St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-06-08
WAR NEWS.
Sinking of the Merrimac In Santiago
tiarbor Completely Bottles up
Cevera's Fleet.
Sinking Of the Merrlmac.

Fierce FlSntinX AT lidnlid.
Sinking Of the Merrlmac.
Admiral Sampson on Friday morning
completely shut the squadron of Admiral
Cervera in the harbor of Santiago by the
novel means OF sinking the big collier
Merrimac across the channel. The haz-
ardous task was assigned to brilliant
young officer Assistant Naval Con-
structor Richmond P. Hobson of Ala
bama. He volunteered Tor the work, and
seven men went with him in the under
taking. In perfect storm of shot and
shell, Hobson carried the Merrimac into
the mouth of the harbor, under the blaz-
ing guns of the forts and over the treach-
erous mines, swung his ship athwart the
channel, and blew out the bow of the
ship with an internal torpedo. The Mer-
rimac sank in less than five minutes.
She pitched head foremost under the
water, and the gallant crew of eight,
none OF whom, miraculously enough, was
badly injured, had just time to Chamber
into a boat and shove clear OF the Merri-
mac before the vessel disappeared.
Admiral Sampson now knows that the
men are all prisoners of war in the
hands of Admiral Cervera. With rare
appreciation OF the courage Of foe,
Cervera soon afterward sent word to
Sampson, under flag Of truce, announc-
ing the fact that the men were taken
alive and held as prisoners. Two of
them were slightly injured. In recogni-
ton OF their gallantry he offered to ex-
change them at once. Doubtless this will
be done by our government. No more
gallant act was ever performed by men
than the closing OF the harbor by sinking
the Merrimac. The men who did it
knew the terrible chances they were
taking. Yet there were plenty Of volun-
teers to do it. When Admiral Sampson
announced the enterprise, and word was
passed among the feet for volunteers, it
is said that every man on every ship
offered to go. and was eager to be Sc
lected Then Admiral Sampson was
forced to the task of making a selection,
which, no matter whom he chose, would
cause disappointment on the part OF so
many who could not go. Hobson was
chosen to command the enterprise. Adj
miral Sampson was satisfied that his
cool, calm resolution and courage might
be depended on, no matter what the cost.
The Merrimac would be sunk across the
channel if the men lived long enough toget
there.
Young Hobson is Southern boy and
a graduate Of Annapolis. He was one of
he ,l,a hac Df hal
passing talents, were selected to take an
elaborate course in naval architecture
with view to entering the construction
corps of our navy, a post which is con-
sidered one OF rare distinction. Since the
war began he has been attached to the
flagship New York under Admiral Samp-
sons immediate command. Hobson's
proper title is Assistant Naval Con-
structor. His relative rank in the navy
is that Of lieutenant, junior grade. He is
little more than thirty years of age.
He was appointed to the naval academy
on May 81, 1885, and became Assistant
Naval Constructor on July /, 1891.
When he was sent to sea with the North
Atlantic squadron he was on duty at
Annapolis.
Hobson was allowed to select the men
that should go with him on his danger
Gus mission. He lost no time in prepar
ing for the work. The preparations were
all made the night before, and at mid
night Hobson had the Merrimac's bow
headed for Santiago harbor. At about
2 O'Clock he departed from the fleet, lying
four miles off the harbor, and, steaming
slowly, was lost in the night. He was
directed to get as close in as possible be-
fore daylight broke and revealed his po-
sition. At the first streak of dawn he
was to run into the channel at full speed,
slip by the forts, and at the narrowest
part OF the channel, which is well into
the entrance, he was to swing his ship
across the channel, as near the center as
possible, and blow up the ship with the
prepared torpedo in the fore hold. He
and his men were to take their chances
then in getting away. II possible they
were to row out to sea. II not, there
was nothing to do but surrender them.
selves into the hands of the enemy, pro-
vided they were not blown up and killed
by the enemy's shells.
The Merrimac was admirably fitted for
the task in hand. With her hold half full
OF coal and sunk in the narrow channel,
she could not be removed except with
greater effort than Cervera could bring
to bear. The Merrimac was owned be-
fore the war began, under the same name,
in New York. She was of 5365 tonnage
and carried 5000 tons of coal. On the
breaking out of hostilities she was pur-
chased by the government, and Com
mander James M. Miller was assigned to
command her. For battery the Merri-
mac mounted on her deck six guns. She
was OF steel, $50 feet long, with a beam
OF 44feet and depth OF 20 feet. She was
built at Newcastle, Eng, in 1894. when
she was christened the Solveig, flying the
Norwegian flag.
A sharp lookout was kept from the
flagship and from the other ships Of the
fleet as daybreak began to appear.
Most OF the officers and men were on
deck to watch for the first trace of the
Merrimac. The New York, Oregon, Mas
sachusetts, Texas and New Orleans
moved up to position only three miles
from Moro so that the result OF the en-
terprise could be noted. As day came
on the Merrimac could be family seen
almost directly under Morro's guns. She
was evidently steaming directly into the
harbor. Smoke was coming from her
smokestacks and the engines were evil
IDENTIFY going at full speed. Suddenly the
guns on Moro, Socapo and the shore
batteries belched forth. The water about
the Merrimac was thrown high in the
air: Again and again the guns doomed
and from the interior of the harbor more
guns were loosed.
1t seemed to the feet as If the Merri-
mac must have been struck many times.
Still she did nnf amman to ho