The record-union., 1898-06-06
,ore flashes and for about twenty min

more flashes and for about twenty min
utes flashes of fire seemed to leap 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 the Merri-
mac. For an hour the anxious watch
ers waited for daylight Rear Admiral
Sampson and Captain Chadwick We're
on the bridge of the New York through
out.
At o'clock thin streams of smoke
We're seen against the western shore
quite close to the Spanish batteries and
strong glasses made out the launch CT
the New York returning to the lag
ship. Scarcely had the small craft
been sighted before puff of smoke
issued from a battery on the western
arm of the harbor and a shot plunged
far over the launch. Then for fifteen
minutes the big guns on shore kept up
an irregular fire on the little launch.
AS the shells fell without hitting the
object they We're intended for, the men
on board the New York jeered at the
Spanish craftsmanship and cheered
their shipmates.
At 6:15 a. m. the launch came along
side the flagship, but she did not have
on board any of the crew of the Merri-
mae. Cadet Powell reported that he
had been unable to see any signs of
the Merrimac's crew. 1t developed
that, with great bravery, the crew had
gone right under the batteries and only
returned when all hope of taking On
board the crew of the Merrimac had to
be abandoned.
Cadet Powell also reported that he
had clearly seen the Merrimac's masts
sticking up just where Hobson was to
sink her, north of the Estrella battery
and we'll past the guns of Morro Cas-
tie But of the heroes who had penned
the Spaniards in there was not sound
or a sign.
Rear Admiral Sampson said: Il am
pretty sure the attempt was quite sue
cessful / hope all those brave fellows
are not captured"
Cadet Powell believes the torpedoes
previously fixed about the Merrimac
We're exp oded as planned, as Lieuten-
ant Hobson was well up the harbor he
fore the Spaniards opened fire on the
Merrimac.
What actually happened on the Mer-
rimac can best he judged from what
leaving the flagship. Sitting in his
cabin, his face Drowned by the sun
and his eyes flashing with excitement,
he reckoned: Il shall go right into
the harbor until about 400 yards oast
the Estreila battery, which is behind
Moro Castle. / do not think they can
sink me before / reach somewhere lear
that point. The Merrimac has seven
thousands buoyancy and / shall keep
her full speed ahead. She can make
about ten knots When the narrowest
part of the channel is reached / shall
put her helm hard aport, stop the en-
gines drop the anchors, open the sea
connections touch off the torpedoes and
leave the Merrimac a wreck, lying at
the part of the channel which is not
as broad as the Merrimac is long. There
are ten S-inch improvised torpedoes be-
low 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 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 a minute
and a quarter.
ION deck there will be four men and
myself In the engine-room there viii
be two other men. This is the total
crew, and all of us will be in our under
| 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 a line, the other end of the line
being made fast to the bridge on which
| / will stand BY that mans side will
/ be an AK When / stop the engine
will jerk the cord. and will thus give
! the signal to cut the lashing. which
| will cut the forward anchor. We will
/ then jump overheard and swim to the
/ four cared dingy which we shall tow
| astern. The dingy is full of life buoys
/ and is unsinkable In it are rifles. IT
| 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 dingy out
j to starboard The next to leave the
| ship are the rest of the crew. The
/ Quartermaster at the wheel will not
/ leave until after having put it hard
| aport and lashed it so; then he will
! jump overheard. Down below, the man
/ at the reversing gear will stop the en-
! gines. scramble upon deck and get over
| the side as quickly as possible.
The man in the engine-room will
/ break open the sea connections with
| a sledgeh hammer, and will follow his
| leader into the water. This last step
/ insures the sinking of the Merrimac
whether the torpedoes work or not
! BY this time / calculate the six men
will be in the dingy and the Merrimac
| will have swung athwart the channel
1 to the full length of her 300 yards of
cable, which will be paid out before
| the anchors are cut loose Then it is
my time to touch the button. / shall
1 stand on the starboard side of the
/ bridge. The explosion will throw the
! Merrimac on her starboard side. Moth
\ ing on this side Of New York City will
/ be able to raise her after that
/ And you expect to come out of this
/ alive?'' asked a companion of the Lieu
/ tenant
"Ah. that is another thing" said the
4 Lieutenant
He was so interested in the mechan-
| ical details of the scheme that he
scarcely stopped to talk of possible
I death.
/ In reply to frequent questions, Hob
son said: II suppose the Estrela bat
| terry will fire down on us bit, but
| the ships will throw their searchlights
\ in the gunners' faces, and they won't
| see much of US. Then, if we are tor
| pedoed. we should even then be able
to make the desired position in the
4 l,a CO tn T.;