The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-06
CERVERATRAPPED
BE Must Surrender OF Blow
Up Els Ships.
SANTIAGO FULLY BLOCKED.
The Merrimac Lies Across the
Channel in lis NarrOWest Part

OuuUuOk IA Atu ANNsAS" |
cou.-lsts suooess or Lieut.. Hobson's brilliant
Foat-ne suegeatea the Idea ana Carried Ht
out ~ mo Had Piaunoa Ht-Ths Hsrr'1ao
YVES First Taken twenty Miles or shoro
ana str,ppsa or EverythinG OF value That
Coula Ne Taken Out-AI Her Coal Unlosaed
nuosp, 300 Tons Iert for Ballast
naeoruess OF the Crews to Volunteer
Ga1 the DanEerouS service - Names OF
the Men Who Were Finally Chosen.
apsotal Gable DesSGteA to TIE suH.
KINGSTON, Jamaica, juno o.-Further
details Of the bottling up OF Admiral Ger
vera ut Santiago de Cuba are sent here
with. They supplement the dispatches
already cabled to THE SUM-. The Spanish
uouadron is sealed within the harbor, from
which there 10 impossible chance OF escape.
There are now only two courses open to
The Spanish commander, who for weeks
kept the United States guessing as to his
Intentions and whereabouts. He must ulti-
mately either sink his ships or surren-
der them to the Americans. 1t Is
u~carcely believed that he will be will
Ing to do the latter. The chances arc that
when he finds himself attacked by land
and sea, as now seems to DO the plan, he
will blow up his Ships to prevent them
from falling into tho hands Of his enemy.
By one of the most daring deeds in the
annals of naval history Admiral Samp-
sop's feet has succeeded in closing
the narrow entrance to the Bay Of
Santiago, o feat accomplished under
the guns Of the Spanish batteries that line
the shores and over the mines beneath tho
waters, which threatened instant destruc-
tion to those who took part In tho desper
ate adventure.
The United States collier Merrimao, with
n large quantity of coal aboard of her, lies
almost crosswise of the channel at its mar
Eowest part.
To clear the fareway in face of the Gre
that could be poured Into the entrance by
the American warships would. 1t 10 be-
lieved, be an impoasibility, and Admiral
Cervera is therefore effectually trapped In
the harbor where he sought refuge from
the American warships that were securing
the Southern seas for him..
The names of the heroes who carried out
the desperate undertaking are:
Lieut.. RICHMOND PEARSON HoBsoN, an
Assistant Naval Constructor.
OSBORN DE1GNAN, o coxswain OF the MCr-
Fimac.
GEORGE 3. PHILLIPS. . maehiniSt Of the
Merrimac.
JOHN KELLY, Q water tender Of the
Merrimac.
GEORGE CHARErTE, q gunnerS mate OF
the flagship New York.
DANIEL MONTAGUE, . seaman Of the
cruiser Brooklyn.
]. @. MURPHY, q coxswain Of the Iowa.
RANDOLPH CLAUsEN, a coxswain of the
New York.
The latter was not selected as a volun'
teer, but his desire to accompany the. expe
dition was so great that he practically de
serted his ship. He was at work on the Mer
rfmac and declined to leave her when al
naye the volunteers were ordered to joir
tho flagship. His INSTRUMENTATION was
passed over and he Is now a prisoner will
his comrades in the Moro at Santiago.
When Admiral Sampson arrived of
Santiago on Wednesday and assumed
command of the combined fleets. one o
the first to claim an audience with hin
was Assistant Naval Constructor Rich
mond Pearson Hobson, who is now tn,
hero of the Santiago fleet. His rank In tn
navy is that of Lieutenant. He is a nativ
of Grsensborough, Ala, and he is but 9
years old. He was graduated from tn
Naval Academy In 1889, and subsequently
studied naval construction abroad.
Young Hobson laid before the Admiral
LaAkI. kLA C-nNsnL n.
In Santiago harbor, SO that one or two yes
sells could be left to guard this place an
the rest of the fleet might be at liberty t
20 In safety to the north coast and cove
the landing Of troops.
With true courage Lieut.. Hobson offere
to lead the expedition which he suggested
His plan was to select a volunteer crew c
tust sufficient number to navigate the co
lier Merrimac, to strip the old ship {
everything of any value. and then. undo
cover of darkness, to run her straigt
toward the narrowest part OF the chann'
and sink herby explosions deep In the hol
The crew were to jump overheard as ST
sank, and, II possible. be picked up by IL
torpedo boat Porter and the steam launc
from the New York, which were to |
close in shore for that purpose. The fe'
lying outside was to cover the work of IL
Porter and the little launch.
Lieut.. Hobson presented his plan in ell
quent and persuasive language, and A
mlral Sampson thought 80 we'll of it tn
he determined to put it into execution.
Wednesday night was first selected. Tn
afternoon this signal was made to the shil
of the squadron by the New York:
"An attempt will be made tonight
sink the collier Merrimac at the entran
to the harbor. One volunteer. an enlist'
man, is requested from each ship"
Immediately the men were mustered
the quarterdecks, and the Captains laid Il
plan before them, carefully explaining L
unusual risks that the volunteers wou
incur. Practically the entire companies
the ships volunteered for the dangero
work.