Admiral Sampson made the following report to the Navy Department:
“Permit me to call your especial attention to Assistant Naval Constructor Hobson.
“As stated in a special telegram, before coming here I decided to make the harbour entrance secure against the possibility of egress by Spanish ships, by obstructing the narrow part of the entrance by sinking a collier at that point.
“Upon calling upon Mr. Hobson for his professional opinion as to a sure method of sinking the ship, he manifested the most lively interest in the problem. After several days’ consideration, he presented a solution which he considered would ensure the immediate sinking of the ship when she reached the desired point in the channel. This plan we prepared 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 automatically. As soon as I 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.
“Notwithstanding every effort the hour of four o’clock arrived, and the preparation was scarcely completed. After a careful inspection of the final preparations, I was forced to relinquish the plan for that [pg 166]morning, as dawn was breaking. Mr. Hobson begged to try it at all hazards.
“This morning proved more propitious, as a prompt start could be made. Nothing could have been more gallantly executed.
“We waited impatiently after the firing by the Spaniards had ceased. When they did not reappear from the harbour at six o’clock, I feared that they had all perished. 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 harbour from this ship showed that the vessel 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.