The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1898-06-17
Lieut.. HOBSON|'S H||E|.R0IS|lN|lI|1
a Thrilling Story q tho Santiago
Blook ade.
in SHOT AN D SHELL.


VIVA fOrC AntONlOS J6mN1Eo, June i, per
the Associated Press Dispatch Boat
Dauntlessl The following d 4 detailed
story Of the act Of heroism performed BY
Lieut.. Richmond r. Hobson and his
seven companions in sinking the collier
Gerrimac across the channel leading into
the harbor Of Santiago de Cuba:
The Spanish fleet is now helpless, be-
ing held captive in Santiago de Cuba har-
Dor. The narrow channel leading into
the harbor was completely blocked early
this morning when the United States
collier Merrimac was sunk across its en-
trance. s 1t is now impossible for the
Spaniards to get out, and It Is equally
impossible for any vessel to get into the
harbor. Therefore the Spanish first-class
armored cruisers Maria Teresa, Cristobal
Colon, Vizcaya and Almirante Oquendo,
with the two torpedo-boat destroyers
Furor and Pluton, are no longer of any
use to Spain. r.. - - l. #s
One Hero Who Disobeyed Orders.
This result was accomplished through
the heroism of Lieut. Richmond p. Hob
son, assistant naval constructor, and
Daniel Montague, George Charette, J: G.
Murphy, Oscar Deignan, John F. Phil
latter. a coxswain Of the New York, took
part in the expedition against orders.
They were all captured by the Spanish,
but the Spanish admiral, in recognition
of their bravery, sent word to the Apaeri-
can admiral !,,! under a flag Of truce. that
and assuring the American commander
that they would be treated with the
greatest kindness. Money and provisions
have been sent to them and the necessary
steps are being taken to bring about their
exchange.
Montague is chief master-at-arms of
the New York: He has served four years
In the navy, is % years of age, and his
home is in Brooklyn.
George Charette is gunner's mate Of
the first class, on board the New York.
He has served fourteen years in the navy,
J. G. Murphy is coxswain of the
Iowa.
Oscar Deignan is a coxswain of the
Merrimac and is about "a years of age.
John p. Phillips is machinist of the
| is 36 years of age, and his home is in
Boston.
John Kelly is a water tender, about IS
years of age. His home is near: Glasgow,
Scotland.
Fl. Clausen, who slipped on board the
Merrimac without permission in order to
take part in the expedition, is co1swain
Who Hobson Is.
Lieut. Richmond Pearson Hobson, as
slstant naval constructor, was born at
Greensboro, Ala, on August II, 1870,
was appointed after competitive exam
nation, to the Naval academy in May,
1885. He was the youngest member of
his class, but graduated at the head Of
his eighteen companions. He has studied
engineering under the auspices of the
Tod f0fo in
was made assistat naval constructor in
1891. He is the author of a semi-political
work entitled The Situation and Out
look in Europe" and was assigned to the
flagship New York when Rear Admiral
Sampson sailed for the West Indies.
Morehead Of North Carolina and is a
grandson of Chief Justice Pearson of that
state. He is unmarried, and his father,
Judge James Nj. Hobson, lives at Green's
borough, Ala.
The three men from the Merrimac's
crew were all green hands, and shipped
recently for the war.
The Merrimac had on board 600 tons
of coal when she was scuttled across the
channel. s.
Lieut.. Hobson started on his daring err
rand at O'clock this morning. The
Merrimac was lying to the westward.
Under cover Of the clouds over the moon
she stole in towards the coast and made
her way to the eastward. followed by a
the following crew on board: Naval
Cadet J. NJ. Powell of Oswego, N. Y,
p. K. Peterson, coxswain; H. Hanford,
apprentice of the first-class; j. Mullings,
coal-passer; g. L. Russell, ,machinist of
the second-class. In the launch were
bandages and appliances for the
wounded. r
The FLASHES of Gums.
From the crowded decks OF the New
York nothing could be seen Of the Mer-
rimac after she had got under the shad-
fcers and men strained their eyes peer
ing into the gloom when, suddenly, the
fash of gu1.streamed out from MORO
| castle, and then all on board the New
York knew the Merimac was nearing her
end. The guns from the Spanish battery
opposite MorrQ castle answered quickly
with more flashes, and for about twenty
| across the harbor entrance
I The fagship1was too far away to hear
the reports, and when the firing ceased it
was judged that Hobson had blown up the
Merrimac. For an hour the anxious
watchers waited for daylight Rear-Ad-
miral Sampson and Capt. Chadwick were
out. AT 5 O'clock thin streaks of smoke
| were seen against the western shore, quite
close to the Spanish batteries, and strong
glasses made .out the launch of the New.
York returning to the flagship. Scarcely
had the small craft been sighted before
a puff of smoke issued from battery on
the western arm of the harbor and a shot
plunged far over the launch. Then, for
fifteen minutes, the big guns ashore kept
up an irregular FIRE on the little launch.
As the shells fell without hitting the OBJ
| ject they were intended. for the men, on
hoord tho No1y vorl, ioo,o1 - ~. g..