Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1898-06-10
SINKING THE MERRIMAC,
Bravery of the Act Recognized by
Admiral CerVera.
Vessel Lies Across the Channel at Its Mar
rowest Point, Preventing Possibility
of Ceryera's Escape-Gailant
Crew Taken Prisoners.

most caring 1edJS ever pcIIOlhuCu W
Americas naval heroes was that of
the sinking of the Merrimac in the
channel at Santiago, details of which
have arrived. Although the daring
men who performed the hazardous
task are prisoners of war in Moro
Castle their early release is assured
and their bravery will be rewarded.
AS soon as Sampson arrived at San
tiago it was decided to block the chan
mel. The strong Notifications and
the narrowness of the channel would
entail too much risk in forcing them,
which could not be justified on any
pretext,, as the capture of the fleet
held in the harbor is only a question
of time.
Having reached this conclusion work
was Immediately begun to put the
plans into operation. The Merrimac,
a large collier which had arrived with
coal was selected. Her cargo was
transferred to the holds of the war
ships and she was Immediately pre-
DdIGNl DlA OlPCNtOCo NSAO RAUSON@
along one side in her hull below the
water line and connected by electric
wires to the bridge from where they
were to be exploded. All was made
ready Thursday morning about day
light but Sampson delayed the start
ing until o'clock Friday morning,
deeming the chances for success to be
better at that hour.
When the news spread that the MAJ
rimac was TO be sunk in the channel
and that call for volunteers would
likely be made there was great excite
ment Immediately the Iowa signal
led that she had 14O men who had vol
unteered to drive the vessel into the
Jaws of death. Soon after the New
York signalled 200. Other vessels fol-
lowed rapidly until the number APP
preached 1000. When it was learned
that only six men would be taken
there was great disappointment.
The command of the dangerous ex-
petition was given to Richmond Pear
son Hobson, a naval constructor, he
being selected because of his knowl-
edge of torpedos His plans were as
follows:
On deck were placed four men. One
was stationed near the anchor to cut
tloose on signal. One man will be at
the wheel and two stationed so that
they could man lifeboat which was
being towed behind in which to es-
cape. Two were to be stationed in
the engine room. One was to stop the
engine and the other knock out the
sea connections thus insuring the
sinking of the ship whether the torpe-
does exploded or not. The last man to
leave the vessel was to be Lieutenant
Hobson himself, after exploding the
torpedoes. All the men were dressed
in their underclothes, ready to swim if
necessary. They had arms in water
tight bags strapped to themselves, and
rifles in the lifeboat. They were. after
leaving the ship, to row to a steam
launch which had followed them to
the mouth of the harbor to pick them
up.
When the Merrimac reached the har-
Dor she was discovered, and for twenty
minutes shot and shell rained around
her until she was sunk near Estrella
battery, squarely across the channel,
where it was planned to sink her.
1t is presumed the vessel was hit
several times, but only two of the men
were slightly wounded. The lifeboat
must have been shot away, for the men
escaped to the shore in a small boat
which was put on as an extra safeguard.
They were captured and taken to San
tiago and later transferred to MORO
Castle.
Admiral Cervera recognized the hero
ism of the act, and under flag of truce
sent Captain Oveido to the New York,
where he informed Captain Sampson
that the men were captured and would
be well treated, offering to exchange
them for prisoners held at Fort Nc
Pherson, Ga. Further details will
hardly be known until the exchange is
made.
The act is considered the most dar-
ing ever undertaken by American ma
val men, and reward is sure That
any of them escaped with their lives is
The incident will live in
history and be an incentive to bravery
for f,,4ura s,euaration