The Jersey City news., 1898-06-11
[ K ] R 4 !!
HOBSON' s FEAT.
Admiral SIMPSONS OFF,
cial Report on the
Merrimac AdVen-
ture.
HIS OWN PLAN ENTIRELY
The Brave Naval Construct
or Worked Out All the
Details Of Bottling
Up CerVera.
BEGGED FOR THE COMMAND
Captain Miller Was Reluctant
to Give Up the Danger
and the Glory.
BRAVEST DEED SINCE CUSHING'S.
Unstinted Praise and a Recon-
mendation of High Re-
ward by the Fleet
Commander.
DETAILS OF SANTIAGO DOINGS.
Delayed Mail Tells How Sampson
and Schley Outmanoeuvered
the Spanish Admiral.
Delayed Mail Tells How Sampson
and sch1ey Outmanoeuvered
the Spanish Admiral.

WASHINGTON, June H. 1S98.-The
Navy Department today posted the fol-
lowing bulletin, giving a detailed official
report from Admiral Sampson upon the
heroism of Lieut.. Hobsen and his men
in sinking the Merrimac in the Santiago
channel
UNITED STATES FLAGSHIP NEW
YORK, OFF SANTIAGO, June 8, 1ssS--
Permit me to call your special at
tention to Assistant Naval Constructor
Hobson AS stated in a special telegram,
before coming here, decided to make
the harbor entrance secure against the
possibility of egress by Spanish ships by
obstructing the narrow part of the en-
trance by sinking collier at that point.
Upon calling upon Mr.. Hobson for his
professional opinion as to a sure method
of sinking the ship he manifested the
most lively interest in the problem. Al
ter several days consideration he pre-
sented a solution which he considered
would insure the Immediate sinking of the
ship when she reached the desired point
in the channel. This plan we prepared
for execution when we reached Santiago.
The plan contemplated crew of only
seven men and Mr.. Hobson, who begged
that it might be entrusted to him. The
anchor chains were arranged on deck for
both the anchors, forward and aft, the
plan including the anchoring of the ship
almost automatically.
s.As soon as I reached Santiago and l
had the collier to work upon the details
were completed and diligently prose-
cuted hoping to complete them in one
day. as the moon and tide served best
the first night after our arrival. Not
withstanding every effort the hour of
four o'clock in the morning arrived, and
the preparation was scarcely completed. 4.
After careful inspection of the final
preparations I was forced to relinquish
the plan for that morning as dawn was
breaking Mr.. Hobson begged 70 try it
at all hazards.
.sThis morning proved more propitious.
as a prompt start could be made. Moth
ing could have been more gallantly exc
cuted. We waited impatiently after the
firing of the Spaniards had ceased. When
they did not reappear from the harbor at
six O'Clock I feared that they had all
perished. A steam launch which had
been sent in charge of naval cadet Powell
TO rescue the men appeared at this time
coming out under a persistent fire OF the
batteries, but brought none Of the crew
a careful inspection Of the harbor from
this ship showed that the vessel Merri-
mac had been sunk in the channel.
This afternoon the chief Of staff OF
Admiral cervera came out under Tag Of
truce with aletter from the Admiral ex-
folling the bravery Of the crew in an un-
usual manner.
II cannot myself too earnestly express
my appreciation Of the conduct OF Mr..
Hobson. and his gallant crew. venture
10 say that more brave and daring
hing has not been done since Gushing
,iew up the Albemarle-
"Referring to the inspiring letter which
,ou addressed to the officers at the be-
Iinning of The war I an sure you will