Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1898-06-11
FAME FOR HOBSON and CREW
HOW THEY SUNK MERRIMAC.
In tie Face of the Gums on the Span
iSh battery Opposite MOrr0 Cas-
tie. i'll the iurbor of Santiago de
Cnba-Ihc story in Full.


when She was scuttlcd across the chan
mel
Lieutenant Hobson started on his dar-
ing erlnnd at o'clock this morning. The
Merrimac was lying to the westward.
Under cover Of the clouds over the moon
she stole toward the coast, made her way
to the eastward, followed by ii launch
from the New York with the following
crew on board: Naval Cadet j. W. Pow
ell Of Oswcgo y. Y: P X. Peterson,
coNwan: H. llallford, apprentice of the
first class: J. Mullin@s, coal passer: 6.
l.. Russell. machiniSt OF the second class.
In the launch We're banlages and appli-
ances ior the wounded.
batteries Turned loo>e.
From the crowded decks of the New
York nothing could be seen OF the Mer
rlnac after She had got under the shad-
oNs Of the hills. For half an hour Of
iiccrs and men strained their eyes peering
into the gloom when suddenly, the flash
oi Il gun oireamcd out from MORO castle
and then the New \ 1orl> knew the Mer-
Ilinuc was nearing her end.
The guns from the Spanish battery
opposite Moro castle answered quickly
with more flashes and for about ~ min
rtes flashes of fire seemed to leap across
the harbor entrance. The flagship was
too far away to hear the reports and
when the firing ceased il was judged that
Ilobson had blown up the Merrilnac. For
an hour the anxious watchers waited for
daylight Rear Admiral Sampson and
Captain Chadwick were on unc bridge of
the New York throughout.
At ) o'clock thin streams OF smoke We're
seen against the western shore quite close
to the Spanish batteries and strong gla>s-
Is made out the launch OF the New 1o,e
returning to the flagship Scarcely had
the small craft been sighted before Il
puff OF smoke issued from battery on
the western ann Of the harbor and shot
plunged far over the launch. Then for
- minutes the BIC guns on the coast kept
up an irregular fire on the little launch.
Had Gone Under the Guns.
At G:l5 Il. m the launch came along
side the flagship but she did not have on
board amy OF the crew Of the Merrimac.
Cadet Powell reported that he had been
unable to see any sign Of the Aernmac 5
crew. 1t developed that with great bray
cry the crew had gone right under the
batteries and only returned when hope
OF taking on board the crew of the Mer-
rimac had to be abandoned.
Cadet Powell also reported he had
clearly seen the Merimac's mast sticking
m Just where Ilobson hoped to sink her
north of the Estrclla battery and well
past the guns Of Moro castle.
But of the heroes who had penned the
Spaniards in there was not a sound OF Il
sign Rear Admiral Sampson said: Il
am pretty sure the attempt WAS quite sue
ccssful. | hope all those brave fellows
are not captured"
Cadet Powell believed the torpedoes
previously fixed aboard the Merrimac
were exploded as planned, as Lieutenant
IIobson was we'll up the halbor before the
Spaniards opened fire on the Mcrrmac.
What actually happened OF the Merri-
mac can best be judged from what Lieu
tenant Ilobson said just before leaving
the flagship.
He said: II shall 90 right into the
harbor until about 400 yards past the
E,trelIa battery, which is behind Moro
castle | 10 not think they can sink Us
before reach somewhere near that point.
The Merrimac has 1000 buoyancy and |
shall keep her full speed ahead. She can
make about 10 knots.
when the narroWest part OF the chan
mel is reached | shall put her helm hard
aport stop her engines, drop the anchors,
open the sea connections. touch off the
torpedocs and leave the Mcrrimac a
wreck living athwart the channel, which
is not as broad as the Mcrrimac is long.
There are 10 S-inch improvised torpedoes
below the water line on the Merlimac' :
port side. They are placed on her side
against the bulkheads and vital spots,
connected with each other by a wire un-
der the ships keel. Each torpedo con
tains 81 pounds of gunpoWder Each tor
pcdo is also connected with the bridge
and they should do their work in a min
ute and it will be quick work even if
done in a minute and a quarter.
"On deck there will be four men and
myself In the engine room there will be
two other men. This is a total crew and
all of Us will be in our underclothing.
with revolvcrs and ammunition 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 I will stand. BY that
mans side will be an ak. When | stop
the engine | will jerk the cord and will
thus give the signal to cut the lashine
which will cut the forward anchor. He
will then Jump overheard and swim to the
four-oarcd dingy which we shall tow
astcrn. The dingy is full of life buovs
TO be 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 apd pull the dingy out to star
board The next to leave the
ship are the rest of the crew. The
qualtcrmastcr at the wheel will not leave
until after putting it hard aport and
lashed it 50, he will then jump overheard
"Down below the man at the reversing
gear will stop the engines scramble upon
deck and get over the side as quickly as
possible. The man in the engine room
will break open the sea connections with
sledge hammer and will follow his lead
cr into the water. This last step insures
the sinking Of the Merrimac whether the
torpcdoes work or not.
Then Touch the Button.
"By this time | calculate the six men
will be in the dingy, and the Merrmae
will have swung athwart the channel te
the full length Of her 300 yards Of cable
which will be paid out before the anchors
are cut loose. Then it is my time tc