The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-06-06

across the harbor entrance.
The flagship was too far away to hear
the reports, and when the firing ceased it
was judged that Hobson had blown up
watchers waited for daylight. Rear Ad.
miral Sampson aud Captain Chadwick
were on the bridge of the New York
throughout.
At i've O'Clock thin streams of smoke
We're seen against the western shore, quito
close to the Spanish batteries and strong
glasses made out the launch of the New
York returning to the flagship. Scarcely
had the small craft been sighted before o
pull of smoke issued from a battery on
the Yves tern arm of the harbor and shot
plunged far over the launch. Then for
fifteen minut es the big guns ashore kept
up an irregular fire on the little launch.
AS the shells fell without hitting the OBJ
Ject they were intended for, the men on
board the New York jeered at the Spanish
craftsmanship and cheered their ship
mates.
At 6.15 a. m. the launch came along
side the flagship, but she did not have on
9oard any Of the crew of the Merrimac.
Cadet Powell reported that he had Z zen
unable to see any sign Of the Merrimac's
crew. lt developed that, with great
bravery, the Cadet had gone right under
gne batteries and only returned when all
nope OF taking on board the crew of the
Merrimac had thus been abandoned.
CADET Powell also reported that he had
clearly sean the Merrimac's masts stick
ing up just where Hobson hoped to sink
her, north OF the EstrelIa battery and
well past the guns of Morro Castle. But,
OF the heroes who had penned the Span.
1ards In their was not sound Or Sign.
bear Admiral Sampson, said: stI am
pretty sure the attempt was quite SUCCESS
fuL l hope all those brave fellows are not
captured
Cadet Powell believes the torpedoes
previously fixed about the Merrirna6 were
exploded as planned, as Leuf, Hohson
was well up the harbor before jthe Span
lards opened fire on the Merrifaac.
What actually happened on board the
Merrlmac can be best judged from what
Lieut.. Hobson said just before leaving the
nagsh1p, Sitting in his cabin, his faca
Drowned by the sun and his eyes flashing
with excitement, he remarked:
shall go right into the harbor until
about 400 yards past the Estrella battery.
which is behind MORO Castle. do no6
think they can sink me before I reach
somewhere near that point. The MerTi-
mao has 1000 tons buoyancy and L shall
Keep her full speed ahead. She can maEe
about ten knots. When the narrowesb
part OF the channel is reached / shall put
her helm hard aport, stop the engines,
drop the ancLers, open the sea connections
touch of the torpeIces >smA leave the
Merrimac wreck, lyiltsse-Snwarte the
channel, which is not as broad as the
Merrimac is long. There are ten 8-inch
improvised torpedoes below the waterline
On the Merrimac's port side. They are
placed on her side against the bulkheads
and vital spots, connected with each other
by a wire under the ships keel. Each
torpedo contains 80 pounds of gun
powder. Each torpedo is also connected
tl,r,h Ibid %Iorr 1H1
work in minute, and it will be quick
werk even if done in minute and
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 undercloth-
ing, with revolvers and ammunition in
water tight packing strapped around ouI
waists. Forward there will be man or
deck, and around his waist will be line
the other end of the line being made fast
to the bridge where 1 will stand. BY that
mans side will be an axe. When I stoB
the engines I shall jerk this cord and he
will thus get the signal to cut the lashs
ings which will be holding the forward
anchor. He will then jump overheard and
swim to the four cared dingy which VIZ
shall tow astern. The dingy is full of
life buoys and is unsuitable. In it arc
rifles 1t is to be held by two ropes, ona
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 dingy
20 starboard. asIhe next to leave the ship
ire the rest of the crew. The quarter
master at the wheel will not leave until
after having put it hard aport and lashed
it so, he will then jump overheard.
"Down below, the man at the reversing
gear will stop the engines scramble up
on deck and get over the side asAquickly
IS he is able.
"The man in the engine room will
oreaksopen the sea cOnnectings with
sledge hammer and will follow his leader
into the water. This last slept insures
bhe, sinking of the Merrimac whether
torpedoes work or not.
ssBy, this time, I calculate the six men
will be in the dingy and the Merrimad
will have swung athwart the channel, I'd
the full length of her 800 yards cable,
which will have been paid out before the
anchors were cut loose.
Then, all that is left for me is to
starboard side of the bridge. The ex-
plosion will throw the Merrimao on her
starboard side. Nothing on this side of
New York city will be able to raise hes
after that.
''And you expect to come out of this
slive?" asked a companion Of the lieuten+
ant
,he lieutenant. He was so interested in
jhe mechanical details Of the scheme that
ae scarcely stopped to talk of life and
iGath. But in reply to frequent ques-
lions, Hobson said:
"I suppose the Estrella battery will fire
iown on us blt but the ships will throw
heir searchlights in the gunners' faces
md they won't see much of us. Then,
# we are torpedoed we should even then
pc able to make the desired position in
ihe channel. 1t won't be so easy to hit
is, and T think, the men should be ablf
% swim to the dingy. may jump be(
ore I am blown up. But don't see that
it makes much difference what I do. q
lave fair chance of life either way. IL
,ur dingy gets shot to pieces we shall
hen try to swim for the beach unde(
Moro castle. We shall keep together a
Ill hazards. Then, we may be able t.
make our way alongside and perhaps get
back to the ship. Ne shall fight the senf
ries or a squad until the last and wt
'hall only surrender to overwhelming
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