newspaper correspondent Commodore Schley said, as he stood on his
flag-ship pointing towards Morro Castle:

"History does not record an act of finer heroism than that of the gallant
men who are prisoners over there. I watched the _Merrimac_ as she made her
way to the entrance of the harbour, and my heart sank as I saw the perfect
hell of fire that fell upon those devoted men. I did not think it possible
one of them could have gone through it alive.

"They went into the jaws of death. It was Balaklava over again without the
means of defence which the Light Brigade had. Hobson led a forlorn hope
without the power to cut his way out; but fortune once more favoured the
brave, and I hope he will have the recognition and promotion he deserves.
His name will live as long as the heroes of the world are remembered."

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 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