The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-06
CERvERA'S FLEET IS NOW HELPLESS.
The Narrow Channel IL Completely BockedIt
for the Spaniards to Get Out Equally I'm
possible to

al Cadet J. w. Powell Of Oswego. N. ";
p. X. Peterson. New York coxswain;
r. Hale Halford. apprentice of the
first class; J. Mullins. coal passer: @.
l.. Russell, machinist of the second
| class.
In the launch We're bandages and ap-
pliances for the wounded. From the
| crowded decks of the New York nothing
could be seen of the Merrimac before
she had got under the shadows of the
hills. For half an hour officers and men
strained their eyes peering into the
gloom, when suddenly the flash of a
gun streamed out from Morro castle.
and then the New York knew that the
Merrimac was nearing her end.
The guns from the Spanish battery
opposite MORO castle answered quick
ly with more flashes. and for about 20
minutes flashes of fire seemed to leap
across the harbor entrance. The flag
ship was too far away to hear the re-
ports. and when the firing ceased it was
Judged that Hobson had blown up the
Merrimac. For an hour the anxious
watchers waited for daylight. Rear
Admiral Sampson and Captain Chad
wick were on the bridge of the New
York throughout. At o'clock thin
streams of smoke were seen against 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
sighted before a puff of smoke issued
from a battery on the western arm of
the harbor and a shot plunged far over
the launch. Then for Is minutes the big
guns on shore kept up an irregular fire
on the little launch. At 6:l5 a. m. the
launch came alongside the flagship but
she did not have on board any of the
crew of the Merrmac.
Could Not escue Them.
Cadet Powell reported that he had
been unable to see any signs of the Mer-
rimac's crew. 1t developed that, with
great bravery, the crew had gone right
under the batteries and only returned
when all hope of taking on board the
crew of the Merimac had to be aban-
doned. Cadet Powell also reported that
he had clearly seen the Merimac's mast
sticking up just where Hobson hoped
to sink her. north OF the Estrella bat
terry and well past the guns of Morro
castle. But of the heroes who had
penned the Spaniards there was not a
sound or a sign. Rear Admiral Samp-
son said: II am pretty sure the at
tempt was quite successful. ] hope all
those brave fellows are not captured"
Cadel Powell believes the torpedoes
fixed about the Merimac were exploded
as planned. as Lieutenant Hobson was
well up the harbor before the Spanish
opened fire on the Merrimac. What ac-
tually happened on the Merrimac can
best be judged from what Lieutenant
Hobson said just before leaving the
flagship. He said:
II shall go right into the harbor until
about 400 yards past the Estrella bat
tery. which is behind Moro castle.
do 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 channel is reached
/ shall put her helm hard aport, stop
the engines. drop the anchors, open the
sea connections, touch off the torpedoes
and leave the Merrimac a wreck, lying
across the channel. which is not as
broad as the Merrimac is long There
are 10 eight-inch improvised torpedoes
below the water line on the Merrimac's
port side. They are placed on her side
against the bulkheads and vital spots
connected with each other by a wire
under the ships keel. Each torpedo
collects 81 pounds of gunpowder. Each
torpedo is also connected with the
bridge. and they should do their work
even IL done i'm a minute and a quarter
ION deck there will be four men and
myself. In the engine room there will
be two other men. This is the total
crew and all of us will be in our un-
derclothing. with revolvers and ammn-
milton in water-tight packing strapped
around our waists. Forward there will
be a man on deck and around his waist
will be a line. the other end being made
fast to the bridge on which viii stand
By that mans side will be an axe
When / stop the engine I will jerk this
cord and thus give the signal to cut the
lashing, which will cut the forward
anchor.
He will then jump overheard and
swim to the four-oared dingy. which
we shall tow astern- The dingy is full
of life buoys and is unsuitable. In IL
one made fast at her bow and one at
her stern. The first man to reach her
will haul in the tow line and pull the
dingy out to starboard. The next to
leave the ship are the rest OF the crew