New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-05
CERVERA CAN'T GET AWAY.
NO ESCAPE FROM SANTIAGO.
WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY HOB
SONS BRAVE DEED

fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBUNE.l
Washington. June 4.--Some brief details OF one
Of the most remarkable feats Of daring in the
history Of the American Navy officially
communicated to the Navy Department late
this afternoon by Rear-Admlral Sampson, conn
mander- in chief OF the naval forces now operat-
ing off Santiago the Admral's dispatch telling
Of the successful blockadIng Of the narrow chan
nel leading to the harbor by the sinking OF the
deeply laden collier Merrimac under the COM
mand Of Naval Constructor Richmond P. Hob
son. Lieutenant Hobson and the crew OF
seven men who volunteered to go with him and
scuttle the collier though falling into the hands
Of the Spaniaris escaped with their lives.
The brilliancy Of Hobson's action and its COM
plete success place II. In the opinion OF the naval
officials here. alongside Of Cushng's famous ex-
polt I'm sinking the Confederate ironclad Abe
marie In Pamlico Sound in the Civil War ono
astonishing feature OF the performance Is that
in an expedition Of this character, where intimate
knowledge Of seamanshp and naval strategy
was necessary to success, staff officer should
have been selected for command In place OF
line officer. Mr.. Hobson has been constructor
throughout his entire career in the Navy, and
until his detail recently to the North Atlantic
feet had not seen active service a regular
vessel OF war
THE MEN UNDOUBTEDLY VOLUNTEERS
While the fact Is not mentioned that resort
was made to the usual practice of calling for
volunteers when expedition is about TO be
undertaken Of such extreme danger that
which confronted the Merrimac, there Is no
question that Admiral Sampson had ample ma
terial 10 select from both in officers and in men
for the attempt on he Santiago channel. That
a constructor. therefore. should have been
chosen rather than ensign. a Lieutenant or
even a higher ranking officer. causes some aston
shment on the part Of the linc which
prised that the command OF the forlorn hope
should not have devoved on its own corps.
No satisfactory explanation could be given by
the officials oc the Navy, and none will probably
be Forthcoming until detailed reports have been
received from the conmander-in-chie at SAM
tiago. These are expected to show that, because
Of his peculiar knowledge OF ship construction
and ability to select the section OF the Merri-
macs bottom mos, vulnerable to a torpedo ex-
plosion from the inside. It was deemed advisa-
Bile that constructor should he employed. Il
being the purpose in sending her into the mar
row inner channel TO sink her az the proper time
as speedily possible and at the same time
10 insure the greatest possible protection TO
life board.
From Ndmlral sampson s tclegTdlll, IL IL uP-
parent that Constructor Hobson unaccom-
panied by either engineer or line officers. and
that his little crew OF seven most probably con-
sisted OF skilled machinist 10 run the engine.
two coal leavers. and four seamen TO attend
10 the steering OF the craft Being unarrned It
was not necessary in the opinion OF Admiral
Sampson. TO send more men on board then
were actually required to take the ship TO the
cd uho he
be sunk
HOW THE COLLIER WAS SUNK
The first of,ciai information Of this remarka-
bic exploit came to the Navy Department late
this afternoon 1t announced succinctly that at
an early hour yesterday morning the Merrimac
had steamed away from the fleet, with her
Iqhts ont and made under full headway for the
narrov gateway TO the inner harbor. AS was
no doubt anticipated by those on board ana
those responsible for her orders she was I'M
mediately attacked with viciousness by the shore
batteries on either side and riddled by the pro-
iectiles from the modern guns still capable OK
being trained on her after the destruction
wrought by the bombardment OF May 81
Although the Merrimac was subjected TO q
s,eadv Are al close range. she seems. according
10 Admiral SIMPSONS advices. to have passed
tho de,ences and reached that part OF the chan
mol where Il had been decided to settle her on
the bottom, and thus effectually close the chan
mel TO ingress or egress OF heavy draught war
vesseIs At this point. Admiral Sampson states.
q torpedo was exploded on the inside OF the ship
nv an electrical device, causing her to sink AL
most instantly until her smokepipes We're flush
with the tide.
PROSPECTS OF AN EXCHANGE.
Unable to retreat In their small boat Hobson
and his crew surrendered to Admiral Cervera
on his flagship and later, under flag OF truce.
Admiral Sampson was Informed that his men
were prisoners Of war and would be kindly
treated. Permission Is asked by the Admiral
70 negotiate with Admiral Cervera for an ex-
change of certain prisoners now at Atlanta. Ca.
FOR those held In the han bor OF Santiago. This
may be more difficult to accomplish. however
than Admiral Sampson anticipates. as the United
states now holds no prisoners OF war having
eoual rank with or superior TO that OF Con-
structor Hobson. tie Spanish colonel and sur
peon held prisoners until a few days ago at
Atlanta having been exchanged at Havana for
two American newspaper correspondents.
The enlisted men who surrendered to Admiral
Cervera however. have better prospect of re-
lease and their speedy exchange tor prisoners OF
their own rating now confined at Atlanta will
probably soon he effected But unless the Navy
takes some Spanish officer prisoner Constructoe