Soon after Admiral Sampson arrived off Santiago, there came to him a
young lieutenant, Richmond Pearson Hobson. He had a plan which he wished
to propose. He said:
"There is the collier _Merrimac_. Let a volunteer crew just large enough
to navigate her be selected. Then, after stripping the old ship of
everything valuable, let this crew run her, after dark, into the
narrowest part of the channel leading to the harbor; and there let them
sink her by exploding torpedoes under her. In this way we can block the
harbor so that Admiral Cervera cannot in any way bring out his fleet."
[Illustration: LIEUTENANT HOBSON.]
He explained that the crew of the _Merrimac_ would jump overboard as she
sank, and, if possible, be picked up by a torpedo-boat or a steam
launch, which should be stationed near-by for that purpose. Lieutenant
Hobson himself, bravely offered to lead this expedition.
Admiral Sampson determined to carry out this plan, and called for a
single volunteer from each ship. In spite of the danger of the
undertaking, almost the entire crew of each vessel, not only offered to
go, but begged to be accepted. Finally, eight men were chosen, with
Lieutenant Hobson as their leader. At half-past two o'clock in the
morning of June 3d, the _Merrimac_ was headed straight for the channel.
Lieutenant Hobson stood on the bridge dressed in full uniform. The other
men were at their posts dressed in tights, ready to swim a long
distance, if necessary.
The crew of the steam launch, which was following closely behind, saw
the _Merrimac_ swing across the channel and then heard the explosions.
At the same time, the air was filled with the flash and roar of the guns
of the Spanish forts and ships.
In the face of all this fire, and without even a cry of distress to
guide them, the crew of the launch began their search for the heroes of
the _Merrimac_, never giving it up until daylight. Then, seeing nothing
but the tops of the masts of the collier, they returned to the admiral's
flagship.
Of what had happened to his men in the meantime, Lieutenant Hobson
himself told afterward:
"When the boat began to sink, and the Spanish shot to fall about us, I
told the men to lie flat on the deck. It was due to their splendid
discipline, that we were not killed. The minutes seemed hours, but I
said that we must lie there until daylight. Now and then one of the men
would say, 'Hadn't we better drop off now, sir?' But I said, 'Wait until
daylight.' I hoped that by that time we might be recognized and saved.
"The old _Merrimac_ kept sinking. It was splendid the way the men
behaved. The fire from the batteries and ships was dreadful. As the
water came up on the decks, we caught hold of the edges of the raft
which was tied to the boom, and hung on, our heads only being above
water.
"A Spanish launch then came toward the _Merrimac_. As she drew near, the
men saw us, and a half-dozen marines pointed their rifles at our heads.
'Is there any officer in that boat to receive a surrender of prisoners
of war?' I shouted. An old man leaned out of the launch and waved his
hand. It was Admiral Cervera. The marines lowered their rifles and we
were helped into the launch."
[Illustration: THE MORRO CASTLE, COMMANDING THE ENTRANCE OF THE HARBOR
OF SANTIAGO DE CUBA.]
A few hours later, a boat bearing a flag of truce came out to the
American fleet. It was from Admiral Cervera, and brought the message
that Lieutenant Hobson and his men were held as prisoners, and that
they were well, only two of them being slightly wounded.
Much honor is due to Lieutenant Hobson for this brave deed. But we must
not forget that the lives of the crew were saved through the kindness
and nobility of Admiral Cervera. Not every commander would so honor his
brave prisoners, and his action has been much appreciated in America.
The sinking of the _Merrimac_ did not obstruct the channel completely.
The steering gear was broken by some of the Spanish shot, and Lieutenant
Hobson was not able to place the vessel exactly where he had intended.
However, it would be a dangerous undertaking for the Spanish admiral to
pass out of the harbor at night.
Admiral Sampson sent word to the War Department, that, if an army were
sent to assist him on land, they could take the city of Santiago,
together with the fleet of Admiral Cervera in the harbor. Accordingly
General Shafter, with a large army, landed near Santiago and began to
drive the Spaniards back into the city.
Desperate battles were fought at Siboney, El Caney, and San Juan, but
the Americans steadily drove the enemy inside the fortifications of
Santiago. During these attacks, the fleets helped the army by throwing
shells into the city.