The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-06-06

Castle. But, of the heroes who had
penned the Spaniards in, there was not
a sound or sign.
Rear Admiral Sampson said:
Il am pretty sure the attempt was
quite successful. I hope all these brave
fellows are not captured"
Cadet Powell believes the torpedOeS
previously fixed about the Merrimac
were exploded as planned, as Lieuten-
ant Hobson was we'll up the harbOr be-
fore the Spaniards opened fire on the
Merrimac.
What actually happened on board
the Merrimac can best be judged from
what Lieutenant Hobson said just be-
fore leaving the flagship. Sitting in
and his eyes flashing with excitement,
he remarked: Il shall go right into
the harbor until about 400 yards past
the Estrella battery, which is behind
MORO Castle. 1 don't think they can
sink me before 1 reach somewhere near
this point. The Merrimac has 1000 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 I 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
Merrin1ac is long.
There are ten S-inch improvised tor
pedoes below the water line, on the
Merrimac's port side. They are placed
against her bulkheads and vital spots
and connected with each other by a
wire under the ships keel. Each tor.
pedo contains eighty-two pounds or
gunpowder. Each torpedo is also con-
nected with the bridge, and they should
do their work in a minute, and 1t Will
be quick work even II 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 am
munition in water-tight packing strip
ped around our waists. Forward there
will be a man on deck, and around MS
waist will be a line, the other end or
the line being made fast to the bridge
on which I will stand. By that man S
side will be an axe. When stop the
engine I shall jerk this cord ana ne
will thus get the signal to cut the lash
ing which will be holding the forward
anchor. He will then jump overheard
and swim for the fOur-oared dlngy
which we shall tow astern. The d1ngy
is fuIl of life buoys and is unsuitable.
In it are rifles. 1t is to be held by two
ropes, one made fast at her bow and
one at her stern. The first man 10
reach her will haul in the tow line and
null the dingy out to starbOard. the
next to leave the ship are the rest OF
the crew. The quarterInaster at the
wheel will not leave until after having
put it hard apOrt and laSheo II So As
will then jump overheard
Down below the man at the reversing
gear will stop the engines, scramble up
on deck and get over the side as quick
ly as possibly. -,
The man in the engine room will
break open the sea connections with
sledge hammer and will follow ms
leader into the water rms iasI sep
ENSURES the sinking of the Merrimac
whether the torpedoes work or not
by this time, 1 calculate the SIX
men will be in the boat and the Merr1-
%l,xrr 1T~ff a n H.
mel, to the full length of her three hun
dred wards of cable, which Will nave
been paid out before the anchors are
.c1lt loose. Then all that is left for me
is to touch the button. shdll stanu
on the starboard side of the pridge.
The explosion will throw the Merrlmac
on her starboard side. Nothing on liilS
side of New York city Will be apIe 10
raise her after that. At.
a1i[se?" asked a companion OF the lieu
tenant. >, .oid
the lieutenant.
cal details Of the scheme that he scarce
iy stopped to talk Of life and death.
But, in reply to frequent. qug ,111Tnse
lieutenant Hobson said: Il suppose
the Estrella battery will fire down on
MS a bit; but, the ships will throw Ihei5
in the gunners races 1no
they won't see much OF us. IheIi, Il
n
q HE to make the desired position IN the
channel. It won't be so easy to nut US,
and I think the men ShouId De aoie :"
swim to the dingy. may J dnnit see
maj it makes much difference Wnat L
do I have fair chance OF NE eicnea
Ivav. If our dingy gets shot TO plecets
we shall then try to SWIM Ior We We sail
Len together at all hazards. iheh'
We may be able to make our way alGns
side and perhaps get PACK 10 liz 80
We shall fight the sentrleS OF q aqu
mil the last and we shall only sur
randar TO overwhelming numbers anu
o1I1, surrender will only take place a.
last and as a most
,,+ howe been
1actnring to a class of cadets on tIle
theory Of how to build ships, SO GEM
crate was his manner ne ~ oost |
Of ANNAPOLIS, in charge OF the Po:S
or.a duate course in naval constr uctIUn
snd is accounted one of the most 49,
naval constructors in the SERVICE pes
entirely wrapped up IN ms , ~ daSner- |
THE preliminary work OF tHlS
- - undertaking was a STRAIN upon INC
officers and men. On Wednesday Ilo
inc directly after Rear AoiilIal teP -,
sons arrival, and as soon as in the |
certain the Spanish fleet was ~ 80 80
,rboy the preparations to scutlle INC
NTerrimac in the channel Wds nc |
menced All day long crews 1Iol to 80, |
-, vorlx and Brooklyn We're on Doalo
ne HeW Golfer. never resting in their efforts
to prepare her She lay asin al0 coal when
the work was first begun. z,+;o,,
tra avtG quickly through the feet, ana
it soon became known that T T'n6ertak7
we've needed for a desperate unue -e.a7
" ere From the Iowa's signal yard /
1 1ng fiuttered the, announcem FaetT
hat She had one hundred and dorct
volunteers and the other s3 WE,, VIE tbe en-
hi thnsiasn was intense. over two nun
~ 5r9 rroanohers of the crew volunteered