New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-23
HOBSON'S FEAT DESCRIBED.
THRILLING STORY OF ASSISTANT ENGI-
NEER CRANK. \ FORMER SHIPMATE
OF THE GALLANT PRISONER.


description Of the heroic feat of Lieutenant
Hobson in sinking the Merrimac San
tiago has been received at the Navy Depart
ment from Assistant Engineer r. X. Crank
former shipmate and personal friend + the gall
liant prisoner. whose exchange has been refused
by the Spaniards 1t is particularly valuable as
being the account Of deeply Interested eye
witness. well a of an officer Of distinguished
technical ability who barely missed sharing
Hobsons fame. he started into the harbor
with the vessel when the first attempt was
made. but not allowed TO accompany her on
the second trip. IN spite of his earnest protest
against being detached after he had volunteered
and been accepted. 1t conclusvely shows that
the Merrimacs mission unsuccessful.
nfty-hve hundred tons burden. She was built at
was named the Solveg. About year ago this
steamer was burned At Newport News The hull
was sold +. Hogan Sons. Of New-Yorkl FOR
$1,000. and she was ovcrhau.ed and reftted by
them at a cost OF $1,000 On Apri. o. 1898 the Merrio
she was finally commssioned at the Norfolk Navy
Commander James " Miller in command. None OF
the original retained except the oficers
bancd battery Of two s.ponnder rapd-dre guns
installed new crew Of forty men sent from
on april 2 the ship left the Navy Yard for ban lam
berts Point. where five thousand tons OF r9c "a
the Merrmac left Hampton Roads for Key West.
simple.
thought that In a few weeks the heroism OF few
collier high among those OF the naval idols OF the
Nation II not OF the world After an uneventi i11
al Key West on May + She lay at anchor there
nn Nay 10 T6en Of fhe Ma schey on the
evening" Of the oath in company with the squadron:
sant i9[ on the eyenng Of the 18th Every day,
with one exception. the Merl mac was sent aIonss
Side some one OF the other ships TO coal them ana
-fla 4
ON sunday morning, April - was discoVVs ord
squadron were lying inside the harnor s MOrr ~
THIS effect was sent AT once 10 HHin TYnrk on
Wednesday, May I.
THE PLANS TO BOTTLE Up THE SPANiAKpS'
It had been decided to try 70 block the entrance
~ the harbor IN order to bottle up the spanish
ships inside. on Wednesday. June l. "hiie the Oh
ncers # the Mcrrmac were sitting al luncheoH AS
sisianf Naval Constructor Z. =. Hooson camo
aboard from the flagship with the startling an
nolncomeu, that the Admiral had decided to run
the M.rrimac into the entrance OF the chahhei
leading 10 tho harbor Of Santiago and sink her
there Mr.. Iiob-on roughly outlined his plans anu
,1,,, ini0 EXECUTION The four transverse bulk;
heads ~ the snip were located appr9xingathbS e d
80 The r,u The length Of the Merrmac is about
3 feet her breadth ~ beam apout ~ is"r nS ainn
the port side Of the ship parallel 70 IN" water Ne;
- Tin over thc rail outside Along this Inc
" re- 10 he suspended In e.ght-inch copper casrs
.,n CHARGES of ordinary brown prismauc powder.
.i .|Frra Weighing about eighty pounds over
thls an ordinary eniting charge OF nr3"n ni,ch
was p ac.i and the whoc was 'overei WIN bP ,nCr
for protection against thu water. with prime,
ana wiz OR eNo.f me o ti5ousanJ tons Of
,l.,l A. flr AS possible all stores were tetloH'I,
Hn',-i ani owcret 'rto position over the port side
The wir, Tor EXPLODING me chtrs's Wa 5, readv
tn nrst l'n con',,',i' /, Vas found the battery
sfffF O.
w., Tx - ne charges 50 only SIX were connected
GETTING THE ANCHORS READY TO DROP
V.,nuhile ono q the ships anchors had been
taken an 30 the s'arhoard quarter ana '"Shen
o,.r fne rail ready FOR dropping as soon a. "''
f..t,s wore cut The chain 81 this anchor had ee'n
lad AZ, f,rty-nyc fathoms lead along the "'cH
r- ,- r.trutrg and the chain stoppered at inc
- rtoar! bits TIE starhoard bower anchor
.,.t chain were also made ready IN a similar man
nor for letting go The cargo ports 1of w''eh t"e'e
,r. 1850 0u each side. one forward ana one "iV
,,..~. .r.rcI The ship was drawing about sixteen
, ,,....r ,ff and there was about three feet
81 frccnoard from the water to the lower edge oil
I.i.v IN H.. cngine-room the nuts holdng the
i,rr.... II Tie main Injection valve ana me So,
, l, for instant removal and wooden props
nc,c w,lscI lu on top ~ The nonnets so INA. a.
e,.lec wouiI knock out the prop ana aloM LIE
bonnet 20 ny m admitins thc SEA, Nr' LIS iead
u,r. ALSO made FOR riuns TWO Smi'ier ties H.
,,. from Oh. -,a 20 the pumps ana donkey ,oollet.
WIS H. ,.. B.. 'li.als ia ciye tho water free
H'' ~, ,ii rsr,- ~ the ship All these prepara-
,' ~, M '..i. vim IN. greatest haste. "a II was
l'"1 ',I ,bc shin I'm before dayhreak on tho
d'rIr'n I" '.t 81 D,n of III. ships lfchoats
lii4Ih 'i '..' lin. ar,l1e hln- The
"ar To N' ',N'', nm" ron,,inirr stores were
sflfhoard sid' y" :. 'I.r III ,r.,, Vim IN. *
knocked open. ~" ON, "''" .'e, ,nt Fnrineer
O., v'.nirist ! phiiil@. ordinary seaman Deg
'i"Nh. VI '',''' 1,.or '.,'nd.r KELLEY were sent
nm ana. N't'.H So YORK Mr. Unhson was Of
l' ,i' .'-.,' t,' ,I.o,rd TO take the ship In. In
"it'' ,,.'..,''. inc niolrf I'm ,he afternoon
cit 'ib WI, 49, ,,r., r,ar, Of the crew The
ft"m OBJ" N'" '"'h 80 ,i,.tcd ,Intil nearly day
A. r,"i.SS,,"n ~ s-aiIoncd a, tho wheel
A.ii. ,t"" ",.t De-. q, In a. nv. 10 cut the
p vain M"''n "". 49, 80. hnr Montague
nine ~ tn' ,'""i, .t hinrs ~ The star
stood hy similarly 80 Guy US ~, .xpiode tho