The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-06-24
ENGINEER CRANk'S TALE
THE PREPARATIONS MADE FOB
THE DASH
UNPUBLISHED DETAILS GIVEN
It IL Not Believed That the Sunken
Hulk Completely obstructs the
Channel but It Is Enough
Associated Press Special Wiz.

Associated Press Special Wire
NEW YORK, June pa dispatch to the
Tribune from Washington says:
The following description of the heroic
feat of Lieutenant Hobson in sinking the
Nerrimac at Santiago has been received
at the Navy Department from Assistant
Engineer r. c. Crank, former shipmate
and personal friend of the gallant prisoner.
1t Is valuable as being the account of an
eyewitness as well as an officer Of
distinguished technical ability, who barely
missed sharing Hobson's fate, as he started
into the harbor with the vessel when the
first attempt was made, but was not al
lowed to accompany her on the second trip,
in spite of his earnest protests against be-
ing detached after he had volunteered and
been accepted. 1t conclusively shows that
the Merrimac's mission was unsuccessful.
1t had been decided to try to block the en-
trance of the harbor in order to bottle up
the Spanish warships On Wednesday,
June l, while the officers of the Merrimac
were sitting at lunch, Assistant Naval
Constructor r. p. Hobson came aboard
from the flagship with the startling an
nouncement that the Admiral had decided
to run the Merrimac into the entrance Of
the channel leading to the harbor of San
tiago and sink her. Mr.. Hobson roughly
outlined his plans, and preparations were
Immediately begun for putting them into
execution. The four transverse bulkheads
of the ship were located approximately
and their position marked on the port side
OF the ship at the rail. The length of the
Merrimac is about 344 feet, her breadth
of beam about A feet as nearly as can be
remembered. A line was run along the
port side of the ship parallel to the water
line. This line was supported by hog
ging lines" that were run over the rail
outside. Along this line were to be sus-
pended in eight-inch copper cases ten
charges of ordinary prismatic powder.
each charge weighing about eighty pounds
over this an ordinary igniting charge of
brown powder was placed and the whole
was covered up with pitch for protection
against the water with primer and wire
for exploding the charges.
The ship at this time contained about
1000 tons of coal. AS far as possible all
stores were removed. About dark the
powder charges were brought on board
and lowered into position over the port
side. The wire for exploding the charges
was run and connected and the dry bat
terry was made ready. The first plan con-
templated the simultaneous explosion of
all ten charges 1t was found the battery
on hand was not sufficient to explode with
certainty only six of the charges, so only
six were connected.
Meanwhile one of the ships anchors had
been taken aft to the starboard quarter and
dashed over the rail ready for dropping as
soon as the lashes were cut. The chain of
this anchor had been led aft, 45 fathoms led
along the deck clear for running, and the
chain stopped at the after starboard bits.
The starboard bow anchor and chain were
also made ready for similar manner Of
letting go. The cargo ports (of which there
are two on each side. one forward and one
aft) were opened. The ship was drawing
about sixteen feet of water aft, and there
was about three feet of free board from the
water to the lower edge of the cargo ports
Below in the engine room the nuts hold
ing the bonnets of the main injection valve
and the sea suction of the big fire pump
were slackened off ready for instant re-
moval, and wooden props were wedged in
on top of the bonnets, so that after the
nuts had been taken off one blow with
sledge would knock out the prop and allow
the bonnet to fall off, admitting the sea.
were also made for the
cutting of two smaller pipes leading from
the sea to the donkey boiler. All water
tight doors were taken from the bulkheacs
to give the water free access to all parts of
the ship. All these preparations were made
with great haste, as it was desired to send
the ship in before daybreak on the morning
of the second. One of the ships lfeboats
was to be towed from a line amdships on
the starboard side. All cans containing
stores were knocked open. The officers and
crew, with the exception of Captain Miller,
Assistant Engineer Crank. Machinist Phil
lips, Ordinary Seaman Diegnan and Acting
Water Tender Kelley were sent to the
flagship New York. Mr.. Hobson was of
course, to remain aboard to take the ship
in. In addition Boatswain Mullen, Gun
ner's Mates Charette and Montague came
aboard in the afternoon to form part of
the crew. The preparations were not COM
pleted until nearly daylight.
Finally preparations were completed The
ship was headed only very few minutes
when she was directed to return by the
udSSnlp. Inns Etcdll Was d great ulsdp-
pointment to Mr.. Hobson, who wished to go
in and have the thing over with despite the
daylight.
This was at daybreak on June 2. Word
was sent to US in the engine rooms that the
fires might be banked and that the engines
would not be needed further. 1t had been
decided to postpone that attempt until
night. OF course the nervous strain had
been very great on the men and had acted
as a stimulus to keep them up. The men
left their stations and the ship steamed out
further from shore. She was separated
from all the fleet and in her abandoned,
Quilted condition. certainly seemed like the
doomed vessel she was. The Marblehead
came near the ship about o'clock to get
the personal effects of the officers. which
had been, however, sent aboard the Massa-
chusetts the day before 1t was requested
that some food be sent aboard, as there ha d
been none left on board and no means of
preparing any. Some coffee and bareback
were sent aboard from the Marblehead
This was all that the men had until late
in the afternoon, except those who went
on board the. flagship about clock to res
and get something to eat. Boatswain Null
len went aboard the New York and did not
return for the second and final attemptl
Seaman Murphy came aboard to take his
place. The men lay around the ship most