Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-06-08
SUNK In THE CHANNEL
AMERICAN HULK BLOCKS SAN.
TIAGO HARBOR.
Admiral Sampson Reports Having
PurposeIy Sent Collier Merrimac
Into the Mined ChanneI-Bottl Now
More Securely Corked.
Deed of Daring.


BY ole of the most brilliant exploits in
naval annals the cork has been driven into
the bottle of Santiago de Cuba and the
Spanish fleet could not be more secure
were the entrance to that harbor barred
and double locked and the key dropped
into the bottonless depths of the sea.
Lieut.. Richmond Z. Hobson of the flag
ship New York, with a volunteer crew
Of seven men, under cover of the dark
ness, ran the big collier Merrimac iato
the throat of the harbor, swung her broa
side across the chanuel and then exploded
and sunk her. He succeeded in this des-
peraoe enterprise under the fires. of the
batteries and forts which guard the en-
trance without support from the fleet.
Ensign Powell. also of the New York,
with 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.
Lieut.. Hobson and his men, in attempt
ing 10 escape, Were made prisoners by the
Spaniards as flag of truce announced,
but will be exchanged in due course of
time. Their mission was successful. En-
sign Powell distinctly saw the spars of
the wrecked ship in the middle of the
channel. Lieut.. Hobson planted her at
the very point he had selected.
Cushing's memorable feat in blowing up
the Confederate ram Albemarie is over
matched by Hobson's act, for Cushing's
men crept up at midnight and fell upon
an unsuspecting foe. HohSon took his
ship, over SOC feet long, into the very fo-
Gus of the battery-with the enemy at the
guns-and blew her up. Discovery at the
end of his journey was inevitable and
death was almost certain. No name,
therefore, can be written higher on wars
temple of fame than his. Like Cushings
deed, Hobson's desperate undertaking
was conceived bv him who executed it.
When Rear admiral Sampson joined
Commodore Schley the latter had already
ascertained that it would be impossible
for the fleet to crawl into the rathole in
which the Spanish fleet had taken refuge.
The mines across the entrance and the
batteries which commanded it made the
mere contemplation of it an act of folly.
Commodore Schley was inclined to
think the dynamite cruiser Vesuvius
might be able to countermine, but the
ships would have to go in single file, and
if one were sunk in the channel the pro-
gress of the others would be blocked. 1t
was then that Lieut. Hobson conceived
the scheme of sinking big collier across
the harbor entrance, and asked to be al
lowed to execute it himself. 1t seemed
certain death and almost certain failure,
as the odds were Overwhelmingly against
reaching the entrance before discovery;
but Hobson was SO enthusiastic that his
confidence was infections, and the admiral
finally reluctantly gave his consent.
Admiral Sampson has made official re-
port of the daring deed and says that six
of the Spanish squadron are in the harbor
of Santiago unable to avoid being cap
tured or destroyed.