The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-06-09

Lieutenant Richmond Pearson Hob
son, assistant naval constructor, was
born at Greensboro, ALABAMA, August
IT, 1870, and was appointed, after q
competitive examination, to the Naval
Academy in May, 1883. He was the
youngest member of his class, but
graduated at the head of his eighteen
companions. He has studied engineer
ing under the auspices of the United
States government, in France, and was
made assistant naval constructor In
1891. He Is the author or semi-politi-
cal work entitled The Situation and
Outlook in Europe" and was assigned
to the flagship New York when Rear
Admiral Sampson sailed for the West
Indies. Lieutenant Hobson is a nephew
of John M. Morehead of North Caro-
lima, and Is a grandson or Chief JUS
tice Pearson of that state. He is I'M
married, and his father, Judge James
M. Hobson, lives at Greensboro, Ala.
The three men from the Merrimac's
crew were all green hands. and shipped
recently for the war.
The Merrlmac had on board 600 tons
of coal when she was scuttled across
the channel.
In the dark of the early morning the
Merrimac, without a light showing
anywhere, dashed we'll within the line
of the forts before she was discovered,
our ships laundering at the enemy's
batteries to divert their attention from
the collier.
The eye could not follow the Merri-
mac, but the ear soon told that she
had been detected by the Spanlards,
for the fire from up the channel indi-
taH hat h.
ing brought to bear on her.
The Spaniards may also have endeav-
ored to DESTROY her by the mines they
are supposed to have in the harbor, but
II the attempt was made 1t did not sue.
ceed.
For the Merrimac went to the point
to which Admiral Sampson had direc-
ted Hobson to take her. There she
was anchored and coolly swung across
the channel.
Then Hobson blew a hole in her bot
tom, and with his seven men, only two
of whom had been injured, took to the
boat.
All that is vet known of that heroic
dash, bevond these bare facts, comes
from Admiral Cervera himself.
The Spanish commander sent word
to Admiral Sampson, under a nag of
truce, of the capture of the eight Amer
lean daredeviis.
He gallantly praised their heroism
and offered to arrange an exchange of
them for Spanish prisoners now in the
hands of the United States.
From the boat bearing the flag of
truce it was learned that the .uerrimac
was frequently hit whne steaming up
the narrow channel, but that none V
the shots disabled her machinery.
More than a hundred projectiles
struck near her. over dozen struck
home, and two OF her intrepid men
were bruised by splinters from the
woodwork.
When Hobson left the ship in the boat
he made an effort 70 row out of the
| harbor and regain the American fleet,
but he had gone too far up the chan
| mel. and he soon saw that the effort to
pass all the aroused batteries in the
then daylight, would mean the sacrl"
| fee of all his crew.
So he turned and rowed straight for
| the Spanish squadron. Some shots
| were still sent after the boat, but before
| long the Spaniards saw that Hobson
evidently intended to give himself up
| and ceased firing.
The American lieutenant rowed
| straight to the Almirante Oquendo and
| surrendered himself to Admiral Cerve-
| ra, who received the prisoners courte-
ously and treated them with the re-
spect due gallant men who were pris-
oners of war.
The war department has begun to