The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1898-06-11
FAME FORHOBSON AND CREW
HOW THEY SUNK MERRrMAc.
In the Face Of the Gsas on the Span
ish Battery Opposite MeFro Cas-
de, I'm tire HaFbeF Of Santiago de
Csba-The story In Full


Merrimac had on board 600 tons OF coal
when she was seuttled across the chan
mel.
Lieutenant Hobson started on his dar-
ing errand 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
10 the eastward. followed by a launch
from the New York with the following
crew on board: Naval Cadet J. w. Pow
ell Of Oswego, n. Y; r. X. Peterson,
eoxwsin; ii. HaIdford, apprentice Of the
first class; J. Mullings, coal passer; G.
L. Russell, mAehinist Of the second class.
In the launch were bandages and aPpli-
ances for the wounded.
Batteries TuFned Loose.
From the crowded decks Of the New
York nothing could be seen Of the Mer-
rimac after she had got under the shad-
ows Of the hills. For half an hour Of
hcers and men strained their eyes peering
into the gloom when suddenly, the fash
Of gun STRAINED out from MORO castle
and then the New York knew the Mer-
rimae was nearing her end.
The guns from the Spanish battery
opposite Moro castle answered quickly
with more flashes and for about 20 min
ntes flashes Of fire seemed 70 leap across
the harbOr entrance. The flagship was
too far away TO hear the reports and
when the firing ceased it was judged that
HobsOn had blown up the MerTimac. For
an hour the anxious watchers waited for
daylight. Rear Admiral Sampson and
Captain Chadwick were on the bridge Of
the New York throughout
At o'clock thin streams Of smoke were
seen against the western shore quite close
10 the Spanish batteries and strong glass
Is made out the launch of the New York
returning to the flagship. Scarcely had
the small craft been sighted before o
puff of smoke issued from a battery on
the western arm Of the harbor and q shot
plunged far over the launch. Then for
IS minutes the big guns on the coast kept
up an irregular FIRE ON the little launch.
Had Gone Uaaer the Gans.
At Gals a. m. the launch came along
side the flagship but she did not have on
board any Of the crew OF the MerTimac
Cadet Powell reported GhAt he had beer
unable 10 see any sign Of the MerTimac'
crew. 1t developed that with great BRAY.
cry the crew had gone right under the
batteries and only returned when hopC
Of taking on board the crew Of the Mer
rimae had 10 be abandoned.
Cadet Powell also reported he had
clearly seen the MerTimAc's mast sticking
up just where HObson hoped to sink her
north Of the Estrella battery and well
past the guns Of MORO castle.
But Of the heroes who had penned thu
Spaniards in there was not q sound or I
sign. Rear Admiral Sampson said: q
am pretty sure the attempt was quite sue
cessfHL / hope all those brave fellows
are not captured"
Cadet Powell believed the torPedoei
previously fixed aboard the Merrimai
were exploded as planned, as Lieutenant
Hobson was well up the harbor before thu
Spaniards opened fire on the Merrimac.
How HObsoa Saak the MeFrimac.
What actually happened on the Merri
mae can best be judged from what Lieu
tenant Hobson said just before leaving
the flagship.
He said: 81 shall go right into III,
harbOr until about 400 yards past thu
EstreIla battery, which is behind Morn
castle. do not think they can sink NJ
before | reach somewhere near that point
The Merrimac has 1000 buoyancy and
shall keep her full speed ahead. She car
make about 10 knots.
when the naTrowest part Of the chan
mel is reached I shall put her helm harS
aport stop her engines, drop the anchors
open the sea connections, touch of tn
torpedoes and leave the MeTimae I
wreck lying athwart the channel, which
Is not as broad as the Merimac is long
There are 10 s-inch improvised tOrpedOe
below the water line on the Merrimael
port side They are placed on her sid
against the bulkheads and vital spots
connected with each other by a wire un
der the ships keel. Each torpedo con
tains So pounds Of gunpowder. Each tor
pedo is also connected with the bridg
and they should do their work in a min
ute and Il win be quick work even
done in a minute and a quarter.
~On deck there will be four men an,
myself. In the engine room there will b
two other men. This is a total crew an
} all Of us will be in our Undertaking
with revolveTs and ammunition in water
tight packing strapped around our waist
Forward there will be man on deck an
around his waist will be line, the oths
end Of the line being made fast to tn
bridge on which will stand. BY tina
mans side will be an AK. When I sto
the engine viii jerk the cord and wi
thus give the signal TO cut the lashin
which will cut the forward anchor. n
. will then jump overheard and swim to Il
fonr-oared dingy which we shall to-
astern. The dingy Is fun Of life buoy
and Il unsuitable. In Il are riaea Il
to be held by two ropes one made "a
at her bow and one at her stern. n
arst man 10 reach her win haul in u
tow line and pull the dingy out to sta
board. The next to leave u
ship are the rest Of the crew, n
: quartermaster at the wheel win not lea'
; until after putting e hard aport Al
lasAed Il 30. he win then jump Overboar
I ~Down below the man at the reversir
l. gear win stop the engines. scramble upS
r deck and get over the side a. quickly
possible. The man In the engine roo
win break open the sea connections wi
. Ia Gledge hammer and win follow his lea
Il - A. n 4. a. a a. -.