this, the narrowest part of the channel, I shall
swing the vessel around, stop the engines, open the sea valves, touch
off the torpedoes, and leave the vessel lying across the channel, which
is not as broad as the Merrimac is long. There are to be ten torpedoes
below the water-line placed against the bulkheads and connected with
each other by a wire under the ship. These torpedoes connect with the
bridge, and they should do their work very quickly. I shall have four of
the men on the deck with me, and in the engine-room two others. We will
all be in our underclothing, with our revolvers and ammunition, in
water-tight cases, strapped to our waists. Near the anchor forward I
shall have one of the men placed, with an axe, and around his waist a
light line which will be attached to the bridge where I stand. The
minute that I order the engines stopped I shall jerk this cord; this
will be a signal to him to cut the lashing and let go the forward
anchor. He will then jump overboard and swim to the boat at the stern.
The men in the engine-room, after stopping the engines, will open the
sea connections, and then join the rest and throw themselves overboard.
I shall fire the torpedoes the last thing, and this will insure the
rapid sinking of the vessel." When Hobson was asked if he expected to
escape alive, he said: "Well, I suppose the batteries on shore will make
it pretty hot for us; but they will not be able to see very clearly, and
I think we have a fair chance of getting away. We certainly shall not
allow ourselves to be taken prisoners without fighting for it." All
Wednesday night the crew were at work on the _Merrimac_ to get her
stripped for her final resting-place. Early Thursday morning a start was
made, but the vessel was ordered back, as the delays in getting her
ready had made it impossible to take advantage of the darkness. Very
early Friday morning the second start was made, and this time she
succeeded in getting well in shore before the first glimmer of
daylight; but soon the crews on the ships, who were anxiously waiting,
saw the flash of the first gun on shore, and then a brisk firing began
from both batteries and fort, which was kept up for some time. Of the
_Merrimac_, nothing more was seen until broad daylight, when the top of
her mast was discovered protruding from the water in just the position
that Hobson had planned to place her.

[Illustration: ENTRANCE TO SANTIAGO HARBOR.]

Admiral Cervera sent a boat