Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-06-18
SIMPSONS OFFICIAL
REPORT ON HOBSON
Sinking of the Merrimac Was Done
According to Hobson's
Own Plans.
MILLER RELUCTANTLY GAVE WAY
Cervera Through Ills Chief OF
Staff ExtoIled the Crew in
an Unusual Manner.
SAMPSON ASKS FOR The REWARD
al am Sure You Will Offer Suitable
Professional Reward to Hob
son aud His Compan-
ions"

Washington, June 13.-The navy de-
partment has posted the following bull
letin giving II detailed official report
from Sampson upon the heroism of
Lieutenant Hobson and his men in
sinking the *Merrimac in Santiago
channel.
"United States Flagship, OFF Santi-
ago., June 3.-PermIt mt to call your
special attention TO Assistant Naval
Constructor Hobson. As stated in u
telegram before coming here, i decided
TO make the harbor entrance secure
against the possibility of the egress of
the Spanish ships by o~bstructing the
narrow part of the entrance by sinking
n collier at that point. Upon calling
upon Hobson for his professional opin.
ion as to a sure method of sinking "a
ship, he manifested the most lively in.
terest in the problem. After several
days consideration he presented n so.
luton which he considered would In.
sure the immediate sinking of the ship
when she reached the desired point in
the channel. This plan we prepared
for execution when we reached Santi-
ago. The plan contemplated a crew of
only seven mep and Hobson, who
begged ii might be entrusted TO him.
Anchor chains were arranged on the
deck for both anchors, forward and aft,
the plan including anchoring the ship
almost automatically.
AS soon as | reached Santiago and
had a collier to work upon details were
completed and diligently prosecuted,
hoping to complete them in one day,
rs the moo and tide served best tho
first night after our arrival. Notwith-
standing the Lour of 4 in the morning
had arrived and the preparations wcrd
scarcely completed. After careful in
spection and final preparations | wal
forced 10 relinquish the plan for thar
morning, as dawn was breaking.
"lobson begged to try it at all haz.
ards. The second morning proved
more propitious, as a prompt start
could he made, and nothing could have
been more CALAMITY executed.
1--WE waited impatiently after firing
by the Spaniards had ceased. When
they did not reappcar from the har;
Dor at . o'clock / feared they had all
persisted. The steam launch, which had
been SEN in charge of Naval Cadet
Powell to rescue the men, appeared az
this time, coming out from i'm under
n persistent fire of the batteries, but
brought'none of the crew. a careful
inspection of the harbor from this
ship showed the Mcrrimac had been
sunk i'm the channel.
''This afternoon the chief Of the staff
of Admiral Ceryera came cut under a
flag OF truce with a letter from the al
mirai extoiling the bravery OF the crew
I'm an unusual manner.
IL cannot myself too earnestly ex-
press my appreciation of the conduct
OF ITobson and his gallant crew. |
venture to say that a more brave, dar-
ing thing has not been done since
Cushing blew up the Albemarle.
referring to the inspiring letter
you addressed to the officers at the be-
ginning OF the war, | ann sure you will
offer suitable professional reward to
1Iobson and his companions.
II must add that Commander j. NJ.
Miller relinquished his command with
very great reluctance, believing he
should retain command under all cir,
cumstances. He. however, was finally
convinced that the attempt OF another
person to carry out the multitude of
details which had been under prepare.
ton by Hobson might e%ndanger the
proper execution. | therefore took TIE
liberty to relieve him for this reason
only.
There were hundreds of volunteers
anxious TO participate; there were $50
from the Iowa, and nearly MS many
from this ship and large numbers from
all other ships, officers and men alike,
"W. 4. Sampson"