Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-06-06
HOBS0N'S GALLANT ACT.
Continued from page ~

'ached 10 the flagship New York under
-h"iiiilal SIMPSONS Immediate com
'iiaho- Hobson's proper title is assist
'"t naval constructor. His relative
i'hh IN the navy is that of lieutenant,
JUNIOR grade. He is a little more than
% years of age. He was appointed to
the naval academy on May u, 1885. and
! pecslmc assistant naval constructor on
July l, 1891. When he was sent to sea
with the North Atlantic so,ladron he
was on duty at Annapolis.
Hobson was allowed TO select the
men that should go with him ON his
dangerous mission. He lost no time in
preparing for the work. The prepara-
ions were all made the night before,
ana at midnight Hobson had the Mer-
rlmac's bow headed for Santiago har-
Dor
AT about O'Clock he departed from
The fleet, lying four miles OFF the har-
Dor and, steaming slowly, was lost in
the night. lie was directed to get as
close IN as possible before daylight
broke and revealed his position.
At the first streak of dawn he was to
run into the channel at fun speed slip
by the forts, and at the narroWeSt part
oi the channel. which is We'll into the
entrance, he was to swing his ship
across the channel, as near the center
as possible.
He and his men were to take their
chances then in getting away. If pos
Slple they We're to row out to sea. f
not there was nothing to do but sur
render themselves into the hands of the
enemy. provided they We're not blown
up and killed by the enemy's shells
The Merrimac was admirably fitted
for the task in hand. With her held
half full of coal and sunk in the narrow
channel. she could not be removed ex-
ccpt with greater effort than Cervera
could bring TO bear.
The Merimac was owned before the
war began. under the same name in
New York. She was Of 6352 tonnaee
and carried 5000 tons Of coal. On the
breaking out of hostilties she was pur-
chased by the government, apd Com
mander James NJ. Miller was assigned
to command her.
For a battery, the Merrimac mounted
on her deck six guns. She was NJ
steel, $50 feet long, With a beam of A
feet and a depth of % feet. She was
built al Newcastle, Eng, in 1891, when
she was christened the Solveig, flying
the Norwegian flag
While engaged in taking on load az
grain at Newport News, on April y.
1897, she caught fire, and proceeded to
the Eric Basin, Brooklyn for repairs.
Her registry was changed to Ameritan
ana she became the property of Hogan
q Sous who al ha
| service. While in the service she ran
between Boston. New York ana Gal
| weston.
While acting as a collier the Merri-
macs officers. beside Commander Mil
Ter We're Lieut. w w. Gilmer, execu-
tive; Ensign !. NJ Luby, Ensign J. Il.
Y. Blakeley, Assistant Engineer H. *.
| Crank
sharp lookout was Kept from Ihc
| flagship, and from the other ships o.
the lleet as daybreak began to appear.
| Most Of the officers and men We're ON
deck to watch for the first trace of the
| Melrimac The New York Oregon.
! Massachusetts. Texas and New Or
leans moved up to a position only three
miles from MORO so that the result OF
| the enterprise could be noted.
~ Nt-SN Ntt4IIN pil tiit -Nfti iiIISt1 t'itaI
| he family seen almost directly under
! Morros guns. She was evidently
/ steaming directly into the harbor.
| Smoke was coming from her smoke
| stacks and the engines were evidently
going at fun speed. Suddenly the
guns on MORO. Socapa and the shore
/ batteries bclched forth. The water
about the Nerrimac was thrown high
4 l,,
| doomed and from the interior of the
! halbor more guns We're loused.
1t seemed to the fleet as if the Mcr-
rimac must have been struck many
! times. Still she did not appear to D.
damaged in the least. Presently shH
! was observed to swing around in tho
channel and then a great sheet Of
! flame appeared on her bow.
The ship was observed to settle
quickly. The glasses We're piled eager
ly to get a glimpse of Hobson and his
brave comrades But the view was OBJ
secured by the explosion Of shells and
by the smoke which surrounded tn
vessel 1t was feared that some, III
least. of the men were lost. Then the
Mnrrimac settled and disappeared from
the view Of the officers and men Of tn"
American ships.
During the morning a small boat, I'M
der a flag Of truce. put out of the har-
Dor and headed for the squadron In IL
was an officer of Admiral CerVera 5
fleet. To Admiral Sampson the officer
reported that the men who had suni1
the Melrimac had been taken prisoners
by he crew of the Reina Mercedes.
Admiral Cervera had been much i'm
pressed by the conspicuous bravery Of
the men who took part in the under
taking. He desired to assure Admiral
Sampson that the men would recelV"
proper treatment as prisoners of war.
HOBSON'S ANCESTORS.
Cor cnnnratinns Ihnu Have Been Einhters and