Omaha daily bee., 1898-06-12
COMMENDS hOBSON'SB BRAVERY
Admiral Sampson Sends Official Report Of
Sinking Of Merrimac,
I'll
ENTERPRISE WAS CALAMITY EXECUTED
Plans for Accomplishing the Task
Az Wrought Cut by Hobson-
Expresses Hope Promotion
Will Ire Ills Reward.

WASHINGTON, June 1.-THE Navy de-
partment today posted the following bulle-
tin giving a detailed Official report from
Admiral Sampson upon the heroism of Lieu
tenant Hobson and his men In sinking the
Merrimac in the Santiago channel:
Permit me to call your special attention to
Assistant Naval Constructor Hobson. AS
stated In a special telegram before coming
mere. | decided to make the harbor entrance
secure against the possibility of egress by
spanish ships by obstructing the narrow
part or the entrance by sinking n collier at
that point. Upon calling upon Mr.. Hobson
LOT ms professional opinion as to a sure
method OF sinking the ship he manifested
the most lively interest in the problem.
AFTER several days consideration he pre-
scented a solution which he considered would
insure the immediate sinking OF the shin
when 1t reached the desired point in the
channel. This plan we prepared for exc
cution when we reached Santiago. The
plan contemplated a crew of only seven men
ana Mr.. Hobson, who begged that the task
might be entrusted to him. The anchor
chalns were arranged on deck for both the
ahchorS; forward and aft, the plan including
the anchorlng of the ship almost automat-
ically.
AS soon as l reached Santiago and | had the
collier to work upon, the details were com
pieted and diligently prosecuted, hoping to
complete them in one day. as the moon and
wv WV ~ o. y dlltI VI II
rival. notwithstanding the hour of 4
o CLOCK in the morning arrived and prepare
lions were scarcely completed. After a
careful inspection of the final preparations |
was forced TO relinquish the plan for that
morning, as dawn was breaking. Mr.. Hob
son begged to try 1t at ali hazards.
rms morning proved more propitious, as
a prompt start was made. Nothing could
nave been more calamity executed. We
walted imPatiently after the firing by the
spanlards mad ceased. When they did not
reappear from the harbor at 6 o'clock |
feared that they had all persisted. A steam
launch, which had been sent in charge of
Naval Cadet Powell to rescue the men, ap-
peared at this time, coming out under a
persistent fire of the batteries, but brought
none or the crew. A careful inspection of
the harbor from the ship showed that the
vessel Merrimac had been sum- in the chan
mel.
This afternoon the chief of staff of Ad-
miral Cervera came out under a flag of
truce with a letter from the admiral ex-
tolllng the bravery of the crew in an I'M
usual manner. l can not myself too earn
estly express my appreciation of the con-
duct OF Mr.. Hobson and his gallant crew.
l venture to say that a more brave and
daring thing has mot tbeen done since Cush-
ing blew up thai Alhemarle. Referring to
the inspiring letter which had been ad-
dressed to the ,cfhcers at the beginning of
the war, l am sure You will offer a suit
able professional reward to Mr.. Hobson and
MS companions" 1 must add that Com
hander j.. N. Miller relinQuished his COM
mand with the very greatest reluctance.
believing he would, retain his I'M
der all circumstances. He was. however,
finally convincedS that the attempt of an
other person tos setry out the multitude of
Details which haM kbeen in preparation by
Mr.. Hobson migfA endanger its proper exc
cution. l therefore took the liberty to re-
lieye him for this reason only. There were
70 participate; there We're $50 from the Iowa,
nearly as many from this ship, and large
numbers from all the old ships, officers ana
men alike w. T. SAMPSON.