Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-06-07
DYNAMITE THE WRECK.
Spaninrds Set to Work to Clear the
Channel mt Santiago.

Port au Prince, June 4. = Further
news received here Saturday from San.
tiago de Cuba confirms the reports that
the bombardment of that place began
at three O'clock Friday morning. After
the action the Spaniards blew up with
dynamite the sunken American collier
Merrimac and have since been ut work
clearing the channel so as TO. in all
probability, permit Admiral Cervera's
fleet to put out to sea should the Cadi2
squadron, under Admiral Camara, ar
rive in Cuban watars- -toa.-.-.s'::-ss- the
h,oo,...tas,' z,,ips.
In the meantime the dispatches from
Santiago de Cuba say the Spaniards
pay tribute to the audacity of the
Americans in SO cleverly attempting to
block the channel
According to the Spaniards. it would
be foolishness upon the part of the
Americans to attempt to force the har
Dor entrance. which is described as be.
ing long and narrow. and thoroughly
mined, seemingly forming an insur.
mountable barrier.
There are a great number of insur
gents in the vicinity Of Santiago, prob
ably waiting for some decisive action
upon the part of the American fleet.
which will undoubtedly be the signal for
land attack upon the town.
Spanish Version of Affair.
Madrid, June A. - The Spanish yer.
sion of the sinking of the Merrimac in
the channel leading into the harbol
of Santiago de Cuba, says: 1.-TWO
American ironclads were seriously dam.
aged during the engagement"
The Spaniards also describe the af.
fair as "a brilliant Spanish victory"
The version of the sinking of the
Merrimac, which has reached the min.
lister of marine here, Capt. Aunon, from
Santiago, is as follows:
"A Spanish vessel in front of Santiago
has sunk an American auxiliary cruiser.
All the members of the crew Of the
latter have been imprisoned. The rest
of the enemy's squadron Immediately
retired"
1t is officially announced here that
the Spanish government has received
further dispatches regarding the al
legged victory of the Spaniards at San
tiago de Cuba, but that they will not be
published until they have been com.
municated to the queen regent.
In the meanwhile the report has cir.
culated that the Spaniards have cap.
tured numerous Americans"
Identifying the Men.
Washington. June 4.-The only Hobson
in the list of officers in the naval register is
Richard p. Hobson, naval constructor,
who is lieutenant of the Junior grade.
He was appointed an assistant naval con-
structor in 1891. He entered the navy from
Alabama.
Kansas City, Mo-, June 4.-commander
James NJ. Miller. of the Merrimac, reported
sunk in Santiago harbor is from Liberty
Mo-, where his mother. Mrs. Ann Miller,
is still living. He has seen over 30 years
of service in the navy. having been ap-
pointed midshipman in 1863. He rose
through successive grades and was APP
pointed commander last year, just after he
had brought home the Yantic from South
American waters. For six years he was in
the Asiatic station. where he saw the
naval battles of the Chinese-Japanese war
Before his assignment to the Merrimac
with the flying squadron at Hampton
Roads Commander Miller was on duty al
the Brooklyn navy yard.
| Philadelphia. June 4.-Ensign John Rus.
| sell Young Blakely, of the Merrimac, who
| is reported to have been cap tured by the
| Spaniards at Santiago Friday is a Phila.
delphian. son of John B.akely, publisher
| of the Evening Star. of this city. When
| war with Spain was declared he was as.
| signed to the Merrimac, of which vessel he
| was navigator.