The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-06-06


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 Merrimac
For an hour the anxious watchers
waited for daylinght. Rear Admiral
Sampson and Captain Chadwick were
on the bridge of the New York
throughout
At 5 o'clock thin streams of smoke
was seen at the western shore, quite
close to the Spanish batteries, and
strong glasses made out the launch Of
the New York returning to the flagship.
Scarcely had the small craft been
sighed before a puff of smoke issued
from G battery on the western arm of
the harbor and shot plunged far over
the launch. Then for fifteen minutes
the big guns ashore kept up an irregu-
lar fire on the little launch. AS the
shells fell without hitting the object
they were intended for the men on
board the New York jeered at the
Spanish craftsmanship and cheered
their shipmates. AT 6:15 a. m. the
launch came alongside the flagship, but
she did not have ON board any of the
crew of the Merrimac. Cadet Powell
reported that he had been unable to
see any sign of the Merrimac's crew.
1t developed that with great bravery
the cadet had gone right under the bat
teries and only returned when all hope
of taking on board the crew of the Mer-
rimec had to be abandoned.
Cadet Powell also reported that he
1,o1 a16 a,,1vr lima n'G t1op n ct t-
sticking up just where Hobson hoped
to sink her, north of the Estralla bat
terry and well past the guns of MORO
Castle. But of the heroes who had
penned the Spaniards in there was not
a sight or sound. Rear Admiral
Sampson said: IT am pretty sure the
attempt was quite successful. I hope
all those brave fellows are not captur-
ed" Cadet Powell believes the torpedoes
as previously fixed about the Merrimac
were exploded as planned, as Lieuten-
ant Hobson was we'll up the harbor be-
fore the Spaniards opened fire on the
Merrimac. What actually happened on
the Merrimac can be best judged from
what Lieutenant Hobson said just be-
fore leaving the flagship. Sitting in his
cttpll, ms ledce pIoWHed ny Lie sun anu
MS eyes Tashlng with excitement, ne
remarked:
II shall go right into the harbor until
about four yards past the Estrella bat
terry, which is behind Moro Castle I
90 not tnlnk they can SINK me pefofe
reach somewhere near that point The
Merrlmac mas 6oOo tons buoyancy ana
l snail Keep hef tull speed ahead. She
can make about ten Knots. When the
narroWest part OF the channel IS reacn-
ed shall put her heir1 hard aport, stop
the engines, drop the anchors, open the
sea connections, touch OF the torpedoes
and leave the Meffd11lac a wreck, lying
athWart the channel, winch is not as
broad as the Merrlmac IS long. There
are ten hVe-lnch 1mproFlsed tofpedoes
belo" the water hhe on the Mefflfnac
port slde. Ihey are placed on her side
against the pulk-heads ana Vitai spols,
connected with eacn other py wire
undef the shlps Keel. Each torpedo
contains Twenty-Five POUNDS OF gun
powder. Each torpedo IS also conhect-
ed with the bridge ana they should 90
thelf work III a minute, ana IL WILL pc
quick work even IL oone IN minute
ana a quarter. Ihere VIII pc fouf men
ana myselI. IN the engine room there
Will be two other men. Thls is the To-
tai crew and all OF US VIII be IN our un-
der-clothlhg, WIN reFolVers ana aflillu-
milton IN Water-ught packing strapped
around our waists. F'ofWafd there VIII
pc man on decK, ana around ms waist
Will be line, the othef END OF the line
being made fast to the bridge, where
shall stand. BY tha't man $ side VIII be
an axe. When stop the engine shaii
jerk this cord ana ne Will thus get the
signal to cut the lashlng which viii be
noldlng the forward anchof. he Wall
then jump oVerpoafd ana swim TO the
four-oared dlngy Wh1ch we snail TOW
astern. The dlngy is full of -buoys
and is unsuitable. In 1t are rifles. 1t
is to be held by Two ropes, one mace
fast at her DOW ana one at hef stern.
The nrst man TO reach her VIII haui
IN the stow line. Inc next TO leaVe the
ship will be the rest OF the crew. Ihe
quartefmasler at lhe Wheel WIN not
leave until a1tef haVlng put III nara
aport and lashed 1t, and he Will then
jump overheard.
Down below the men at the revers-
ing gear will stop the engines, scramble
up on deck and get over the sides as
| quickly as possible. The man in the
engine room will break open the sea
connections with a sledge-hammer and