The age-herald., 1898-06-06
THE HEROES OF
 THE MERRIMAC Lieutenant HObSOn Planned and Executed
 the Daring Deed. HARB0R ENTRANCE BLOCKED Four Cruisers and Two Torpedo Boat DeStrOy6FS Are Utterly Helpless. NAVAL CADET POWELL'S BRAVERY The Launch Sent to Rescue Hobson and His Men Stayed by Until He Saw There
 Was No Hope of Saving
 Them.
NAVAL CADET P0WELL's BRAVERY

the Associated Press Dispatch Boat Daunt- less.-(Delayed In Transmission )-The Spanish fleet is now helpless, being held captive in Santiago de Cuba harbor. The marrow channel leading into the harbor was completely blocked early this morning when the United Sta.es collier Mer. imac was sunk across it's entrance It is now impossible for the Spanards to get out and it is equally impossible for any vessel to get into the harbor. Therefore, the Spanish first-class armored cruiser Meria Teresa, Cristobal Colon, Vizcaya and AL mirant Oquendo, with the two torpedo boat destroyers, Furor and Fulton, are no longer of any use to Spain. This result was accomplished through the heroism of Lieutenant Richmond P. Hobson, assistant naval constructor and Daniel Montague, George Charette, J. c. Murphy, Oscar Deig- nan, John P. Phillips, John Kelly and H. Clausen. The latter, a coxswain of the New York, took part In the expedition against orders. They were all captured by the Spaniards but the Spanish admiral in recognition of their bravery sent word to the American admiral under flag of truce that he was willing to exchange the prisoners and assuring the American com mander htat they would be treated with the greatest kindness. Money and provisions have been sent them and the necessary steps are being taken to bring about their exchange.
 Montabgue is chief masters at arms at New York. He has served four years in the navy is 29 years of age and his home is in Brooklyn.
 George Charlotte Is a gunner's mate of the first-class on board the New York. He has served fourteen years in the navy is 31 years old, and resides at Lowell, Mass J. c. Murphy is a coxswain of the Iowa. Oscar Deignan is a coxswain of the Merri- mac and is about "A years old.
 John P. Philips is machinist of the first-class, belonging to the Merrimac He is 36 years of age and his home is in Bos- ton.
 John Kelly is a water tender, about 35 years old. His home is Glasgow, Scot land.
 DISOBEYED ORDERS.
 H. Clausen, who slipped on board the Merrimac without permission in order to take part in the expedition is a coxswain of the New York.
 Lieutenant Richmond Pearson Hobson assistant naval constructor, was born at Greensboro, Ala, on August IT, 1870, was appointed after a competitive examination, to the naval academy in May, 1885, He was the youngest member of his class, but graduated at the head of his eighteen com panons. He has studied engineering un- der the auspices of the United States government in France and was made as sistant naval constructor in 1891. He is the author of a semi-political work entitled "The Situation and Outlook in Europe" and was assigned to the flagship New York when Admiral Sampson sailed fo rthe West Indies.
 Lieutenant Hobson is a nephew of John M. Moorehead of North Carolina, and is a grandson of Chief Justice Pearson, of that state. He is unmarried and his father. Judge James M Hobson lives at Greens boro, Ala
 The three men from the Merrimacs crew were all green hands and shipped recently for the war.
 Tn Merrimac had on board 600 tons of coal when she was scuttled across the channel. Lieutenant Hobson started on his daring errand at o'clock this morning. The Merrimac was lying to the westward. Un- der cover of the clouds over the moon she stole in towards the coast and made her way to the eastward followed by a steam launch from the New York with the follow ing crew on board: Naval Cadet J. w. Powell, of Oswego N r.
 P. K. Peterson, coxswain
 H. Handford, apprentice of the first class.
 J. Mulings, coal passer.
 G. l.. Russell, machinist of the second- class.
 In the launch were bandages and apDl,- ances for the wounded.
 NEARING HER END.
 From the crowded decks of the New r)x nothing could be seen of the Merrimac af Ter she had got under the shadow of inc hill For haf an hour officsrs and men strafner their eyes. peering in the gloom. when suddenly the flash of gun stream d out from Morro Castle, and then all on board the New York knew the Merrimac was nearing her end. The guns from the Spanish batteries opp osite Morro Castle an. swered quickly with more flashes and I about twenty minutes flashes of fire seemed to leap across the harbor entrance
 The flagship as too fir away to hea, the reports and when the firing ceased il was judged that Hobson had bl -wn LID the Merrimac. For an hour the anxious watch. CTS waited for daylight. Rear Admira Sampson and Captain Chadwick were CT the bridge of the New York throughout.
 At o'clock thin streams of smoke were seen against the western shore, quite close to the Spanish batteries and strong glasse. from out of the launch of the New Yorl returning to the flagship. Scarcely had the small craft been sighted before a puff oi smoke leaped from a battery on the west. ern arm of the harbor and a shot plunged near over the launch. Then for fifteer minutes the big guns ashore kept up ar irregular fire on the little launch. As ths shells, without hitting the object they were intended for, the men on board the New