Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-06-12
SAMPSON ExToLs HoBsoN.
The Admiral Says He Is a Worthy Sue
cessor of Gushing.
-- lBY Telegraphl

(By Telegraph)
WASHINGTON, June 1.-THE Navy
Department today posted the following
bulletin. giving detailed official report
from Admiral Sampson upon the hero
ism of Lieutenant Hohson and his men
in sinking the Merrimac in the Santiago
| channel:
United States flagship New York.
Off Santiago. June ;. lsas.-Permlt ME
! to call your special attention to Assist
| ant Naval Constructor Hobson. AS
| stated in a special telegram before
coming here decided to make the har-
sibllity of. egress by Spanish ships hy
| obstructing the narrow part of the ca
| trance by sinking a collier at that
point Upor, calling upon Mr.. Ho5sun
for his professional opinion as to sure
method OF, sinking the ship he mani
tested the most lively interest III the
problem. After several days consider
alton he presented q solution which he
considered would insure the Immediate
sinking Of the ship when She reached
che desired point In the channel. This
plan we prepared for execution when
we reached Santiago. The plan con-
tempiated crew of only seven men
anu NAk. MIC OtSSeu tuskI X
might be entrusted to him. The anchor,
chains were arranged on deck for both
the anchors, forward and aft the Plan
Including the anchoring OF the ship al
most automatically
''As soon as reached Santiago and
had the collier to work upon the de
tails were completed and diligently
prosecuted hoping to complete them In
one day. as the moon and tide served
best the first night after our arrival
Notwithstanding every effort. the hour
OF o'clock In the morning arrived and
the preparation was scarcely complet-
ed. After careful inspection of tbs,
final preparations was forced to rGlin
quish the plan for that morning. as
dawn was breaking. Mr.. Hobson beg
ged to try II at all hazards.
This morning proved more propi-
tfeus. as prompt start could be made
Nothing could have been more gallant
~ executed. We waited impaticntiy
after the firing by the Spaniards had
ceased When they did not reappeal
from the harbor at 6 o'clock l feared
that they had all persisted. A steam
launch which had been sent in charge
Of Naval Cadet Powell to rescue the
men, appeared at this time, coming GU.
under II persistent fire OF the batteries,
but brought none or the crew a care
tut inspection OF the harbor from this
ship showed that the vessel NIerrmac
had been sunk In the channel.
This afternoon the chief of staff of
Admiral Cervera came out under a
flag of truce with n letter from the ad-
mtral extoiling the bravery of the crew
III an unusual manner. 4.4 .--t---e
II cannot too earnestly myself ex-
press my appreciation Of the cunduc,
OF Mr.. Hobson and his gallant crew.
venture to say. that a more brave and
1daring%t hing has nat=heentsdnne&R ince
Gushing blew up the Albenlarle.
referring to the inspiring letter
which you addressed to the officers at
the beginning of the war. am sure
you VIII offer a suitable professional
Ions.
II must add that Commander J. NJ
Miller relinquishetl his command WITH
the very greatest reluctance. believing
he should retain his comAnnd under
all circumstances. He was. however,
finally convinced that the ATTEMPT q!
another person to carry out the mu
titude of details which had been In
preparation by AIR. Hobson might en-
danger its proper execution. there
fore took the liberty to relieve him for
this reason only. There We're hundreds
of volunteers WHO We're anxious tn par
ticipate: there were $50 from the Iowa.
nearly as many from this ship and
large numbers from all the other ships.
officers and men alike.
(Signed)
..W tt SAMPSON"