward.
Under cover of the clouds over the moon
she stole in towards the coast and made her
way to the eastward followed by a steam
launch from the New York with fhe follow
ing crew on board: Naval Cadet j. w.
Powell, of Oswego, N. Y; p. X. Peterson.
coxswain H. Handford, apprentice of the
first class; j. Mulhngs, coal passer; G. l..
Russell machinist of the second class. In
the launch were bandages and appliances
for the wounded.
From the crowded decks of the New York
nothing could be seen Of the Merrimac after
she had got under the shadow of the hills
For half hour the officers and men
strained their eyes peering in the gloom,
when suddenly the flash OF a gun streamed
out from MORO Castle, and then all on
board the New York knew the Merrimac
was nearing her end. The guns from the
Spanish battery opposite Moro Castle an
swered quickly with more flashes, and for
about twenty minutes flashes of fire seemed
to leap across the harbor entrance. The
ports, and when the firing ceased 1t was
judged that Hobson had been blown up on
the Merrimac. For an hour the anxious
watchers waited for daylight. Rear Ad-
miral Sampson and Captain Chadwick were
on the bridge of the New York throughout.
At o'clock thin streams of smoke were
seen against the western shore. quite close
to the Spanish batteries, and strong glasses
made out the launch of the New York re-
turning to the flagship. Scarcely had the
small craft been sighted before a puff of
smoke issued from battery on the western
arm of the harbor and shot plunged far
over the launch. Then for fifteen minutes
the big guns ashore kept an irregular fire
on the little launch. AS the shells fell with
out hitting the object they were intended
for the men on board the New York jeered
at the Spanish craftsmanship and cheered
their shipmates.
RETURN OF THE LAUNCH.
At 615 a. m. the launch came alongside
the flagship; but she did not have on board
any of the crew of the Merrimac. Cadet
Powell reported that he had been unable to
see any signs of the Merrimacs crew. 1t
developed that with great bravery the cadet
had gone right under the batteries and only
returned when all hope of taking on board
the crew of the Merrimac had to be aban-
doned. Cadet Powell also reported that he
had clearly seen the Merrimac's masts
sticking up just where Hobson hoped to
sink her, north of the Estrella battery and
we'll past the guns of Moro Castle But of
the heroes who had penned the Spaniards in
there was not sound or sign.
Rear Admiral Sampson said: Il am pretty
sure that the attempt was quite successful.
hope all those brave fellows are not cap
tured.'
Cadet Powell believes the torpedoes pre-
viously fixed about the Merrimac were ex-
ploded as planned as Lieutenant Hobson
was we'll up the harbor before the Spaniards
opened fire on the Merrimac. What actually
happened on board the Merrimac can best
be judged from what Lieut.. Hobson said
just before leaving the flagship. Sitting in
his cabinet, his face Drowned by the sun and
his eyes flashing with excitement, he re-
marked:
II shall go right into the harbor until
about four hundred yards past the Estrela
battery, which is behind MORO Castle. / do
not think they can sink me before 1 reach
somewhere near that point. The Merrimac
has seven Thousand tons buoyancy, and 1
shall keep her full speed ahead She can
make about ten knots. When the narrowest
part of the channel is reached / shall put
her helm hard aport, stop the engines, drop
the anchors, open the sea connections, touch
off the torpedoes and leave the Merrimac
a wreck, lying athwart the channel which is
not as broad as the Merrimac is long. There
are ten eight-inch improvised torpedoes be-
low the water on the Merrimacs port side
They are placed on her side against the
bulkheads and vital points. connected with
each other by wire under the ships keel.
Each torpedo contains eighty-two pounds Of
gunpowder. Each torpedo is also connected
with the bridge and they should do their
work in minute, and it will be quick work
even if done in a minute and quarter.
ION deck there will be four men and my
self In the engine room there will be two
other men. This is the total crew and all
of US will be in our underclothing, with re-
volvers and ammunition in water-tight pack
ing strapped around our waists. Forward
there will be a man on deck and around his
waist will be line, the other end of the
line being made fast to the bridge on which
I will stand. BY that mans side will be an
ak When stop the engine shall jerk this
cord and the pull will be the signal to cut
the lashing which will be holding the for
ward anchor. He will then jump overheard