The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-06
Copyright 1885 by Associated Press.

Copyright 1885 by Associated Press.
On board the dispatch boat Daunt-
less. of Santiago de Cuba. June ..
a. m. via Port Antonio. Jamaica. June
4. delayed in transmission.)- one
annals the cork has been driven into
the bottle at Santiago de Cuba and
the Spanish fleet could not be more Sc
cure were the entrance to the harbor
doored. barred and double locked and
the KEEP dropped into the bottomless
depths of the sea. Lieut.. Richmond p.
Hobson of the flagship New York, with
volunteer crew of seven men. under
cover of darkness after the moon had
set shortly after 3 o'clock this morning.
ran the big collier Merrimac into the
throat Of the harbor, swung her
broadside to across the channel and
then exploded and sank her.
Ensign Powell. also of the New
York. with a steam launch crept close
under the guns of Moro Castle To take
off the heroes of the Merrimac and
remained there pluckily until daylight
discovered his position, without seeing
trace of the Merrimac's daring crew.
,usnlns mefnofdple ledt III blOWine
up the confederate ram Albemarle Is
overmatched by Hobson's act. for
Cushing's men crept up Albemarle
sound at midnight and fell upon an un-
suspecting foe. Hobson took his ship,
over 300 feet long. into the very teeth
of the battery with the enemy at the
guns and blew IL up. Discovery at the
end of his journey was inevitable and
death was almost certain. No name.
"a
wars temple of fame than his.
Hob,on'. Daring Plan.
When Rear Admiral Sampson Joined
| Commodore Schley on Wednesday the
| latter had already ascertained that IL
would be impossible for the fleet to
| crawl into the rat hole In which the
Spanish fleet had taken refuge. IL was
then that Hobson conceived the scheme
of sinking the big collier across the
harbor entrance and asked to be al
lowed to execute 1t himself. Hobson
was so enthusiastic that his confidence
was infectious, and the admiral finally
reluctantly gave his consent.
When the admirafs consent was OBJ
talned. Hobson became impatient Of all
delay, and that very night, Wednes-
day. after the moon went down. he set
the time for the attempt. Volunteers
were called for on all the ships OF the
fleet. and to the credit OF the American
navy be II said that few fiinched.
Whole cheering crews stepped forward
at the summons for the hazardous duty.
About 200 on board the New York, some
| 10 on board the Iowa. and like pro-
portion from the other ships. volun-
teered. but Lieptenant Hobson decided
to risk as few lives as possible. He
picked three men from the New York
| and three from the Merrimac. The lat
In 40 GarNica htIf thew
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 command.
manned the launch. which was TO lie at
the harbor mouth and take on those
who escaped The Merrimac was made
ready. six torpedoes were strung along
her port side with wire connections 10
the bridge. Her anchors were 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 bulkheads. The work
was not completed until after o'clock
Thursday morning. but with the sky
paling in the east. Lieutenant Hobson
headed on his desperate mission.
On board the ships of the fleet picket
ed about the entrance every officer and
man. with many warm heart beats for
their brave comrades. awaited the is
sue with eyes anxiously fixed on the
jutting headlands that marked the en-
trance OF the harbor. But the Merri-
mac steamed forward. Admiral Samp-
sen. pacing the deck OF the flagship,
looked az his watch and at the streaks
in the east. and decided that the Merri-
mac could not reach the entrance be-
g..ls he
pedo boat Porter. which was alongside.
was dispatched To recall the daring OFF,
GERS. Lieutenant Hobson sent back
protest with a request for permission
to proceed But the admiral declined
to allow him To take the risk. and
SLOWLY the Merrimac swung about.
During the day Lieutenant Hobson
went aboard the flagship. His once
white duck trousers were as black as
coalheaver's. his old fatigue coat was
unbuttoned and his begrimed face deep
furrowed by tense drawn lines. but reso-
luton still shone in his eyes. SO ab-
sorbed was he in the task ahead Of him
that unmindful Of his appearance and
naval etiquette. he told the admiral in
a 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 up for
"a hours and under a tremendous strain.
Iron viii break at last"
Paced Death and Glory.
Such was the indomltable 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
unbidden tear. But the Lieutenant bade
them adieu with a smile on his hand
some face.
This morning the Merrimac started In
Shorflv : nsetOek The fltll moon