The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1898-06-17
SAMPSON PRAISES H0BSON.
An Official Report on the Sinking Of
the Merrimac.
NAVY DEPARTMENT BULLETIN,
Commander Miller Was Reluctant to
Give Up the Command of His Vessel
Rear Admiral Sampson Was the Au-
thor of the Scheme.

WASHINGTON, June 13.-The Navy
department posted the following bull
letin to-day, giving a detailed official
report from Admiral Sampson on the
exploit of Lieutenant Hobson and his
men in sinking the Merrimac in the
Santiago channel:
UNITED STATES FLAGSHIP NEW YORK, OFF
SANTIAGO. June 3, 1S98.-Permit me to call
your special attention to Assistant Naval Con-
structor Hobson. AS stated in a special tele-
gram before coming here, 1 decided to make the
harbor entrance secure against the possibility
of egreSs by Spanish ships by obstructing the
narrow part Of the entrance by sinking a COL
lier at that point. Calling upon Mr.. Hobson for
his professional opinion as to q secure method
OF sinking the Ship, he manifested the most
lively interest III the problem. After several
days consideration he presented q solution
which he considered would insure the immedi-
ate sinking Of the ship when he reached the de-
sired point in the channel. This plan was pre-
pared for execution when we reached Santiago.
The plan contemplated a crew of only seven
men and Mr.. Hobson, who begged that it might
be entrusted to him. The anchor chains were
arranged on deck for both the anchors, forward
and aft, the plan including the anchoring of the
ship almost automatically.
AS soon as 1 reached Santiago and I had the
collier to work upon, the details were completed
and diligently prosecuted, hoping to complete
them in one day, as the moon and tide served
best the first night after our arrival. Notwith-
standing the hour OF 4 o'clock in the morning
arrived and preparation was scarcely COM
pleted. After a careful explanation of the final
preparations ! was forced to rclinquiSh the
plan for that morning, as dawn was breaking.
Mr.. Hobson begged US to try it at all hazards.
This morning proved moro propitious. and a
prompt start was made. Nothing could have
been more CALAMITY executed. We waited i'm
patiently after the firing by the Spaniards had
ceased. When they did not reappear from the
harbor at 6 o'clock / feared that they had all
persisted. A steam launch which had been sent
in charge of Naval Cadet Powell to rescue the
men appeared at this time coming out under a
persistent fire of the batteries, but brought
none of the crew. A careful inspection of the
harbor from the ship showed that the vessels
Merrimac had been sunk in the channel.
This afternoon the chief Of staff OF Admiral
Cervera came out under a flag of truce with a
letter from the admiral extolling the bravery
OF the crew in an unusual manner.
l cannot myself too earnestly express my ap-
probation of the conduct Of Mr.. HobSon and
his gallant crew. venture to say that a more
brave and daring thing has not been done since
Cushing blew up the Albemarle.
Referring to the inspiring letter which YOU
addressed to the officers at the beginning of the
war, 1 am sure you will offer a suitable pro-
f~essional reward to Mr.. Hobson and his COM
panions.
Unjust add that Commander J. N. Miller has
relinquished his command with the very great
est reluctance. believing he would retain his
Command under all circumstances. He was,
however. finally convinced that the attempt of
another person to carry out the multitude of
details which had been in preparation by Mr..
Hobson might endanger its proper execution. I
therefore took the liberty to relieve him for
this reason only. There were hundreds of vol
unteers who were anxious to participate; there
we're $50 from the Iowa, nearly as many from
this ship and large numbers from all the other
ships, officers and men alike.-W. 7. Sampson.