The leader., 1898-06-08
HOW HOBsoN DID TT.
rna Merrimac Venture Minutely
detailed by the Leader.
natalie List Of the Heroes-Informa-
40, Prom oHcers I'm Charge Of Span
,.n Prisoners Insures an Exchange
of the Merr.mac Crew.

4, popr ANTONIO. Jamaica, June g.
The following is detailed story Of the
=, II heroism performed by Lieut..
p;cbmond p. Hobson, and his seven
.o,nanions in sinking the collier Mer-
.;n,c across the channel leading into
Al. barbor of Santiago de Cuba:
The Spanish feet is now helpless,
he;ng held captive in Santiago de Cuba
varhor, The narrow channel leading
80 the hsrbor was completely blocked
n.rIv Friday morning. when the United
s,.tes collier Merrimac was sunk
1.~oss its entrance. IL is now impos-
s;ble for the Spaniards to get out, and
;,;s equally impossible for any vessel
90 ret into the harbor. Therefore, the
snenish tirst-class armored cruisers
Maria Teresa. Cristobal Colon, Vizcaya
nd Almirante Oquendo, with two tor
nado boat destroyers, Furore and Plu-
,on are no longer of any use to Spain.
Th;s result was accomplished through
,hs beroism of Lieut.. Richmond p.
uobson assistant naval constructor,
ord Daniel Montague, George Charette,
&c. Murphy. Oscar Deignan, John p.
pblips John Kelly and Ii. Clausen.
Tho latter. coxswain of the New
York. took part in the expedition
.oainst orders. They were all cap
,ured by the Spaniards, but the Spanish
admiral. in recognition of their bravery,
ssnt word to the American admiral,
under a flag of truce, that he was will
inc to exchange the prisoners, and
assuring the American commander that
they would be treated with the greatest
kindness. Money and provisions have
been sent to them, and the necessary
steps are being taken to bring about
their exchange.
Montague is chief master-at-arms of
the New York lie has served four
wears in the navy, is go years of age,
and his home in Brooklyn.
George Charette is gunners mate of
the frst-class on board the New York.
He has served fourteen years in the
navy. is 81 years old, and resides at
Lowell Mass.
J. C. Murphy is a coxswain of the
Iowa.
Oscar Deignan is coxswain of the
Merrimac, and is about "A years old.
John T. Philips is machinist of the
frst-class, belonging to the Merrimac.
He is SO years of age, and his home is
near Glasgow. Scotland.
II. Clauscn. who slipped on board the
Merrimac without permission in order
to take part in the expedition, is a cox
swain of the New York.
What actually happened on board
the Merrimac can best be judged from
what Lieut.. IIobson said just before
leaving the flagship. Sitting in his
cabin, he Remarked:
Hobson's Plans.
Il shall go right into the harbor until
about 400 yards past the Estrella bat
terry, which is behind MORO Castle. J
don't think they can sink me before l
reach somewhere near that point. The
Merrimac has 1000 tons buoyancy, and
shall keep her full speed ahead. She
can make about ten knots. When the
narroweSt part of the channel is reach
ed shall put her helm hard a-port,
stop the engines, drop the anchors, open
the sea connections. touch off the tor
pedoes and leave the Merrimac a wreck
lying athwart the channel, which is not
as broad as the Merrimac is long. There
are ten s-inch improvised torpedoes be-
low the water line on the Merrilnac's
port side. They are placed on her side
against the bulkheads and vital spots,
connected with each other by wire
under the ships keel. Each torpedo
contains eighty-two pounds of gunpow
der. Each torpedo is also connected with
the bridge. and they should do their
work in a minute, and it will be quick
work, even if done in minute and a
quarter.
"On deck there will be four men and
myself. In the engine-room there will
be two other men. This is the total
crew, and all of us will be in our UNI
clothing, with revolvers and ammuni-
ton In water-tight packing strapped
around our waists. Forward there will
be man on deck, and around his waist
will be line, the other end of the line
being made fast to the bridge, on which
Twill stand. By that mans side there
Will be an AK. | will stop the engines
and shall jerk this cord, and he will
thus get the signal to cut the flashing
which will be holding the forward an
Choir. He will then jump overheard and
swim to the four-oared dingy which we
snail tow astern. The dingy is full of
lie buoys and is unsuitable. In it are
rifles. 1t is to be held by two ropes,
one made fast at her bow and one at
her stern. The first man to reach her
Will haul in the tow line and pull the
aingy on to the starboard. The next
10 leave the ship are the rest of the
crew. The quartermaster at the wheel
VIII not leave until after having put it
hard a-port and dashed it SO. He will
Then jump overheard. Down below
'ae man at the reversing gear will stop
'he engines, scramble upon deck and
get over the side as quickly as possible.
Inc man in the engine-room will break
open the sea connections with a sledge
hammer, and will follow his leader into
'ne water. This last step insures the
sinking of the Merrimac whether the
ofpedoes work or not,
All VIII He ON.
by this time | calculate the six men
VIII be in the dingy and the Merrimac
VIII have swung athwart the channel
a" the full length of her 800 yards OF
eaoie' which will have been laid out
ueiore the anchors were cut loose.
Anen all that is left for me to do is to
'ouch the button. shall stand on the
s.arooard side of the bride. The ex-
pioslon will throw the Merrimac on her
'.drooard side. Nothing on this side