The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-17

Gomez that lie could succeed. Nothing
would be easier than the landing OF hfty
thousand men right into a Spanish am
bush.
Accordingly when the plans were ma
tured it again became necessary to send
a man TO Cuba. This time Lieutenant
Whitney was selected-one out of fifteen
hundred volunteers all wild to undertake
the mission.
one dark night the Marblehead put
Lieutenant Whitney aboard torpedo
boat; and with a small escort conveyed
him 10 the coast OF Cuba. 1t was IN
Spanish possession but no Spaniards were
In sight.
THE JOURNEY.
lieutenant Whitney started inland
along a route that had been described
TO him and was lucky enough TO reach
Placetas AN insurgent town Here he
was received as a saviour. The town
had been in siege five years and had been
burned twice by the Spaniards, until
there was little TO eat.
But food sprang up as though out OF
the ground The old women brought del
icacies out from their hiding places ana
the young women baked cake and meat
for him. If he had the appetite Of
giant he could not have held all the
feast At dusk all the babies were held
up to him to be kissed and all the old
men wrung his hand; and amid their
prayers ne set out
most perious ride brought him 10
the camp OF Gomez and all that day and
next night he remained with the old
chieftan giving him information about
the army.
Next day he rode back with return
messages from Gomez. He also carried a
complete pla NOT the Spanish forts. But
thine hi trip was more exciting. lie
came around hill at daybreak only 10
face 200 Spanish guerillas. They put
spurs 10 their horses and faced him
But Lieutenant Whitney was not TO
be slaughtered that way. Seeing that re-
sistance was hopeless he turned with his
escort and all rode for their lives. And
then Lieutenant Whitney's military train
ing came in good. He rode around the
hill out of sight OF the Spanish then,
turning back he hid in the brush and
the guerilas lost him.
HERO HOBSON.
The brave deed OF Hobson will live for-
ever His bottling up OF the Spanish heet
in Santiago harbor was as clever
and etficacious as 1t was daring. Just
what happened will never be known
until Hobson gets out 10 tell the tale
But this is the story as he told IL 10
a reporter before starting:
IL shall go right into the harbor untll
about four hundred yards past the rs
trella battery, which is behind MORO
Castle. L do not think they can SINK me
before l reach that point. The Merri-
mac has seven thousand tons buoyancy'
and shall keep her full speed ahedo'
She can make about ter knots.
when the narrcwest part OF the ehan-
mel is reached shalt put her helm nara
aport. stop the engines drop the anchor
omen the sea connections, toucr or the
torpedoes and leave the Merrimac
wreck lying athwart the channel winch
Is not as broad as the Merrimac Is long.
There are ten eight-inch improvised
torpedoes below the water line on the
Nerrimac's port side. They are placed
on her side against the bulkheads and
vital spots. connected with each other by
n wire under the ships keel. Each tor
nedo contains eighty-two pounds or gun
nowder Each torpedo is also connected
win the bridge. and they should do their
work in a minute. and It viii be quick
work even II dcne IN minute and a
quarter.
yuysek. In the engine room there Will
sS two other men. This Is the total crew
ara ali OF us Will be In our underclothing
VITA rsvolvsrA ana ammunition in the