The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-06-06

big guns ashore kept up an Irregular
fire on the little launch. AS the shells
fen without hitting the object they were
intended for the men on board, the New
York Jeered the Spanish Workmanship
and cheere6 their shlpmates, "a, =
AT 6:15 a. m. the launch came along
side the flagship: but she did not have
on board amy OF the crew OF the Mer-
! rimac. Cadet Powell reported that he
had BEEN unable to see any signs OF the
Merrimac's crew. 1t developed that
with great bravery the cadet had gone
right under the batteries and only re-
turned when all hope OF taking on board
the crew Of the Merrimac had to be
abandoned. ~
4 Cadet Powell also reported that he
had clearly seen the Merrimac's masts
sticking UP Just where Hobson hoped
to stink her, north OF the Estrella bat
terry and well past the guns OF Morro
CASTLE. But Of the heroes who had PEN
ned the Spaniards in there was not q
sound or q sign.
Rear Admiral Sampson said: 'T am
pretty sure the attempt was quite sue
cessful. hope all those brave fellows
are not captured"
Cadet Powell believes the torpedues
previously fixed about the Mer1mac
were exploded as planned, as Lieut..
Hobson was well up the harbor before
the Spaniards opened fire on the Meri-
mac.
What actually happened on board the
Merimnc can best be Judged from what
Lieutenant Hobson said Just before
leaving the flagship. Sitting In his
cabin. his face Drowned by, the sun and
his eyes flashing with excitement, he re-
marked:
II shall go right into the harbor until
about 400 yards past the EstIella bat
terry, which is behind Murro castle. do
not think they can sink me before I
reach somewhere near that point. The
7Merinac has 1000 tons buoyancy and
shall keep her full speed ahead. She
can make about ten knots. When the
narrowest part of the channel Is reached
I shall put, her helm hard aport. stop the
engines, drop the anchors, open the sea
connections. touch off the torpedoes and
leave the Merimac a wreck, lying
athwaTt the channel, which Is not as
broad as the Merimac Is long. There
are ten S-inch improvised torpedoes be-
low the water line, on the Merlmac's
port side. They are placed on her side
against the bulk heads and vital spots,
connected with eah other by wire un-
der the ships keel Each torpedo con-
| tains eighty-two pounds OF gun powder.
Each torpedo Is also connected with the
bridge and they should do their work in
minute and It will be quick even II
done in q minute and quarter.
Complete Preparations.
On deck there will be four men and
myself. In the engine room there will
be two other men. This is the total
crew and all OF us will be in our UNDER
clothing with revolvers and ammunition
in water tight packing strapped around
our waists. Forward there will be a
| man on deck and around his waist there
will be line, the other end OF the line
being made fact to the bridge on which
I will stand. By that mans side will be
an axe. When stop the engine shall
Jerk this cord and ne will thus get the
signal to cut the lashings which Will be
holding the forward anchor. He will
jump overheard and swim to the four
cared dingy which we shall tow astern.
The dingy IS full OF life buoys and is un-
| sinkable. In It arc rifles. Z It Is to be
held by two ropes, one made fast at her
bow and one atller stern. The first man
to reach her will put In the tow line and
pull THE dingy out to the starboard. The
next TO leave the ship are the rest uf the
crew. The Qunrtermaster ut the wheel
will not leave until after having put It
hard nport and lashed it so; he will then
Jump overheard.
| ha1ntv Ifrhx, man nf fha rayeru-
ing gear will stop the engines. scramble
upon deck and get over the side as
quickly us possible.
1.-THE man In the engine room will
break open the sea connections with a
sledge and Will follow his leader Into
the water This last step irsures the
sinking OF tbe Merimac whether the tor
pedoes work or not. n
by this time I calculate the SIX mon
will be In tho dingy and the eMerimac
VIII have swung athwaI't the channel,
to the full length of her 300 yards OF
cable, which will have been pntd out
before the anchors were cut loose. Then
| oil that Is left for me is 10 touch tho
4 button. shall stand on the etarboard
side. Nothing on this side of New York
| city will be able to raise her after that"
"And you expect to ctnne out OF this
aIlve?" asked companion Of the lieu
| tenant. n
"Ah! that is nnothcr thing" said the
1 lieutenant. He was so Interested In the
mechanical dctails OF the scheme That
he hardly stopped TO talk Of life and
1 death.
But in reply to frequent questions,
i Hobson said: II suppose the Estrclla
battery will fire down on us a bit: but
i the ships will throw their searchlights
/ In the gunncrs faces and they won't SEQ
/ much OF us. Then tf we arc torpedoed
we should even then be able to make the
desired portion In the channel. 1t wont
i be 50 easy to hit u5 and I think. tho mon
! should be able to swim to tho dingy. I
may jump before am blown up But,
I don't sec that It makes much differ
,encc what do. have u fair chance OF
life either way. II our dingy gets shot
to pieces we eirall then try tp swim for
the beach right under Moro Castle. We
shall keep together ut NIL hazards. Thon.
| we shall be able TO make our way along
sGo and perhaps get bnck TO the chip.
We GhaIl fight the sGrtries or q squad
1 until the last and we shall only surrcn-
| def 10 Overwhelming Numbers and our
/ surrender will only take place as n last
and as almost uncontemplated Gmer-
Ecncy," y Y
4 I,lou.cnnnt IIohson might have been
| ,cctur!ng to n cIys OF cadets on tho
theory of how 10 build ships, so deli6er-
alto was hIs manner. lie was lately aIt
Annapolis. In charge OF the post grad