Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1898-06-08
FAME FOR HOBSON AND CREW
HOW THEY SUNK MERRIMAC.
In the Face of the Guns on the SPAN
i.h Battery Opposite MORO Cas-
tie. in the Harbor of Santiago de
Cuba-The story in Full.

Cuba@Vhe StOfy IN - uhs
of Santiago de Cuba, June 3.-The
Merrimac had ON board 600 tons OF coal
when she was scuttled across the chan
mel.
Lieutenant Hobson started on his dar'
ing errand at 8 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 a launch
from the New York with the following
crew on board: Naval Cadet j. w. Pow,
ell of Oswego, N. Y; p. X. Peterson
coxwain; II. Haldford, apprentice OF the
first class; j. Mullings, coal Passer; u
l. 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-
ows of the hills For half an hour Of
ficers and men strained their eyes peering
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'e end.
The guns from the Spanish battery
opposite Moro castle answered quickly
with more flashes and for about 70 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 for
daylight. Rear Admiral Sampson and
Captain Chadwick were on the bridge OF
the New York throughout.
At 8 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 a
Duff of smoke issued from a 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.
c
At Gals q. m. the launch came along
s;da tho aacsh;n but she did not have on
hoard anv Of the crew of the Merrimac.
Cadet Powell reported that he had been
Unable to see any sign of the Merrimac's S
crew. 1t developed that with great BRAY
batteries and only returned when hope
~ talino on hoard the crew of the Mer.
r;,no. haa IN he abandoned.
Cadet Powell, also reported he had
c,sar,v seen the Merrimac's mast sticking
I'm inst where Hobson hoped to sink her,
,p-th ~ the Esfre,la battery and well
no.t the o,ns Of Morro castle.
Rut of the heroes who had penned the
sno rds in there was not a sound or
o;pr Roar Admiral SAMPSON said: 81
~, nr.ttv s,,ro tho attemnt was unite sue.
ooa.f,j hone all those brave fellows
are not canturedn
Cadat Powell be,;eved the torpedoes
n,ev;ouslv fixed aboard the Merrimac
-. .xniodod os njanned as Iieutenant
Us.. 10. ,ro,, IN ,bo no rhor before the
cn.n;n, ,1s o,arod fre on tbe Merrimac.
How Hobson SANK 'ne
What actually happened on the Merri
mac can best be judged from what Lieu
tenant Hobson said just before leaving
the flagship.
He said: Il shall go right into the
harbor until about 4OO yards past the
Estrella battery, which is behind MORO
castle. / do not think they can sink us
before / reach somewhere near that point.
The Merrimac has 1000 buoyaney and i
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 of the
torpedoes and leave the Merrimac a
wreck lying 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 un-
der the ships keel. Each torpedo con-
tains SO pounds Of gunpowder. Each tor
pedo is also connected with the bridge
and they should do their work in min
ute and it will be quick work even II
done in a minute and a quarter.
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