The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-06-11

minutes the big guns ashore kept up
an irregular fire on the little launch.
As the shells fell without hitting the
object they were intended for, the men
on the New York ieered at the marks
manship and cheered their ship
mates.
At 6:15 a. N. the launch came along
side the flagship, but she did not have
on board any of the crew of the Merri-
mac. Cadet Powell reported that he
had been unable to see any signs of
the Merrimac's 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 abandoned.
Cadet Powell also reported that he
had clearly seen the Merrimac's masts
sticking up just where Hobson hoped
to sink her, north of Estrella battery,
and well past the guns of MORO cas-
tie. But of the heroes who had pe1ned
the Spaniards in there vas not a sound
or a sign.
Rear-Admirai Sampson said:
81 am pretty sure the attempt was
quite successful. L hope all those
brave fellows were not captured"
Cadet Powell believes the torpsdoes
previously fixed about the Merrimac
were exploded as planned, as Lieut..
Hobson was well up the harbor before
the Spaniards opened fire on the Merri-
mac.
What actually happened on board
the Merrimac can best be judged from
what Lieut.. Hobson said just before
leaving the flagship. Sitting in his
cabin, his face Drowned by the sun
and his eyes flashing with excitement,
he remarked:
81 shall go right into the harbos IN.
til about 400 yards past the Estrells
battery, which is behind MORO castle.
l do not think they can sink me before
L reach somewhere near hat point.
The Merrimac has 1000 tons buoyancy,
and L shall keep her full speed ahead.
She can make about ten knots. When
the narrowest part of the channel is
reached l shall put her helm hard
aport, stop the engines, drop
the anchors, open the sea connec-
tions, 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 s-inch improvised torpedoes
below the water line, on the Merrimac's
port side. They are placed on her side
against the bulkheads and vital spots,
connected with each other by d wire
under the ships keel. Each torpedo
contains 81 pounds of gunpowder.
Each torpedo is also connected with
the bridge, and they should do their
work in a minute, and it will be quick
work eve if done in a minute and a
quarter.
ION deck there will be four men and
myself. In the engine room there will
be two other men. This is the total
crew and all of US will be in our I'M
derclothing with revolvers and ammu-
milton in water-tight packing strapped
around our waists. Forward there
will be a man on deck, and around his
waist will be a line, the other end of
the line being made fast to the bridge
On which l will stand. By that mans
side will be an axe. When 1 stop the
engine 1 shall jerk this cord and he
will thus get the signal to cut
the flashing which will be hold
ing the forward anchor. He will then
jump overheard and swim to the four.
cared dingy which we shall tow
astern. The dingy is full of life buoys
and is unsuitable, held by two ropes.
one made fast at her bow and one al
her stern. The first man to reach her
will haul in the tow line and pull the
dingy out to starboard. The next tc
leave the ship are the rest of the crew.
The quartermaSter at the wheel will
not leave until after having put it hard
aport and dashed 1t SO; he will ther
jump overheard.
Down below, the man at the re-
versing gear will stop the engines,
scramble up on deck and get over the
side as quickly as possible.
1.-The man in the engine room will |
break open the sea connections with a
sledge hammer, and will follow his
leader into the water. This last step
insures the sinking of the Merrimac,
whether the tospedoes work or not.
by this time, l calculate, the six
men will be in the dingy and the Mer-
rimac will have swung athwayt the
channel to the full length of her
300 yards of cable, which will have
been paid out before the anchors were
cut loose. Then all that is left for me
is to toach the baton. l shall stant
on the starboard side of the bridge
The explosion VII throw the Merri.
on her starboard side. Nothing
this side of New York city will be
able to raise her after that"
And you expect to come out of thiI
alive?" asked a companion of the lieu,
"Ah, that is another thing" said the
He was 50 interested in
the mechanical details of the scheme
hat he scarcely stopped to talk of life
and death. But, in reply to frequent
questions, Hobson said:
II suppose the Estralla battery will
fire down on us q bit, but the ships will
throw their searchlights in the gun.
ners' faces and they won't see much Of