, 1898-07-06

LlittSl li AOu lihi4 dI bUl, dId Inc guns
were after wards fired at intervals till long
after day light. None Of HE American ships
dared to fire back for fcnr Of iniuling The
Merrimac's crew. Cadet Powell, in u steam
launch. accompanied The Mcrlimuc to the mar.
bour entrance. On his return he reported
that the ship lay well across the channel, her
masts showing above water. Lieutenant
IIobson did his work we'll, sinking the Merri-
mac almost in the exact spot that had been
decided upon.
The channel is not us wide as the Merri-
macs length. And it will be impossible for
the Spaniards to laise or destroy the wreck
under the guns of the American fleet. Ad.
miral Cervera is therefore no longer regarded
rs q figure in tile war. The Cristohal Colon,
the Iufanta Mana Teresa, the Viscaya and
the Almiinnte Oquendo oe known to be in
side The hnl bour, and it IL believed that two
or three w%urships, and possibly some torpedo
boats, are with them.
Before starting OH his mission Lieutenant
HObson said -
0 deck there will be four men and my.
self: IN the engine room there will be
two men. This will be the total crew.
We shall all be in our undertaking,
with revolvers and ammunition in water
tight packing strapped around our waists.
F0rN ard will lie one man OH deck, and
around his waist will be u line the other end
Of which will be made fast to the bridge,
where / shall stand. By that mans side
will DO al axe. When | shall stop the enc
gines, l shall jerk this cord and lie will thus
get the signal to cut the lnsling which will
be holding the forward anchor. He Will then
Jump overheard and swim to the -four. Dared
dinghy which we shall tow %astern. Il will
be full Of lifebuoys and unsuitable. There
will also be rifles in the boat. 1t will be held
ly two ropes, one being made fast to her
bow and one 10 her stern. The first man to
reach her will haul in the towlins and pull
The dinghy out 10 starboald. The next 10
leave the slip are the rest of the crew. The
quallermaster at the wheel will not leave
until after he hos put it hard.a-polt and
lnshed it. lie can then jump overheard.
The man down below Mt the reversing gear
will stop the engines, scramble on deck, and
get over the aide rs quickly as possible. lhe
man in tie engine.loom will break open the
sen counexion with a slelge hammer and fol-
low his leader into the water. The last step
will ensure the sinking Of the Merrimac,
whether The toIpedoes work or rot. BY this
time | calculate the other six men will be IN
The dinghy, and the Merimoc will have
swung nthNNlt the channel to the full length
Of hvl 800 NAIds of cable, which will have
been paid out before tie anchors are cut
loose. Then ell that will be left for ne TO
DO IS TO touch n button. 1 shall stand on the
storboald side Of Tie bridge, and tie explo-
sion will throw tile Merrimac OH her star.
beard side"
a telegram from Kingston, Jamaica, says
tlnt Lieutenant lIobson and the lest Of tie
crew Of the Merrimoc were unable after the
vessel sank to make their way bnck in M
open boat through the Spunisl shot and shell
and, Therefore, Iowed into The haIbour TO tie
Spanish flagship, which took them on board.
The Spanish Admiral subsequently,, N der a
flag of truce, notified the American Admiral
that he was willing TO exchange prisoners.
adding that il the meantime The party would
he treated with the greatest kindness.
Another telegram from Kingston states
that The Herald despatch boat cIcpt to with
in two miles of Castle Moro, Santiago. Ten
feet Of Tie smokcstack of the Menimuc are
visible. She lies in seven fnthoms of water
not directly across the channel.
A rowing boat was seen examining the
Merrimac, which contains z 900 tons Of coal.
Flag-Captain Ovideo expressed surprise that
the nation should use a $500, 600 ship to
block the channel.
Lieutenant Hobson decided not to let any
officer risk his life except himself. Every
officer Of the New York volunteered. Several
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