Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-06-09

to De 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 penned
the Spaniards in there was not a sound
OF sign.
Rear-Admirai Sampson said:
II am pretty sure the attempt was
quite successful. I hope all those
brave fellows were not captured"
Cadet Powell believes the torpedoes
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 harbor un.
til about 400 yards past the Estrella
battery, which is behind MORO castle.
do not think they can sink me before
l reach somewhere near that point.
The Merrimac has 1000 tons buoyancy,
and 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-
-
leave the Merrimac a wreck, lying
athwa~t 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 wire
under the ships keel. Each torpedo
contains 50 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 even if done in a minute and
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 man on deck, and around his
waist will be line, the other end of
the line being made fast to the bridge
on which ! will stand. By that mans
side will be an axe. When stop the
engine l shall jerk this cord and he
H4 CT -
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 at
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
sledge hammer, and will follow his
leader into the water. This last step
insures the sinking of the Merrimac,
whether the torpedoes work or not.
''By this time, calculate, the six
men will be in the dingy and the Mer-
rimac will have swung athwart 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 tonch the button. shall stand
on the starboard side of the bridge
The explosion will throw the Merri.
mac on her cardboard side. Nothing
on this side of New York city will be
able to raise her after that"
'And you expect to come out of this
alive?" asked companion of the lieu
tenant.
''Ah, that is another thing" said the
lieutenant. He was so interested in
the mechanical details of the scheme
that 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 bit, but the ships will
throw their searchlights in the gun
ners' faces and they won't see much of
us. Then, if we are torpedoed we should
even then be able to make the desired
position in the channel. 1t won't be
so easy to hit US, and think the men
should be able to swim to the
dingy. I may jump before am
blown up. But / don't see
that it makes much differ |
ence what do. have fair chance |
of life either way. If our dipgy gets
shot to pieces we shall then try to
swim for the beach right under MORO |
castle. We shall keep together at all |
hazards. Then we may be able to |
make our way alongside and perhaps |
get back to the ship. We shall fight |
the sentries or squad until the las:, |
and we shall only surrender to ove1
whelming numbers, and our surrender |
will only take place as a last and q
most uncontemplated emergency
Spaniards Said to Have Dynamited the |
Wreck of the Merrimac.
PoRT-AU-PRINCE, June 5.-Furtber |
news received here from Santiago de |
Cuba confirms the reports that the |
bombardment of that place began at |
three o'clock Friday morning. After |
action the Spaniards blew up with |