The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-06-16
AOBSON' SGALLANT CHOICE
BRILLIANT EXPLOIT OF THE
NAVAL CONSTRUCTOR.
I'ut the stopper in That Bottle of
Santiago HIarbor Where Cervera's $
Fleet is Hermetically Sealed.

WASHINGTON, June THE Navy
Department heard from Admiral
Sampson today, and after his dispat-
ches were translated the following
bulletin was posted:
MOLE, Hayti. June Succeeded in
sinking the Merrimac in the channel
of Santiago at a. m. on June 3rd.
This was carried out most gallantly
under the command of Naval Con-
structor Hobson and seven men. by
flag of truce from the Spanish adj
miral, Cervera, sent in recognition of
their bravery. ! am informed all are
prisoners of war, two slightly wound
ed. Request authority to approve eH-
change. If possible. between these
and prisoners at Atlanta. Six of the
Spanish squadron in the harbor of
Santiago, unable to avoid being cap
tured or DESTROYED
SAMPSON.
NEW YORK. June admiral
block the, entrance of Santiago har-
Dor to prevent the escape of Admiral
Cervera's squadron. This decision
was arrived at as part of the plan of
the American government The in
tention is to use land forces to com
pei the capitulation of Santiago and
the surrender of Admiral Cevera's
squadron. BY sinking the Merrimac
in the channel egress of the Spanish
ships is prevented, and there is.
therefore. no danger of their putting
to sea and escaping some stormy
night when the American ships would
be compelled to run out for sea-
room.
Once the plan of blocking the en-
trance was decided upon the Merri-
mac was selected for the purpose, as
owing to her length $50 feet. she
would completely close the channel
even if she did not sink directly
across it.
Admiral Sampson called for volun-
tcers for the perilous task of running
the vessel past the batteries and sink
ing her. II was desperate under
taking, as every man in the fleet well
knew. for the chances were great
that if the Merrimac passed the bat
tcries unscathed she would be blown
up by mine.
Officers and men jumped at the
chance. Thousands volunteered.
Finally. however, Naval Construc-
tor Hobson and several other men
We're picked out. the former commar-
ding a gallant crew. They at once
went on board the collier. where prep
erations were made for the work that
was ahead of them. After everything
had been arranged, the officers and
crew of the Merrimac left her. going
on board the other vessels of the
fleet. Then, with everything in read
mess and with those on board of her
facing what appeared to he sure
death. the Merrimac started for the
entrance at o'clock Friday morning,
accompanied by some of the warships
which poured a heavy fire upon the
batteries in order to divert their at
tention as much as possible from the
Merrimac.
For some unknown reason the Span
ish made no attempt to blow up the
vessel with their mines, but they did
direct some of the fire of the bate
ries upon her She was hit number
of times, but the shot did not check
her progress. and she went along un-
til she reached the narrowest part of
the channel, when she dropped her
anchor.
Her headway caused her to drag
considerable, but finally the anchor
checked her and she swung broad
side on to the channel. With time
fuse the men prepared an explosion
in the fore hold. They lit fuse and
entered rowboat and pushed off
| There must have been large hole
torn in her hull by the explosion
which followed. for she sank in n
short time.
Meanwhile Constructor Hobson and
the brave men with him were pulled
| away from the ship. They had One
only a little way when the explosion
occurred, and the Merrimac gave a
lunge and plunged to the bottom, 60
ing down in from thirty-five to forty
| feet of water. Part of her smoke
stack and masts project above the
water.
1t was of course impossible for Hob
son and his crew to pass out of the
harbor in the face of the fire from
the batteries. They therefore calm
ly proceeded to row to the Cristobal
Colon. the flagship of the Spanish
squadron. where they yielded them
selves as prisoners of war. q
Though they had shut off all the
chances of escape for the Spanish
feet, Admiral Cervera recognized and
admired their bravery, They were
treated kindly and later in the day
the Spanish commander sent out a
boat with a flag of truce to- Admiral
| Sampson, with an offer to exchange
his prisoner for some of the Spanish
now confined at Atlanta Admiral
Sampson could not arrange this on
his own responsibility, but he has
cabled to Washington for permission
to effect the exchange.
Clausen, the New York's coXswain,
went on the Merrimac against ord
ers. Nothing could have kept him
from that trip into the jaws of death