A new history of the United StatesThe greater republic, embracing the growth and achievements of our country from the earliest days of discovery and settlement to the present eventful year .. . before it sailed from Key West,and it was this young man of lessthan thirty years who solved the pro-blem by a plan originated by AdmiralSampson, which he executed witha heroic daring that finds perhaps noparallel in all naval history. At threeoclock A. M., June 3d, in company with seven volunteers from the A>« Yo7-k and other shi])s, he took theUnited Statescollier J/er;-/w«(, a large vessel with GO
A new history of the United StatesThe greater republic, embracing the growth and achievements of our country from the earliest days of discovery and settlement to the present eventful year .. . before it sailed from Key West,and it was this young man of lessthan thirty years who solved the pro-blem by a plan originated by AdmiralSampson, which he executed witha heroic daring that finds perhaps noparallel in all naval history. At threeoclock A. M., June 3d, in company with seven volunteers from the A>« Yo7-k and other shi])s, he took theUnited Statescollier J/er;-/w«(, a large vessel with GOO tons of coal on board, and sta^ted withthe purpose of sinking it in the channel. The chances were ten to one tliat thebatteries from the forts would sink the vessel before it could reach tiie narrowneck, and the chances were hardly one in one hundred that any of the men onboard the collier would come out of this daring attempt alive. The ship hadhardly started when the forts opened fire, and amid the thunder of artillery anda rain of steel and bursting shells the boat with its eight brave liei-oes held onits way, as steadily as if they knew not their danger. The channel was reached,. KICHMOND PEARSON HOBSON. 558 THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. and the boat turned across the channel. The sea-doors were opened and tor-pedoes exploded by the intrepid crew, sinking the vessel almost instantly, butnot in the position desired. As the ship went down the men, with side-armsbuckled on, took to a small boat, and, escape being impossible, they surrenderedto the enemy. It seems scarcely less than a miracle that any of the eight menescaped, yet the fact remained that not one of them was seriously injured. TheSpaniards were so impressed with this act of bravery and heroism that theytreated the prisoners with the utmost courtesy, confined them in Morro Castle,and Admiral Cervera promptly sent a special officer, under a flag of truce, toinform Admiral Sampson of their safety. The prisoners were
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