The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-06
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ing gear will stop the engines, scram'
BILE up on deck and get Owe the side
as quickly rs possible. The man in tn,
engine room will break open the sea
connection with a sledge hammer and
will follow his leader into the water
This last step insures the sinking of the
Merrimac whether the torpedoes work
or not.
by this time / calculate the six men
will be in the dingy and the Merrimac
will have swung athwart the channel
to the full length of her 300 yards of
cable, which will be paid out before
the anchors are cut loose. Then IL Is
my time to touch the button. j shall
stand on the ~starboard side of the
bridge. The explosion will throw the
Merrimac on her %starboard side. Moth
ing this side of New York city will be
able to raise her after that"
No Fear of Death.
And you expect to come out of this
alive?" asked a companion of the lieu
tenant.
"Ah, that is another thing said the
lieutenant. He was so interested in
the mechanical details of the scheme
that he scarcely stopped to talk Of
possible death.
In reply to frequent questions Hob
son said: 81 suppose the Estrella bat
terry will fire down on us a bit. but the
ships will throw their searchlights in
the gunners' faces inc they won't see
much of us. Then, IL we are torpedoed
we should wen then be able to make
the desired position in the channel. 1t
won't be easy to hit US, and / think
dingy. / may jump before i am blown
up. but / don't see that 1t makes much
difference what / do. / have a fair
chance for life either way. If u
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 make our way alongside and perhaps
get back to the 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 uncontemplated emergency"
Lieutenant Hobson might have been
lecturing TO a class of cadets on theory
of how to build ships. so deliberate was
his manner. He was lately at An
napolis, in charge of the post graduate
course in naval construction, and is
accounted one of the most able naval
constructors in the service. being en-
tirely wrapped up in his profession.
The preliminary work of this desper-
officers and men. On Wednesday
morning. directly after Rear Admiral
SIMPSONS arrival and as Don as he
was certain the Spanish fleet was in
the harbor. the preparations to scuttle
the Merrimac in the channel were COM
menced. All day long, crews from the
New York and Brooklyn were on board
the collier, never resting In their eff
forts to prepare her. She lay along
side of the Massachusetts. discharging
coal, when the work was first begun.
Eager to Volunteer.
The news of the intended expedition
Travelled quickly through the fleet. and
1t soon became known that volunteers
were needed for a desperate undertake
ing. From the Iowa's signal yard
quickly iuttered the announcement
that she had 140 volunteers. n the
other ships were not far hin ON
the New York the enthusiasm was in
tense. over 200 members of the crew
volunteered to go into that narrow
harbor and face death. The Junior Of
fcers literally jumped over each other
in their eagerness to get their names
the volunteer list. Commander MIL
Ter. who had charge of the Merrimac.
with the admiral to let him go,
but the latter thought he had better
not.
When II was learned that only six
men and Lieutenant Hobson were To
go there was considerable disappoint-
ment on all sides. and when the New
York's contingent went over the side
late on Wednesday night, some of those
who were left were almost ready, brave
and strong as they were. to sit down
and cry.
All Wednesday night the crews
worked aboard the Merrimac which
then lay close to the New York. and the
other ships as they passed the collier
before shutdown cheered her with the
same spirit that h British men of
warsmen cheered the American sailors
at Samoa.
Lieutenant Hobson paid a hort visit
to the flagship shortly before mid
night and then returned to the Merri-
on board Of which craft he had
been all day. As he started down the
sea ladder there were many hands
stretched out to grasp his and many
quiet spoken earnest wishes for sue
cess. At 3 O'Clock the admiral and
Flag Lieutenant stanton got into the