The Republican., 1898-06-09


been sighfed before a puff of smoke
issued from battery on the western
arm of the harbor and shot plunged
far over the launch. Then. for fifteen
minutes che big guns ashore kept up
an irregular fire on the little launch.
As the shells fell without hitting the
object they were intended for the
men On the New York ieered at the
Spanish marksmanship and cheered
their r}shipmates.
The launch came alongside the flag
ship at 6:15s a. m, but she did not
have any OF the crew of the Merri-
mac.
Cadet Powell reported that he had
been unable to see any signs of the
Merrimac's crew.
j Is'ssa- ggoassdsthat, with great BRAY.
ery. the cadet had gone right under
the batteries and only returned when
all hope of taking on board the crew
had to be abandoned.
Merrimac Sank in Right Spot
Cadet Powell also reported that he
had clearly seen the Merrimac's masts
sticking up just where Hobson hoped
to sink her, north of the Estrella bat
terry and well past the guns of MORO
Castle. But of the heroes who had
penned the Spaniards in there was
not a sound or sign.
Admiral Sampson said; II am
pretty sure the attempt was success
full. | hope all those brave fellows
are not captured
Cadet Powell believes the torpedoes
previously fixed about the Merrimac
were exploded as planned, as Lieu
tenant Hobson was well up the har-
Dor before the Spaniards opened fire
on the Merrimac.
Hobson's Plan as He Outlined it.
What actually happened on board
the Merrimac can best be Judged
from what Lieutenant Hobson said
just before leaving the flagship. Sit
ting in his cabin, his face Drowned by
the sun, and his eyes flashing with
excitement, he said:
Il shall go right into the harbor,
until about 400 yards past the Estrella
battery, which is behind Moro Cas-
tie. | do not think they can sink
me before | reach somewhere near
the point.
The Merrimac has 1000 tons bouy-
ancy, and | shall keep her full speed
ahead. She can make about ten
knots. When the narrowest part of
the channel is reached l shall put her
helm hard aport, stop the engines,
drop the anchors, open the sea con-
nections, touch off the torpedoes and
leave the Merrimac a wreck, lying
athwart the channel, which is not as
broad as the Merrimac is long.
Hardly Thought of the Risk.
And you expect to come out of
this alive?" asked a companion of the
lieutenant.
"Ah! that is another thing" said
the lieutenant. He was so interested
in the mechanical details of the scheme
that he scarcely stopped to talk of life
and death. But, in reply to further
questions, he said:
II suppose the Estrella battery will
fire down on us bit, but the ships
will throw their searchlights in the
gunners faces and they won't see
much of us. If we are torpedoed we
should even then be able to make the
desired position in the channel. 1t
won't be so easy to hit us, and | think
the men should be able to swim to the
dingy. l may jump before l am
blown up. But l don't see that it
makes much difference what l do. l
have a fair chance of life either way.
"If our dingy gets shot to pieces we
shall then try to swim for the beach
right under Moro Castle. We shall
keep together at all hazards. We
shall fight the Spanish sentries if we
meet them, and shall only surrender
to overwhelming numbers. Our sur
render can only take place as last
and almost uncontemplated emer-
gency'..
Lieutenant Hobson might have been
lecturing to class of cadets on the
theory of how to build ships, so de-
liberate was his manner. He was
lately at Annapolis in charge of the
postgraduate course in naval con-
struction and is accounted one of the
most able naval constructors in the
service, being entirely wrapped up in
his profession.
1t Was Hobson's Suggestion.
The preliminary work of this des-
perate undertaking was strain upon
the officers and men. On Wednesday
morning soon after Admiral Sampson
arrival from Key West, and as soon as
he was certain the Spanish fleet was
in the harbor, the preparations to
scuttle the Merrimac in the channel
began. Commodore Schley had been