The times., 1898-10-24
Department the following dispatch, in
cipher, beginning with the word "Regen-
4

Department the following dispatch, In
cipher, beginning with the word 'Regen-
water":g
I received yesterday, May 81, at p.. M,
copy of dispatch from Schley dated May "a to de-
partmt mt, reporting his movements. / dispatched
Immediately the New 0riCani to convoy collier Ster
| ling through Bahama Channel and then, leav-'
ing collier, go with all dispatch to Santiago with
orders to Schley to blockade Spanish squadron
at all hazards and take every action necessary to
| prevent their cgress Shall send Immediately
another collier. Have advised Schley TO use
| Spanish American Company's property as eoaling
station. Notwithstanding apparent uncertainty
| OF Schleys movements, j believed Spanish squad
ron still in port, and l came here Immediately
| to be in better communication and telegraphed
Schley to Mole ST. Nicholas same orders conveyed
/ by New Orleans, hoping to reach him earlier. He
undoubtedly has sufficient coal aboard ship 10 still
, keep the sea some time, all except Iowa left
here full. Ny orders to Schley by New Orleans
included sinking of the Sterling collier across
the entrance to Santiago The channel is but
800 feet broad, and il this be properly done the
pert will be closed until steamer is raised. The
details of the operation left to Schley, with
verbal explanation, through Capt. Folger, of my
own views. II is for this reason additional coal
has been sent. The importance of absolutely pre-
venting the escape of the Spanish squadron is
so paramount that the promptest and most eff
fcient use of every means is demanded
On May % Admiral Sampson sent the
following telegram to the Secretary of
the Navy:
Telegram just received from (Gozais Ecumlssezl
Schley shows he is today bockading of Santiago
de Cuba, and will continue to do until coal
supply has been reduced to safe limit for large
ships. Yesterday auxiliary No. 557 captured
collier hound Santiago de Cuba, cargo Of coal.
The Indiana and the Minneapolis and auxiliary
No. 59l will arrive at Key West for coal The
New York is ready to start to Santiago
as authorized to do so by the department.
sampson COngratuIntcs SchIey.
The following telegram was sent to
Commodore Schey to both Port Antonio,
Jamaica, and Mole st. Nicholas, by Ad-
miral Sampson:
Congratulate you on success. Maintain close
blockade at all hazards especially night; very
little TO fear from torpedo boat destroyers. Coal
IN open sea whenever conditions permit. Send
snip 10 examine Guantanamo with view to occd-
pying ii as base, coaling heavy ship at a
time. Appraise captured coal. use it ii desired,
and afterwa,d send ship in prize.
On May %, Commodore Schley reported
to Admiral Sampson as follows:
Enemy in port; recognized Cristobal Colon and
Infanta Maria Teresa and two torpedo boats
moored inside MORO, behind point. Doubtless the
others here. We are short Of coal, using
hole gasket; have sent boilemaker board TO
repair Golfers repaired; machinery being put
together. Have about 5000 tons Of coal in coll er
but not easy 10 get on board here. II no engage
ment in next two or three days. Simpsons squad
ron could relieve this one to coal at GOnaives
or vicinity of Port Prince. Hasten dis
patch BEATS for picket work. Brooklyn, Iowa.
Massachusetts,, Texas. Marblebcad Vixen, and
collier compose squadron here.
The following important cablegrams
IN
Schley We're received at Mole St. Nicho-
las on May q and %, respectively:
The most absolutely urgent thing now is 10
know positively whether the Spanish division is
In Santiago de Cuba Harbor, az IL 20. immediate
movement against it and the town will be
made by the navy and division of about l0,C0O
men of the American troops which ready
to embark. You must surmount difficulty regard
ing coaling by your ingenuity and perseverance.
This Is crucial time. and the department re-
lies upon YOU to give information quiczly as
10 the presence of Cervera 10 be ready
for concerted action with the army Two colliers
have been ordered Mole. Haiti. Your vessels may
coal singy there or in Gonaives Haiti Channel.
or leeward Cape Cruz, Cuba. Sampson coming
around Windward Passage. Orders have been is
sued TO the commander of the Yankee % TO re
port to you, and the Minneapolis will go north.
CerveTa must not he allowed TO escape.
1t is your duty TO ascertain Immediately the
Spanish fleet il they be at Santiago de Cuba and
report. Would be discredtabe to the navy II
that fact was not ascertained Immediately. All
naval and military movements depend on that
Hobson's Heroic Work.
On June l, the report proceeds as fol-
lows:
About p. m. the Dolphin arrived, con-
voying the cable steamer Adria.
Immediately on arrival l steamed
down past the entrance to Santiago har-
Dor and saw close within the Cristobal
Colon and one of the Vizcaya class Both
of these got up steam and moved up into
the harbor out of sight.
Preparations were at once made for
sinking the collier Merrimac in the en-
trance, the port watch of the New York
being sent on board. The night of this
day was particularly favorable for the
enterprise, the tide, the time of setting of
the moon, etc, all conjoining most IA
vorably.
I'm consulting Assistant Naval Con-
structor Hobson as to the best means of
sinking the vessel he showed himself so
interested, worked to such degree in the
preparation. and entreated so strongly
that he might be allowed to take the ship
in that l consented though several hun
dred officers and men had volunteered,
and many begged hard to CO.
THE crew finally selected was as fol-
lows:
Naval Constructor r. 7. Hobson, D.
Montague, chief master at arms, New
York; Gunner's Mate third class George
Charette New York; Cockswain r. Clau-
sen, New York; Machinist first class G.
F. Phillips, Merrmac; Water Tender F.
Kelly, Merrimac; Coxswain o. Deignan,
Merrimac, and Coxswain j. E. Murphy,
Iowa.
Assistant Constructor Hobson had for
merly been a line officer. and was for
some time assistant navigator of the Chi
cago. so that he was qualified to conduct
the ship.
June 2-Unfortunately the preparations
were not completed before daylight of the
%, and the expedition had to be post
poned to the next night, when, at $3.50 a
m. June 3, she went In and was sunk. as
we now know she did not sink until she
was much higher in the channel than was
intended. This was owing to the failure
of her steering gear and to a partial fail
ure of the torpedoes arranged along her
side to explode
Then follows Admiral Sampson's dis
patch to Secretary Long, praising Hob
sons bravery and stating that Admiral
Cervera had sent a flag of truce in recog-
milton of the heroism of the crew of the
Merrimac.
On June 4, Admiral Sampson issued
another order of battle to suit the
changed conditions. 1t follows:
The Texas. Massachusetts, Iowa, and the Oregon
Will take positions 600 yards from Estreila Point
and opposite the entrance 10 the port of Santiago
in the order named, from west to east, in such
position as to be able to observe the wreck of
the Merrimac and will fire upon any parties