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Entitled: "Corking the bottle: assistant naval-constructor Hobson's heroic exploit in blowing up the collier Merrimac at the entrance to Santiago Harbor, 4 a.m., June 3, 1898." USS Merrimac was a US Navy collier during the Spanish-American War. Rear Admiral William T. Sampson ordered her to be sunk as a blockship at the entrance of Santiago Harbor, Cuba, in an attempt to trap the Spanish fleet in the harbor. Eight volunteers attempted to execute this mission, but Merrimac's steering gear was disabled by the fire of Spanish land-based howitzers. The American steamer was later sunk by the combined gunfire and the torpedoes of the protected cruiser Vizcaya, the unprotected cruiser Reina Mercedes, and the destroyer Pluton without obstructing the harbor entrance. Her crewmen were rescued by the Spanish and made prisoners-of-war. When the war ended all eight were awarded Medals of Honor for their part in the mission. Illustrated by Thure de Thulstrup for Harper's Weekly, 1898.
