The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-06

trance 10 the harbor, within which the
Spanish squadron is hopelessly and help
lessly locked
This splendid stroke. which leaves the
government at Washington free to act
without further fear OF the Spanish feet.
was planned by Lieut. Richmond p. Hob
son, who commanded the expedition. He
is naval constructor. attached to the An
napolis and his home IS In Brooklyn. With
him went Daniel Montague, George Char
cite, j. c. Murphy. Oscar Delgnan. John
p Phillips, and John Kelly. all non-com-
missioned officers or enlisted men.
a steam launch from the flagship New
York, commanded by Cadet J. w. Powell.
followed the Merrimac TO the sea mouth
of the harbor and despite the firing from
the forts cruised in the vicinity for an
hour and half after the collier was sunk.
but no sign of the brave men was seen
and Cadet Powell was finally compelled to
rejoin the flagship.
Inc plan to block the entrance 10 San
tiago harbor had been under consideration
Tor several days, as Rear Admiral Samp-
son had decided il was impossible to take
his fleet inside Lieut.. Hobson had expect To-
ed TO do the work Wednesday night. but
owing TO the delay in preparing the ship il
was deferred.
The daring officer attempted to run in
after daylight on Thursday and was only
stopped under protest after stern orders
to return from the admiral
All day yesterday the PREPARATIONS pro-
ceeded and by nightfal the craft was in
readiness. A row of torpedoes had been
arranged outside the hull SO that Lieut..
Hobson could explode them from the
bridge of the vessel and thus insure her
rapid sinking.
AT nishtfall the various ships Of the fleet
passed the doomed Merrmac, cheering her
lustily.
Hundreds Of men and scores Of officers
volunteered for the duty and Commodore
Merrill, VINO had been the captain of the
Merrimac. begged permission of Admiral
Sampson 20 go, but Lieut.. Hobson wanted
only six men.
BY 10 o'clock all but the men who were
going on the dangerous errand had been
taken from The Merrimac and the collier
lock position near the New York to
await the appointed hour
Ii was an Impressive night among the
men of the fleet, for few expected that
the members of the little crew would see
another sunrise The night was CLOUDY
with titful lightning flashing behind The
dark lines of the hostile shore, now and
then showing the grim shadows of the bar =
Elements.
Soon after 3 o'clock the black hull of
the Merrmac began TO drift slowly to-
ward the land and in a half hour was
lost to sight.
1t was Lieut.. Hobsons plan to steam
past MORO, swinging Crossways the chan
mel, drop his anchors, open the valves.
explode the torpedoes on the port side,
leap overheard, preceded by his crew and
make their escape in a little life boat.
which was towed astern, # possible; and
If not, to attempt to swim ashore.
All the men were heavily armed ready
Ia make a fierce resistance to capture
Scarcely had the ship disappeared when
a fash from Morro's guns proclaimed that
she had been discovered.
Immediately the other batteries around
opened fire, but the ship went steadily
on, fol this morning nothing but the top
of her mast can be seen beyond Moro.
A heavy mortar and musketry fire ragged
for half an hour and guns were fired al
intervals until after daybreak.
As daylight came on the steam launch
could be seen cruising close TO the har-
Dor. The search was continued and
then, under a shower of Spanish shells,
which flew wide OF their mark Cadet
Powell steamed away and a half hour
later boarded the New York and reported
10 Admiral Sampson that he believed the
entire crew of the Merrimac had been lost.
Admiral Cervera is no longer a figure in
the war The cruisers Cristobal Colon,
Infanta Maria Teresa, Vizcaya and AL
mirante Oquendo are known TO be inside,
and il is believed that two or three small
warships, possibly torpedo boats, are with
him