The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-24
HOW HOBSOM DID It ALL
Official Story of the Sinking of
the Merrimac.
SEEN BY AN EYE WITNESS
Account OF the Performance Sent to the
Navy Department by Assistant En-
gineer rank Who Had Oppor-
tunities for Investigating It.

tuS lIlDunS ITOm dSn1NktOH Sdtss
The following description OF the heroic
feat Of Lieutenant Hobson in sinking
the Merrimac at Santiago has been re-
ceived at the navy department from
Assistant Engineer r. X. Crank, a for
mer shipmate and personal friend of
the gallant prisoner, whose exchange
has been refused by the spaniards. 1t
eye witness as we'll as an officer OF dis
tinguished ability, whose barely missed
sharing Hobson's fame, as he started
into the harbor with the vessel when
the first attempt was made. but was
not allowed to accompany her on the
second trip, I'm spite of his earnest pro-
test against being detached after he
had volunteered and been accepted, 1t
conclusively shows that the Merri-
macs mission was unsuccessful.
1t had been decided to try TO block
ade the channel of the harbor in order
to bottle up the Spanish ships in San
tiago. On Wednesday, June 1, while
the officers of the Merrimac were sit
ting at luncheon, Assistant Naval Con-
structor Hobson came aboard from the
flagship with the startling
ment that the admiral had decided to
run the Merrimac into the entrance
leading to the harbor of Santiago and
sink her. Mr.. Hobeon roughly outlined
his plans, n preparations were imme-
diately begun for putting them In into
execution. The four transverse bulk-
heads of the ship were located approx
imately and their position marked on
the port side of the ship at the rail.
The length of the Msrrimac is about
344 feet, her breadth Of beam abou A
feet. as nearly as can be remembered
A line was run along the port side of
4 the ahfn nnro1ln1 m tho uyafor line This
line was supported to "%hodging lines"
hat were run over the rail outside.
Along this line were to be suspended
in S-inch copper cases 10 charges of or
binary prlsmatic powder. a charge
Weighing about so 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 a primer n
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 battery was made ready. The first
plan contemplated the simultaneous ex-
plCsion of all 10 charges. 1t was found
that the battery on hand was not suf-
UClenl 10 tNplOue Win CERTAINTY more
han 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 hail of this anchor had been
led aft 45 fathoms along the deck clear
foi running, and the chain stoppered
at the after starboard bits. The star
board bower anchor and chain were
also made ready in a similar manner
for letting go. The cargo ports (of
which there are two on each side. one
forward and one afD were opened. The
ship was drawing about is feet of wat
er aft, and there was about three feet
of free board from the water to the
lower edge OF the cargo ports.
Below, in the ng1ne room. the nuts
holding the bonnets of the main injec-
ton valve and the sea suction valve
OF the big fire pump were slackened of,
ready for instant removal, and wooden
props were wedged In on top of the bon
nets. so that after the nuts had been
taken of one blow with a sledge would
knock out the props and allow the bon
net to come off. admitting the sea. Ar
rangements were made for cutting two
smaller pipes leading from the sea &c
, the donkey boilers. All watertight
doors were taken OF from the sthwart.
ship bu~lkheads, to give the water free
access to all parts of the ship. All thes,
preparations were made with the great
3 est haste, as IL was desired to send tn,
ship in before daybreak on the morning
5 of the I'd. One of the ships life
boats was to be towed from a line amid
, ships on the starboard side. All cans
, containing stores were knocked open.
. The officers and crew, with the excep
ton of Captain Miller, Assistant En-
gineer Crank, Machinist j. p. Phillips
) Ordinary Seaman Diegnan and Actins
. Water Tender Kelley. were sent to th'
T flagship New York. Mr.. Hobson was
: OF course. to remain aboard to take tn,
I ship in. In addition. Boatswain Mul
: len. Gunner's Mates Cherret and Mon
: tague came aboard in the Afternoon
u from the New York to form part of tn,
crew. The preparations were not com
, pleted until nearly daylight.
3 Finally all preparations were com
= pleted. The ship was headed only
few minutes. when she was directed Z
return by the flagship. This recal
was a great disappointment to Mr.. Hob
son. who wished to go in n have IN
thing over, despite the daylight. Thi
was at daybreak on une 3. Word wa
sent to us I'm the engine room that tn
fires might be banked, and hat the en-
y gines would not be needed further. ]
" had been decided to postpone the at
" tempt. OF course. the nervous strai
~ had been very great on the men, an
!. had acted as a stimulus to keep ther
up. The men left their stations. an
~ the ship steamed out further fror
shore. She was separated from all In
fleet, and in her abandoned. Quilted con
dition. certainly seemed like the doome
y vessel she was.
'e The Ma%rblehead came near the shi
~ about 5 o'clock to get the personal ei
!. fects OF the officers. which had beer
= however, sent aboard the Massachuset
=, the afternoon before. 1t was requests
thai some food be sent aboard. as theI
a had been none left on board, and N
~ means of preparing any. Some cofe
and bareback were sent aboard from n
ms Marblehead. This was all that the me
had until late I'm the afternoon. exceI
those who went on board the. fiagsni
about 2 O'Clock to rest and get som,