The record-union., 1898-06-07

"She had been thoroughly stripped OF
I valuable articles. even the clock and
bell being taken Along one side OF
| the torpedo belt had been arranged
about ten feet below the water line
six torpedoes. being placed so as to
| break open the compartments. These
| torpedoes had electrical connection
with battery on the bridge, and were
to be discharged by pressing a button.
1T was arranged that the Merrimac
| was to be swung across the chanel till
| one end grounded. The men that let
go the starboard anchor were to let the
| life. raft fall and then jump overheard.
Last of all, the man that pressed the
key would plunge into the water. The
| man at the key was undoubtedly Hob
son. He would be unlikely to assign
| another man to the most dangerous
post. Besides, he is the best swimmer
| in the navy.
The plan was carried out perfectly.
The only thing we had not counted on
was the Spaniards keeping such a
sharp watch. Undoubtedly they knew
something was afoot They permitted
the Merrimac to pass between the
| MORO and Estrella forts, without no.
of the other forts every gun in the
harbor was opened on her. We could
not count the shots. the firing was so
furious. The forts must have fired a
thousand times
Il was on the New York watching,
and the hearts Of all of us faltered, for
it seemed as if no ship could live in
that hell of fire. and that no one on
board could escape. The Merrimac an
chored. The men jumped overheard,
and the forts then subsided, refusing to
fire at the men struggling in the water.
The men reached the raft, where they
were captured and taken to MORO
Fort.
When Admiral Cerveras chief Of
staff came on board the New York sew
eral officers asked to be allowed to ex-
change places with Hobson, but this
was not permissible. Cervera's off,
Ger could not find words strong enough
to express his admiration for the
bravery of the Americans. His courtesy
and the action of the forts in sparing
the men struggling in the water
changed our opinion of the Spaniards,
and made us think the stories of their
honor and chivalry not so far wrong"
After daylight we could see the
masts and funnel of the Merrimac
sticking out of the water She was
sunk exactly where we wanted her. We
saw in the harbor three cruisers, the
Cristobal Colon and the Infanta Maria
Teresa being among them, but don't
know whether the other cruisers or the
torpedo destroyers are there The black
thing that some of our officers thought
they saw coming after them has not
been identified yet, and we are not sure
that any of the destroyers are at San
tiago.
THE insurgents sent us word that
the men and guns from the cruisers
had been sent ashore, and it looks as
though the vessels would not try to get
out, and the Spanish officers had no
hope of escape or victory, but were de-
termined to make a brave stubborn
fight to maintain Spain's honor.
The story printed in New York that
Lieutenant Hobson and Admiral Samp-
son quarreled Just before the Merri-
mac went in is an entire falsehood'
PRAISE FOR HOBSON.
LONDON, June 6.-Every evening pa
per OF this city echoes the morning
newspapers praise of Lieutenant Hob
sons exploit with the collier Merrimac
at Santiago de Cuba, which they say
was gallant deed, ably planned and
pluckily carried out.
The Pail Mall Gazette" says: The
heroism of these men and the courteous
chivalry of Admiral Cervera will not
be forgotten in a hurry"
Continuing, the Pail Mall Gazette"
says it thinks that as a result of the
Nav
tween Spain and the United States is
practically finished, and the paper
adds: Had the Cadiz squadron meant
business it would not have dallied un-
til Admiral Cervera's fleet had been
rendered useless
The Gazette" concludes by comment
ing on the probable military operations.
saying: 1T will pay America to secure
both Porto Rico and the Philippines
before peace is discussed. For peace
on the only possible terms Spain is not
ready. The Government dare not face
the music. To surrender now would
produce a revolution at home hence 1t
is preposterous to talk of the basis of
the statu quo ante bellum. Peace. when
it comes, will have very different ba-
sis. and the capture of Porto Rico and
the Philippines will place America in a
position to dictate the only terms she
could possibly accept"
The Westminster Gazette" referring
to Admiral Cervera's action in connec-
ton with the capture of the Merrimac's
crew, says: 1t is an incident which
ennobles war and surely helps in secur-
ing honorable peace. The United States
may we'll be generous to such chival-