The record-union., 1898-06-06

LESS (off Santiago de Cuba, June 81, Z
a. m, via Port Antonio. Jamaica, June
4-Delayed in transmission. .)-(Copy-
right, 1S9S by the Associated Press)-
BY one of the most brilliant exploits in
naval annals the cork has been driven
into the bottle of Santiago de Cuba and
the Spanish fleet could not be more se-
cure were the entrance to the harbor
doored, barred and double-locked and
the key dropped into the bottomless
depths of the sea.
Cushing's memorable feat in blowing
up the Confederate ram Albemarle is
overmatched by Hobson's act, for Cush-
ing's men crept up Albemarle Sound at
midnight and fell upon an unsuspecting
foe. Hobson took his ship, over 300
feet long, into the very focus of the.
battery with the enemy at the guns ard
blew it up. Discovery at the end Of
his journey was inevitable and death
was almost certain. No name, there
fore, can be written higher on wars
temple of fame than his Like Cush-
ing's deed, Hobson's desperate UNDER
taking was conceived by him who ex-
ecuted it.
When Rear Admiral Sampson joined
Commodore Schley on Wednesday the
latter had already ascertained that it
would be Impossible for the fleet to
crawl into the harbor where the Span
ish fleet had taken refuge. The mines
across the entrance and the batteries
which commanded it were so formida-
bic an obstacle that itwas considered an
act of folly. Commodore Schley was
inclined to think the dynamite cruiser
w
but the ships would have~to go in sin
gle file and if one We're sunk in the
channel the progress of the others
would be blocked. 1t was then that
Lieutenant Hobson conceived the
scheme of sinking big collier across
the harbor entrance and asked to be
allowed to execute it himself 1t
seemed certain death and almost GER
tain failure, as the odds We're over
Whelmingly against entering the har-
Dor before discovery, but Hobson was
so enthusiastic that his confidence was
infectious and the Admiral finally re-
luctantly gave his consent
Lieutenant Hobson's chief anxiety
was that in the dark he might miss the
narrow gut and run on to the shoals at
the west of the entrance. To prevent
the possibility of this the plan Of al
lowing the Merrimac to run in under
the Spanish flag with the fleet in
feigned pursuit, firing blank cartridges
and blazing the path to the harbor en-
trance With searchlights was consid-
cred but abandoned, because among
other reasons Lieutenant Hobson and
his volunteer crew did not want TO Gle
if their lives should be sacrificed, under
the enemy'S cOlorS.
When the Admirals consent was OBJ
tanned Lieutenant Hobson became inn
patient Of all delay and that very night
Wednesday, after the moon went down.
ne set the time for the attempt. Vol
unteers were called for on all the ships
of the fleet and to the credit Of the
Amrican navy be it said that few
f1inched. Whole cheering crews stepped
forward at the summons for the haz-
ardous duty About 300 on board the
New York, some 40 on board the iowa
and a like proportion from the other
ships volunteered, but Lieutenant Hob
son, like the hero he is, decided to risk
as few lives as possible. He picked
three men from the New York and
three from the Merrimac The latter
We're green III tfies service, bat they knew
the ship and had pleaded hard to go
and one man slowed away on board the
collier.
Six other men, selected from various
ships. with Ensign Powell in commond.
manned the launch which was to lie at
harbor mouth and take off those who
escaped. The Merrimac was made
ready. Six torpedoes We're strung
along her port side. with wire commu-
nicatio-l to the bridge. Her anchors
We're lashed at the bow and stern Her
cargo of coal was shifted, and her
cargo ports were opened so that she
would more readily fill when the time
came to cut her anchor lashings, open
the sea-cocks and torpedo her bulk
heads The work was not completed
until after o'clock Thursday morning.
but, with the sky paling in the east,
Lieutenant Hobson headed in on his
desperate mission.
On board the ships of the fleet pick
eted about the entrance every officer
and man, with many warm heart beats
for their brave comrades, awaited the
issue, with eyes anXiously fixed on the
jutting headlands that marked the en-
trance of the harbor But as the Mer-
rlmac steamed forward ahead Admiral
Sampson, pacing the deck of the flag
ship, looked at his watch and at the
StreaKS IN Ine east, ana decided CnaC
the Merrimac could not reach the en-
trance before daylight. Consequently
the torpedo boat Porter. which was
alongside, was dispatched to recall the
airing officer.
/ Lieutenant Hobson sent back a pro-
test, with request for permission to
to allow him to take the risk, and slow
ly the Merrimac swung about.
During the day Lieutenant Hobson
went aboard the flagship. His once
white duck trousers were as black as
was unbuttoned, and his begrimed face
deeply furrowed by the tensely drawn
lines: but resolution still shone in his
ewes. So absorbed was he in the task
ahead of him that, unmindful of his
appearance and naval etiquette. he
told the Admiral in tone of command
that he must not again be interfered
with.
Il can carry this thing through" he
said ..but there must be no more re-
calls. Ny men have been keyed for
tventy-four hours. and under a tre-
mendous strain iron will break at lats."
Such was the indomitable will and
courage with which he faced death and
glory.
When Hobson left the ship and the
extended hands of his shipmates. more
than one lad turned to hide the unbid
den tear But the Lieutenant waved
them adieu with a smile on his hand
some face.
This morning the Merrimac started