Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1898-06-11
FAME FOR ROBSON AND CREW
HOW THEY SUNK MERRIMAC.
In the Face of the Guns on the Span
ish Battery Opposite MORO CAS-
tie. in the HarbOr of santiago de
Cubn-The story in Full.

when she was scuttled across the chan
mel.
Lieutenant Hobson started on MS dar-
ing errand at o'clock this morning, The
Merrimac was lying to the westward
Under cover of the clouds over the moon
she stole toward the coast, made her way
to the eastward, followed by launch
from the New York with the following
crew on board: Naval Cadet j. w. Pow
ell of Oswego. \. Y; p X. Peterson,
coxwain; II. Hadford, apprentice OF the
first class: j. Mullings coal passer; q.
J.. Russell, machinist of the second class
/ In the launch were bandages and appll-
ances for the wounded.
batteries Turned Loose.
From the crowded decks of the New
York nothing could be seen OF the Mer-
rimac after she had got under the shad-
ovs of the hills For half an hour OF
fcers and men strained their eyes peerlng
into the gloom when suddenly, the flash
of a Gun streamed out from MORO castle
and then the New York knew the Mer-
rimac was nearing her end.
The guns from the Spanish battery
opposite Moro castle answered quickly
/ with more flashes and for about 20 min
utes flashes Of fire seemed to leap across
the harbor entrance. The flagship was
too far away to hear the reports and
when the firing ceased it was judged that
Hobson had blown up the Merrimac. For
an hour the anxious watchers waited Tor
DAYLIGHT Rear Admiral Sampson and
/ CAPTAIN Chadwick were on the bridge OF
the New York throughout.
4 At o'clock thin streams of smoke were
seen against the western shore quite close
to the Spanish batteries and strong glass
es made out the launch of the New York
returning to the flagship. Scarcely had
the small craft been sighted before
puff of smoke issued from battery on
the western arm of the harbor and shot
plunged far over the launch. Then for
Is minutes the big guns on the coast kept
up an irregular fire ON the little launch.
Had Gone Under the Guns.
/ At 6:l5 a. m. the launch came along
side the flagship but she did not have on
/ board any of the crew of the Merimac
Cadet Powell reported that he had been
unable 10 AZ WY sign of the Meuimac's
crew. 1t developed that with great BRAY
cry the crew had gone right under the
batteries and only returned when nope
of taking on board the crew OF the Mer-
rimac had to be abandoned.
Cadet Powell also reported he had
clearly seen the Merrimac mast sticking
up just where Hobson hoped to sink her,
north of the Estrela battery and well
past the guns of Moro castle.
But of the heroes who had penned the
! Spaniards in there was not sound or
sign. Rear Admiral Sampson said: 81
am pretty sure the attempt was quite sue
cessfu. | hope all those brave fellows
are not captured
Cadet Powell believed the torpedoes
previously fixed aboard the Menmac
were exploded as planned, as Lieutenant
Hobson was we'll up the harbor before the
Spaniards opened fire on the Merrimac.
How Hobson Sank the Merrimac.
What actually happened on the Merri-
mae can best be Judged from what Lieu
tenant Hobson said just before leaving
the flagship.
He said: 81 shall 90 right into the
harbor until about 400 yards past the
Estrela battery, which is behind Moro
castle. | do not think they can sink us
before | reach somewhere near that point.
The Merrimac has 1000 buoyancy and |
shall keep her full speed ahead. She can
make about 10 knots.
"When the narrowest part of the chan
mel is reached | shall put her helm hard
aport stop her engines, drop the anchors,
open the sea connections, touch OIL the
torpedoes and leave the Merimac a
wreck living athwart the channel, which
is not as broad as the Merrimac is long.
There are 10 S-inch improvised tOrpedoes
below the water line on the Merrimacs
port side, They are placed on her side
against the bulkheads and vital spots,
connected with each other by a wire I'M
der the ships keel Each torpedo con-
tains 50 pounds of gunpowder. Each tor
pedo is also connected with the bridge
and they should do their work in a min
ute and it will be quick work even if
done in a minute and a quarter.
son deck there will be four men and
myself. In the engine room there will be
two other men. This is a total crew and
all of us will be in our Undertaking
with revolvers and ammunition in water
tight packing strapped around our waists.
Forward there will be a man on deck and
around his waist will be line, the other
end of the line being made fast to the
bridge on which I will stand, BY that
mans side will be an AK. When I stop