The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-08-06
'H0BSON'S HEROIC FEAT,
A THRILLING NARRATIVE OF NAVAL
HlSTORY'S BRAVEST EXPLOIT.

ship, the collier Merrimac, bottled ND
Admiral Cervera's feet in Santiago
harbor, reached Key West and told the
story of the seven heroes led by As
sistant Naval Constructor Richmond
P. Hobson, who cheerfully held life
as nothing while accomplishing one of
the greatest strategic feats in the his
tory of naval warfare.
Officers and men from every ship
of the fleet, he said, implored that
they be allowed a place on the forlorn
hope. Commander Miller himself
begged that he might at least remain
on his ship till the moment came to
sink her, but in the dead of night Adj
mural Sampson was rowed from his
flagship to the collier, and when he
returned Commander Miller was with
him.
Hobson was the man whose brain
conceived the plan of placing ship
three hundred and thirty eight feet
long broadside across the bottom of o
four hundred foot channel, and Adj
miral Sampson decided that no posi-
bic honor should be kept away from
strategist so daring.
Hobson was in command. With
him were three men from the Merri-
mac. They were Deignan, who is the
best coxswain in the navy; Phillips,
the best machinist, and Kelly, the best
water tender. These weres chosen by
Commander Miller from the forty-four
of his crew who clamored for chance
to give their lives to bring them and
their country glory, for none who
went through the hell that poured
from Moro and Zocapa expected to
complete the mission and live.
Beside those from the Merrimac
there were three others chosen from
other ships.
How we'll these seven did their
work the Spanish admiral testified
when he sent his chief of staff aboard
the flagship to tell Admiral Sampson
that never had he seen a deed so dar-
ing, never had he seen such magnif-
cent strategy so coolly and perfectly
carried out. Admiral Sampson thanked
the Spanish admiral for his courtesy
and had an abundance of money and
clothing sent to the gallant men.
"Hobson," said Commander Miller,
''is one Of the grandest heroes in the
world. The way the man went about
sinking the Merrimac was absolutely
astounding for audacity, cleverness,
GOODNESS and success. When he started
I knew he never expected to get out
alive. He said so, but he was calmly
confident that he could fix the Span
ish like trapped rats.
''He had suggested the plan to Adj
miral Sampson as soon as it was known
the Spanish feet was in Santiago
harbor. The plan became known to
the entire feet, and I don't believe
there was IN officer or man on nyship
who didn't try to get place on the
Merrimac. 1t was Hobson's scheme,
and by right it was his to carry out.
""The night was intensely dark. We
saw a light from shore. Hobson
coolly told his plan to Admiral Samp-
son and left us. In few minutes
the Merrimac was under way toward
the narrow entrance to the harbor,
while we stood we'll ont, straining our
eyes through the darkness and wait
ing for the grand crash which we
thought would tell us of the destruc-
ton of those seven daredevils.
straight to the point did Hobson
and his chosen crew on the doomed
collier go. Not sound came from
the Spanish batteries. We thought
we must have silenced them, but soon
learned our mistake. A long thin
flash came from Moro. We could not
hear the roar because we were too far
out, but we knew it was signal gun.
The Merrimac kept on just as though
she was going to land picnic party
in whose honor fireworks were being
exploded.
SIN less than q minute after that
signal gun we saw the gallant ship
we'll in toward the east of the channel
entrance, in the centre of what would
pass for living picture of an inferno.
How those Spaniards fired. 1t seemed
to me as though all the forts on earth
had been massed at Moro and Zocapa
to slaughter our seven heroes. It was
a scene of heroism and heroes.
"The Merrimac got we'll in shore
and dropped her stern anchor. Then
she swung around and pointed across
the channel to the eastward. The bat
teries on shore kept on pouring shot
at her. A rain of iron fell all around
her, but she kept on. At last she
reached just the position for which
Hobson had planned. She lay straight
across the channel, with thirty-one
feet of water both forward and astern.
She lay we'll inside the forts.
"Next anchors were put out from
| the how. and she was ready for de-