The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-06-06
SINKING OF THE MERRIMAC


surrender to overwhelming NUMBERS,
and our surrender will only take place
as a. last and almost uncontemplated
emergency"
Lieutenant Hobson might have been
lecturing to class of cadets on the
theory Of how to build ships, so DELHI
crate was his manner. He was lately
at Annapolis In charge of the post
graduate course in the construction de-
partment and is one of the best naval
constructors in the service, being en-
tirely wrapped up in his profession.
The preliminary work Of this desper-
ate undertaking was strain upon the
officers and men.
On Wednesday morning, directly af-
ter Rear Admiral SIMPSONS arrival,
and as soon as he was certain the
Spanish fleet was in the harbor, the
preparations to scuttle the Merrimac in
the channel were commenced. All day
long crews from the New York and
Brooklyn were on board the collier,
never resting in their effort to prepare
her She lay alongside the Massachu-
setts, disoharging coal when the work
was first begun. The news of the in
tended expedition travelled quickly
through the fleet and it soon became
known that volunteers were needed for
a desperate undertaking. The Junior
officers stumbled over each other in
their eagerness to get their names on
the volunteer list. Commander Miller.
who had charge of the Merrimac,
pleaded with Admiral Sampson to let
him go, but the latter thought he had
better not. When 1t was learned that
81,
were to go there was considerable dis
appointment on all sides, and when the
New York's contingent went over the
side on Wednesday night, some of those
who were left were almost ready, brave
and strong as they were, to sit down
and cry.
All Wednesday night the crews work.
ed on board the Merrimac, which then
lay close to the New York, and the 9TH
er ships, as they passed the collier be-
fore shutdown, cheered her with the
same spirit that the British men cheer
ed the sailors at Samoa Lieutenant
Hobson paid shore visit to the flag
ship shortly before midnight and then
returned to the Merrimac on board Of
which craft he had been all day. AS
he started down the sea ladder there
were many hands stretched out to
grasp his and many quiet spoken, earn
nest wishes for his success, as it was
thought then that Hobson would take
the Merrimac in early yesterday morn
ing. At o'clock the admiral and Flag
Lieutenant Stanton got into the launch
to make an inspection of the Merrimac.
The working gangs were still on board
of her, and on board the New York the
officers of the flagship stood on the
quarter deck, their glasses focused on
the big black hull that was to form an
impossible obstacle for Spain's best
ships The minutes slipped by, the
crews had not completed their work on
the Merrimac, but at last a boatload of
men, black and tired out, came over to
the flagship. Last of all, at 4:30, came
the admiral. He had been delayed by a
break of the steam launch.
Dawn was breaking over Santiago de
Cuba and nearly everybody thought it
was too late for the attempt to be made
that morning. Somebody cried, 'She is
going.'' Surely enough, the seemingly
deserted collier was seen heading
straight for Moro castle. The torpedo
boat Porter was lying near the flagship
and at the admiraPs order Lieutenant
Stanton snatched up the megaphone,
saying, Porter, tell the Merrinac to
return Immediately" Smoke quickly
!, poured from the Porter's smokestacks
and the dark little craft darted toward
the shore. By that time darkness had
disappeared, and, quickly as the fast
torpedo boat tore through the water,
it seemed as if she would never head off
the Merrimac. At last, when within
range of the guns of the Spaniards, the
Porter crossed the Merrimac's bows
and a sigh of relief went up from the
eager watchers, for they thought it
sure death for Hobson to venture in at
that hour. Some time after the Porter
came tearing back, but the Merrimac,
to every ones surprise, kept her posi-
ton.
Admiral Sampson, Captain Chadwick
and Lieutenant Staunton were standing
on the deck of the flagship when there
was shouted from the torpedo boat:
Lieutenant Hobson asks permission to
continue on his course. He thinks he
can make it, But in stern tones the
admiral sent Hobson a message to the
effect that the Merrimac must return
at once, and, in due course of time, the
doomed collier slowly steamed back,
her commander evidently disappointed
with the orders received from the adj
miral through the commander of the
Porter. All day yesterday the collier
lay near the flagship and before morn
ing elaborate preparations were made
to carry out the mission of the Merri-
mac successfully. During these prepa-
rations Hobson was the coolest and most
confident supervising personally every
little detail. When, finally, Hobson
went on board the Merr1mac last night,
he had been without sleep since We'd
nesday morning. His uniform was be-
grimmed, his hands were black and
he looked like a man who had been at
work in and about an engine room for
a long time. AS he said good bye the
lieutenant remarked that his only re-
greet was that all of the New York s
volunteers could not go with him. Rear
Admiral Sampson, speaking of the ex-
petition, said: 81 think he will have a
chance to get out. Yes, it is plucky
very plucky."
When the Merrimac started yester-
day morning on the trip from which
she was recalled, she had on board of