The free press., 1898-06-09
SINKING OF THE MERR|MAC
Detailed Account of the Deed of
Heroism.
BRAVE MEN WHO FOLLOWED HOBs0N.
Graphic Description of an Event That
VIII Live in the Memory of Gener-
ations-List of Men Who Were
on the Collier Merrimac.

PORT ANTONIO, JAMAICA (Speclal1 -
A single deed of magnificent American
daring has lost to the kingdom OF
Spain the powerful fleet of Admiral
Cervera. Just before dawn Friday
seven gallant seamen took the collier
Merrimac under the blazing Moro
batteries and anchored and sank her
beneath spiteful fire of musketry and
heavy cannonading from the shore and
the wrecked hull of the sunken vessel
effectually closes the entrance to the
harbor within which the Spanish squad
ron is hopelessly 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. Hobson, who commanded the expe-
dition. With him went Daniel Mon
tague, George Charette, J. E. Murphy,
Oscar Deignan, John P. Phillips and
John Kelly, all non commissioned Off
GERS or enlisted men. A steam launch
from the flagship New York, COM
manded by Cadet J. w. Powell, fol,
lowed the Merrimac to the mouth OF
the harbor and despite the fire from
the forts cruised in the vicinity for an
hour and a half after the collier was
sunk, but no sign of the brave Amerl-
cans was seen, and Cadet Powell was
finally compelled to join the flagship.
The plan to block the entrance to
Santiago harbor had been under con-
sideration for several days, as Rear
Admiral Sampson had decided that it
was impossible to take his fleet inside.
All day Thursday the preparations
proceeded and by nightfall 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 night the various ships of the fleet
passed the doomed Merrimac, cheer
ing her Justify.
Hundreds of men and scores of Off
GERS volunteered for the duty and
Commodore Merrimac, begged per-
mission of Admiral Sampson to go,
but Lieut.. Hobson wanted only six
men. By o'clock all but the men
who were going on the dangerous er-
rand had been taken from the Merri-
mac and the collier took position
near the New York to await the ap-
pointed hour.
Soon after 8 o'clock the black hull
of the Merrimac began to drift slowly
toward the land, and in half hour
was lost to sight.
It was Lieut.. Hobson's plan to
steam past Moro, swinging crossways
the channel, drop his anchors, open
the valves, explode the torpedoes on
the port side, leap overheard, pre-
ceded by his crew, and make their
escape in little life boat which was
towed astern, if possible; and if not,
to swim ashore.
Scarcely had the ship disappeared
when flash from Morro's guns pro-
claimed that she had been discovered.
Immediately the other batteries
around opened fire. This morning
only her top masts can be seen in the
water near Moro. A heavy cannon
and musketry fire continued for about
a half hour, and guns were fired at in
tervals until long after daylight
None of the American ships dared
to fire for fear of striking the Merri-
macs crew.
Until $50 the search was continued
and then under a shower of Spanish
shells, which flew wide of their mark.
Cadet Powell steamed away and half
hour later boarded the New York and
reported to Admiral Sampson that he
believed the entire crew of the Merri-
mac had been lost. Not one of them
did he catch sight of. The Merrimac,
he said, lay we'll across the channel,
her masts showing that Lieutenant
Hobson had done his work well, sink
ing the ship almost at the exact spot
decided upon. The channel is not as
wide as the Merrimac's length and 1t
is impossible for the, Spaniards to
raise or destroy the wreck under the
GU ms of the American feet.