Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1898-06-11
SIMPSONS oFFIoIAL REPORT.
10 Tells of the Sinking Of tho Merrimac
by TIyut Nobsnp

is Tells of the Sinking Of tho Merrimac
by Lieut. Hobson.
Washington, June 1.-The navy dc.
| partment 10 day posted the following
| report from Admiral Sampson upon the
| herOism OF Lieut.. liObsOn and his men In
| sinking the MerrimGc in the Santiago
channel:
"U. 5. hagship, New York. off Santa.
30, June 3, l89S.--Permit me TO call your
special attention 20 Assistant Naval
Constructor HObsOn. As stated in n
special telegram before coming here,
was ordered 10 make haTbOr entrance 80.
cure against the possibility OF egress by
the Spanish ships by obstructing the
narrow part Of the entrance by sinking a
collier at that point. Upon calling upon
Mr.. HObsOn for his professional opinion as
To the sure method Of sinking the ship. he
manifested the most lively interest In
the problem. After several days cODsid.
eratlOn he presented the solution which
he considered would insure the imme.
diate sinking OF the chip when she
reached the desired point in the channel.
This plan we prepared for execution
when we reached Santiago. The plan
contemplated q crew OF only seven
men and Mr.. HObsOn, who begged thar
II might be entrusted 10 him. Anchor
chains were arranged on deck for
both anchors, forward and aft, the
plan including the anchOring OF the ship
almost automatically. As soon az / |
reached Santiago and had the collier TO |
work upon, details were completed and |
diligently prosecuted, hoping TO com
plete them IN one day ~ moon and tide |
served best the frat night after our
arrival. Notwithstanding, the hour Of 4 |
o'clock In the morning arrived and |
preparation was scarcely completed |
After careful inspection OF the final |
preparations was forced 10 Telinquish |
the plan for that morning as dawn was
breaking, but Hobson begged to try II at
all hazards.
This morning proved more propitlous,
30 prompt start was made Nothing
could have been more gallantly executed
We waited impatiently after the firing
by the Spaniards had ceased. When they
lid not re appear from the harbOr feared
they had all perlshed. The steam launch.
which had sent In charge OF Naval
Cadet Powell 60 rescue the men, appeared
Al this time, coming out under persistent
IRE OF batteries, but brought none of the
Jrew. A careful inspection OF the harbor
rom my ship showed that the vessel,
Merrimac, had been sunk In the chan
lel.
This afternoon the chief OF staff of Ad-
ntral Ceryera came out under a flag OF
.ruce, with letter from the admiral
'xtolling the bravery of the crew In an
manner. ! cannot myself too
earnestly express my appreciation of the
conduct OF Mr., HObsOn and his gallant
rev. venture 20 say that more brave
md daring thing has not been done since
JOshing blew up the Albemarle.
Referring to the inspiring letter,wh
VAS addressed 70 the officers at the be- {
slnning OF the war, am sure you will
ltter suitable professional reward TO Mr..
d0Ds0n and his companions.
II must add that Commander j. n.
Miller, OF the Merrimac, relinquished his {
command with very great reluctance, {
that he would retain his com I
nand under all circumstances He was, d
however, finally convinced that an at
empt Of another person to carry out the {
of details, which had been in I
preparation by Mr.. llobsOn, might en- L
LANCER its proper execution. | therefore /
OOk the liberty to relieve him for this (
easOn only. There were hundreds OF
Olunteers who were anxious to paTtici-
,ate; there were $50 men In the Merri. v
nae crew, nearly as many from this ship,
md large numbers from all other ships, '
Ulcers and men alike. '
Signed "W, T. SAMPSON"