The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-06-06

Copyright, lSos, by the Associated Press.)
SANTIAGO De CUBA, June 8, z q.
m-via Port Antonio, Jamaica, June 4.
Per the Associated Press dispatch
boa. Dauntless. delayed in transmits
u!ss.on.)-The following Is a detailed
tory OF the act of heroism performed
By Lieut.. Richmond P. Hobson and his
Ryen companions in sinking the collier
Nerrimac across the channel leading
into the harbor Of Santiago de Cuba.
The Spanish fleet Is now helpless, be-
,,s held captive in Santiago de. Cuba
harbor. The narrow channel leading
lnto the harbor was completely blocked
early this morning when the United
States collier Merrimac was sunk across
It's entrance. It Is now impossible for
tie Spanlards to get out and 1t Is equal
ly impossible for any vessel to get Into
tie harbor. Therefore the Spanish first
class armored cruisers Marie Teresa,
crIs,oba, Colon, yizcaya, and AlmIrante
0Qusrdo. with the two torpedo boat de-
s:soyers Furor and Pluton, are no
longer OF any use to Spain. This result
was accomplished through the heroism
d Lieut.. Richmond P. Hobson, assist
an. naval constructor, and Daniel Mon
tague. George Charette, ]. c.. Murphy,
Oscar Deigman, John P. Phillips, John
Kelly and H. Clausen. The latter, cox
swain Of the New York, took part in
the expedition against orders. They
were al captured by the Spaniards:
but the Spanish admiral, in recognition
o, their bravery, sent word to the Amer
!;an admiral, under q flag of truce, that
he vas willing to exchange. the prison
s!s and assuring the American COM
EaIde- that they wouh be treated with
tie greatest kindness. Money and pro-
yslOrs have been: sert to them and the
Necessary steps care being taken to
bring about theirsexchange.
: Montague Is clle f.master-nt-ar1ls of
The New York. has servedtfder
Years In the navy, Is 20 years OF age,
AID his home Is In Brooklyn. Sl
George Charette Is O gurner's mate OF
The first class, on board the New York.
Ee has served fourteen years in the
rayy. Is 81 years old and resides at
Lowell, Mass. T.. a
J. c. Murphy is coxswain Of the
Iowa. Ts
Oscar Deignan Is a coxswain OF the
Nerrimac and Is about "a years old.
John P. Phillips Is q machinist OF the
first class. belonging to the Merrimac.
He Is Sc years Of age and his home Is in
Boston. IS
John Kelly Is q water tender, about IS
Years old. His home is near Glasgow,
Scotland. ~ q =,
H. Causen, who slipped on board the
Gsrrtmac without permission In order
10 take part In the expedition, Is a cox
swain Of the New York. %
q lIobson's Career.
Lieut.. Richmond Pearson Hobson, as
As:ant naval constructor, was born at.
Greensboro, Ala, on August II, 1870,
vas appointed after competitive ex-
animation TO the naval academy in
Nay. 1885. He was the youngest mem
Der Of his class but graduated at the
head Of his eighteen companions. He
has studied engineering, under the aus
pless OF the United States government.
Ii France and was made assistant ma
"a constructor in 1891. He is the au-
hor Of a seni-political work entitled
The Situation and Political Outlook, In
europe" dc was assigned to the flag
snip New York when Rear Admiral
sanpson sailed for the West indies.
Lieut.. Hobson Is nephew Of John M.
Anrehead, Of North Carolina, and is a
grandson Of Chief Justice Pearson, Of
hat state. He Is unmarried and his
lasner, Judge James NJ. Hobson, lives
~ Greensboro, Ala.
Inc three men from the Merrimac's
crew we're an green hands and shipped
recently for the war. The MerrImac
asd on board six hundred tons OF coal
hel s7,lrr's.' -. - J. -,
Lieut.. Hohson started ON his DARING
Grand at 3 o'clock this morning. The
E EneIr1Enac was lying to the westward.
.ncer cover OF the clouds over the moon
sae stole In towards the coast and made
aer way TO the eastward. followed by a
saam launch from the New York with
tse io!owlrg crew on board: Naval
n1Get n J. ". Powell. of Oswego, N. r.;
n. Peterson, coswain; H. Handford,
sppsenticc OF the first class; ]. MulHngs.
.eat passer: G.. L. Russell, machinist OF
Se second class.
~ The launch were bandages md ap-
Nances for the wounded. = g i.
from the crowded decks OF the New
loFE nothing could be seen of tho N1er-
,h ,h"ac after she had got under the
,.aooW ,a OF the hills. For half an hour
sncers and men strained their eyes
,,sse'sns ~ Into the gloom when. suddenly
NJ W. haSh OF d gun streamed out from
s.orio castle, and then all on board the
seN York knew the Merrinlac was
SSsaFing hc- end. The guns from the
sMh'Sh batteries opposite Moro castle
sh"ered quickly with more flashes and
~, apout twenty minutes flashes of fro
,rt ,IeslncG TO leap across the hnrbor en-
me flagship was too far away to
"ssr INC reporte and when the firing
tas@d II was Judged that Hobson had
,hs"h up the Merrimuc. For MI hour
H., i anxious watchers waited for day.
c"s csHs Rear Admiral Sampson Sand
tS" +" Chadwiclt we're on the bridge Of
S4e new York throughout.
's'red at spnni,i nrksmnnitip.
~ o'clock thin streams OF smoke
a''. v,e seen against the western shore.
~. ssile Sose TO tho Spanish Dnt,erlea.nnd
iSnohg iSong sIassea made ont the launch OF
Ess.nc H. nc@ Yor)s.rciurnlnB to the!ilagfhlp.
"a .dh'esly mad the small craft been sight.
Is1s'ufc pun OF smoke Issued from n
Ls, on tho western arm OF the hur-
Ia. Ahd shot inItin rod fnrf nyor ho