[Illustration:  ADMIRAL CERVERA.]

It was the fear that the Spanish ships would make a dash on some dark, stormy night and escape that led to one of the most striking and brilliant exploits of the war.  That is the sinking of the collier Merrimac in the channel of the harbor by Lieutenant Richmond Pearson Hobson, on the night of June 3.  That the effort was not wholly successful does not detract from the glory of the brave men who went unflinchingly to what looked like almost certain death.

The companions of Lieutenant Hobson in this remarkable achievement were Osborn Deignan, George F. Phillips, Francis Kelly, George Charette, Daniel Montague, J.C.  Murphy and Randolph Clausen.  The last named was not one of the original six chosen, but he had been at work on the Merrimac preparing her for the attempt and hid himself away on the lumbersome craft and they were obliged to take him.

As soon as the Spaniards discovered the approach of the Merrimac, in the darkness, they opened upon her with their batteries from both shores, and she was subjected to a fire which it would seem must riddle her like a sieve and kill every man.  But under the direction of the cool-headed and daring Lieutenant the collier was swung into the right position, and, but for the shooting away of the rudder, would have been sunk directly across the channel, which would have been effectively blocked.  The position of the wreck as a consequence was diagonal and left the passage partly open.

[Illustration:  LIEUTENANT RICHMOND PEARSON HOBSON.]

Having accomplished as nearly as possible the perilous task the brave party were obliged to remain clinging to a raft until morning, when the Spaniards discovered and made them prisoners.  Admiral Cervera himself helped to take Hobson out of the water and was so filled with admiration of the extraordinary daring of himself and companions that he sent a flag of truce to Admiral Sampson with the welcome news that all the men were safe in his hands.  They were confined first in Morro Castle and later in the city of Santiago.  They were treated with the respect their heroism deserved and on July 6 were exchanged for a number of prisoners held by our forces.

[Illustration:  ADMIRAL WILLIAM T. SAMPSON.]

Just one month after this exploit, that is on the morning of July 3, 1898, Admiral Cervera attempted to escape from the harbor of Santiago.  The smoke of his vessels was discerned over the hills, and the watchful ships outside signalled the fact to the other members of the squadron.  A few minutes later the bow of one of the Spanish steamers came into sight from behind the Estrella Battery.  The Brooklyn, Iowa and Oregon, some two and a half miles distant, crowded on all steam and headed for the harbor.  The first Spanish cruiser to show itself was the Infanta Maria Teresa, followed by the Vizcaya, the Almirante Oquendo and the Cristobal Colon, with the torpedo boats Pluton and Furor bringing up the rear.  The Infanta Maria Teresa, leading the procession, was the flagship of Admiral Cervera.  He sent a shell toward the American vessels, but, in accordance with the rule, it went wide of the mark.  The Texas opened with her big guns and her companions quickly joined in the thunderous chorus.