The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1898-06-11
the sinking Of the Merrimac whether III
torpedoes work OF not.
Then Teseh the nuffsn.

the sinking Of the Merrimac whether the
torpedoes work OF not.
Then Teseh the nuffsn.
@By this time calculate the six men
will be In the dingy, and the MeTimae
will have swung athwart the channel 10
the full length Of her 300 yards Of cable,
which viii be paid out before the anchors
are cut loose. Then IL IL my time 10
touch the button. shall stand on the
starboard side Of the bridge. The ex-
plosion will throw the MerTimae on her
starboard side. Nothing on this side Of
New York city will be able TO raise her
after that
@And you expect 70 come out Of this
aiiye?" asked companion Of the lieu
tenant.
Never Thought Of the Risk.
"Ahl that is another thing" said the
lieutenant He was 80 interested in the
mechanical details Of the scheme that he
scarcely stopped 10 talk Of possible death.
In reply 10 frequent questions, HobsOn
said:
Il suppose the Estrella battery will
fire down on US q bit, but the ships will
throw their searchlights in the gunnerS
faces and they wont zee much Of us.
Then, If we are torPedOed, we should even
then be able TO make the desired position
in the channel 1t won't be easy 70 hit
US, and l think the men should be able
to swim to the dingy. i may jump before
| am blown up. But l don't see that II
makes much difference what do. have
n fair chance Of life either way. If our
dingy gets shot TO pieces we shall then
try TO swim for the beach right under
MORO castle. We shall keep together
at all hazards. Then we may be able
to get back tosthe ship. We shall fight
the sentries or a squad until the last,
and We shall only surrender to over
whelming numbers, and our surrender
will only take place as a last and as a
most uneontemplated emergency"
Lieutenant Hobs0n might have been
leeturing TO a class Of cadets on the the
DRY Of how to build ships 50 deliberate
was his manner. He was lately at Annap-
oils, in charge Of the post graduate course
in naval construction, and is accounted
one Of the most able naval constructors in
the service, being entirely wrapped up in
his profession.
The preliminary work Of this desperate
undertaking was a strain upon the Of
feers and men. On Wednesday morning.
directly after Rear Admiral Sampson ar
rival and as soon as he was certain the
Spanish feet was in the harbor, the prep
arations to scuttle the Merrimae in the
channel were commenced All day long
crews from the New York and Brooklyn
were on board the collier, never resting
in their efforts TO prepare her. She lay
alongside the Massachusetts, discharging
coal when the work was first begun The
news Of the intended expedition Travelled
quickly through the feet, and it soon
became known that volunteers were
needed for 4 desperate undertaking.
Volunteers by Hundreds.
From the IOwa's signal yard quickly
auttered the announcement that she had
40 volunteers, and the other ships were
not far behind. On the New York the
enthusiasm was intense Over 200 mem.
bers Of the crew volunteered to 60 into
that narrow harbor and face death. The
Junior officers literally jumped over each
other in their eagerness to get theiI
names ON the volunteer hist
Commander Miller, who had charge Of
the MerTimac, pleaded with the admiral
to let him 60, but the latter thought he
had better not. When it was learned
that only six men and Lieutenant HObsOr
wer to 20 there was considerable disap
pOintmcnt on all sides and when the New
Works contingent went over the side lat
er on "Wednesday night some Of thoss
who were left were almost ready, brave
and strong as they were, 10 sit down and
cry.
All Wednesday night the crews worked
aboard the Merrimac which then Law clos
to the New York, and the other ships a.
they passed the collier before sundowr
cheered her with the same spirit that
the British man Of warsman cheered tht
American sailors heroism at Samoa
Lieutenant HobsOn paid a short visit t.
the flagship shortly before midnight anC
then returned to the Merrimae on board
of which craft he had been all day. A.
he started down the sea ladder there wer'
many hands stretched out TO grasp hi
and many quiet spoken earnest wishes fol
his success 1t was thought then Hob
son would take the MerTimac in early il
the morning.
At 5 o'clock the admiral and Flag Lieu
tenant Staunton got into the launch Il
make an inspection Of the MerTimac. Tn,
working gangs were still on board Of he
and on board the New York the officer
of the flagship stood on the quarter deck
their glasses focused on the big blacl
hull that was to form an impossible Oh
struction for SPANS best ships.
The minutes slipped by, the crews Ia,
not completed their work on the MeETi
. mac, but at last, boatload of men, blacl
and tired out, came over to the flagship
Last Of all at 4:So O'Clock came the ad
miaL He had been delayed by break
down Of the steam launch.
First Attempt-Called BACK.
r Dawn was breaking over Santiago 4
; Cuba and nearly everybody thought
was too late for the attempt TO be mad
} that morning. Then somebody cried
'She is going int"
! Surely enough, the seemingly deserte
E collier was seen heading straight for No,
E 70 castle. The torpedo boat Porter wa
' lying in near the flagship and Admirs
3 SIMPSONS orderly, Lieutenant StauntoI
. snatched up the megaphOne and halle
I the Porter, saying; "POrter, there; te
e the Merrimae to return Immediately"
e Smoke was pouring from the Porter
: smokestacks and the dark little cni