Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-06-09
HEROIC DEED.
fiobson and Gallant Crew Sink Mer-
rimac at Santiago.

10bS0n and Gallant Crew Sink Mer.
rimac at Santiago.
Last Friday, a most daring plan was
executed in the sinking of the collier
Merrimac at the narrow entrance OF
Santiago harbor. Admiral Sampson,
who is now in command of the Amer
ican fleet off Santiago, determined to
block the entrance to prevent the es-
cape OF Admiral Cervera's squadron.
The intention is to use the land
forces to compel the capitulation OF
Santiago and the surrender of Admiral
Ceryera's squadron. By sinking the
Merrimac in the channel the egress of
the Spanish ships is prevented, and
there is, therefore, no danger of their
putting to sea and escaping some
stormy night when the American ships
would be compelled to run out for sea
room.
Once the plan of blocking the en-
trance was decided upon, the Merri-
mac was selected for the purpose, as
owing to her length-330 feet-she
would completely close the channel,
even if she did not sink directly across
it.
Admiral Sampson caused it to be
known aboard the ships that volunteers
were wanted for the perilous task of
running the vessel past the batteries
and sinking her. 1t was a desperate
undertaking, as every man in the
fleet knew, for the chances were very
great that if the Merrimac passed the
batteries unscathed she would be
blown up by mine. This, however,
did not deter either officers or men
from volunteering.
In fact, they jumped at the chance
and 900 sienified their willingness to
carry out the Admiral's plan. Finally
Naval Constructor Hobson and seven
other men were picked out. the former
commanding the gallant crew. They
at once went on board the collier,
where preparations were made for the
work ahead of them. After every
thing had been arranged the officers
and crew of the Merrimac left her, go
ing on board other vessels of the fleet.
Then, with everything IN readiness
and with those on board of her facing
what appeared to be sure death. the
Merrimac started for the entrance at
3 o'clock Friday morning. ss
For some unknown reason the Span
iards made no attempt to blow up the
vessel with their mines, but they did
direct some of the fire from the bat
teries upon her. She was hit a num-
Der of times, hut the shots bid not
check her progress and she went along
until she reached the narrowest partof
the channel, when she dropped her an
chor. Her headway caused her to
drag considerably, but finally the an
chor checked her and she swung broad
side on to the channel.
With time fuse the men prepared
an explosion in the fore hold. They
lit the fuse and entered a rowboat and
pushed off. There must have been a
large hole torn in her hull by the ex-
plosion which followed, for she sank
in short time.
Meanwhile Constructor Hobson and
the brave men with him were pulled
away from the ship. They had gone
only little way when the explosion
occurred and the Merrimac gave a
lunge and plunged to the bottom, go
inc down in from thirty-five to forty
feet of water. Part of her smokestack
and masts project above the water.
1t was, of course, impossible for
Hobson and his crew to pass out OF the
harbor in face of the fire from the bat
teries.
They therefore calmly proceeded to
row to the Cristobal Colon, the flag
ship of the Spanish squadron, where
they yielded themselves prisoners OF
war.
Though they had shut off all chances
of escape for the Spanish fleet, Admiral
Ceryera recognized and admired their
bravery. They were treated kindly,
and later in the day the Spanish COM
mander sent out boat with flag of
truce to Admiral Sampson with an Of
fer to exchange his prisoners for some
of the Spaniards who are now confined
at Atlanta. This will be done.
CUBAN INVASION.