Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-06-11

ana Sank her. re succesued IN this |
desperate enterprise under the fires OF
the batteries and forts which guard the |
entrance, and without support from the
fleet.
Ensign Powell. also OF the New York,
with a steam launch. crept close under
the guns of Morro Castle to take of
the heroes OF the Merimac, and re-
mained there pluckily until daylight
discovered his position, without seeing
a trace OF the Merrimac's crew. To
have remained longer would have been
sheer madness. AS it was, he retired
under q heavy fire from Mauser rifles
and the heavy guns OF the batteries.
The heroes who performed this mar
velous feat OF daring were:
Lieutenant Richmond p Hobson, as
sistant naval constructor. Lieutenant
Hobson was born at Greensboro. Ala.
on Aug. II, 1870, was appointed, after
a competitive examination, to the Ma
val academy In May, 1885. He was the
youngest member. Of his class, but
graduated at the head Of his is COM
panions.
Daniel Montague, chief master OF
arms, OF New York. He has served
four years in the navy, is 20 years Of
age, and his home is in Brooklyn.
George Charette, gunner's mate of
the first class on board the New York.
He has served IL years in the navy, is
81 years old and resides at Lowell,
Mass.
J. c. Murphy. coxswain of the Iowa
Osborne Deignan. a coxswain OF the
| Merrfmac, abou\ "a years old.
George F. PhiNipps, a machinist of
the FIRST class. b longing to the Merri-
mac He is SO Years of age, and his
home is IN Boston.
/ Francis Kelly, a water tender, about
IS years old. His home is near Glas-
| gov, Scotland.
II. Clausen, who shipped on board the
Merrimac without permission, in order
| to take part in the expedition, is q
coxswain of the New York.
Lieutenant Hobson and his men are
now Spanish prisoners, as a flag oi
truce announces, and will be exchanged
In due course of time, but that theil
mission was successful admits of nc
doubt.
The preparations for the wonderful
piece OF daring were made in the mos
matter OF fact way, and with an uttel
disregard OF death. Indeed, the mer
chosen for the hazardous duty spok'
only OF getting In, saying nonchalantly
"Oh, I guess we stand a fair show o
getting out. but they can't stop US go
ing in"
Owing to the dangerous nature o
the work. It was decided that onl,
enough men to man the collier shoul,
taks part in the expedition. Therefor
Lieutenant Hobson called for six vol
unteers. To the glory of the Ameri
can navy be it said, whole cheering
ships crews responded. About 300 o.
board the New York, some $50 on boar
the Iowa and a like proportion fror
the other ships volunteered. He picke
three men from the New York an
three from the Merrimao. The latte
were green In the service. but the
knew the ship and had pleaded har
, to 90.
The men OF the fleet left behind wait
ed expectantly until long after the firin
that followed the Merrimac's discover
had ceased, and when Ensign Powe
and his volunteer crew returned with
f, out having seen the Merrimac's littl
crew IL was believed that all had PEI
I ished. After daylight. however, Capital
3 Ovideo. Admiral Cervera's chief OF stat
went to the New York under a max q
truce and told the story Of the heroes
escape from death. Lieutenant Hobso
had. "a the taeanf amoat deadly &par