Evening journal., 1898-06-06
A DARING DEED.
How HObSOn Sealed the
HarbOr Of Santiago
de Cuba.
THEYCAN'T GET OUT NOW
The Ssnken Merrimac Cuts Off ALI
Chance Of 0ervera'S Escape.
GOLFERS CREW MADE PRISONERS
Yankee Audacity Excites tho Admiration
OF tho spaniards- -oners Of Exchange.
Latest Chapter In the Glorious
Annals OF the American Navy.

Latest Chapter In the Glorious
Annals of the American Navy.
PORT ANTONIO. Jamaica. June g.
The Spanish fleet IS now helpless. bsng
held captive In Santiago harbor The
narrow channel leading into the harbur
was completely blocked early Friday
morning. when the United States coli
lier Merrmac was sunk across the en-
trance. II Is now impossible for the
Spaniards TO get out and II Is equally
impossible for any vessel TO get into tho
harbor Therefore the Spanish first
class armored cruisers Maria Teresa.
Cristobal Colon, Yizcaya and Allmiranto
Oquendo. with the two torpedo boat
destroyers Furor and Pluton, are no
longer OF any use to Spain.
This result was accomplished through
the heroism Of Lieutenant Richmond II.
Hobson, assistant naval constructor,
and Daniel Montague, George Charette,
j. G. Murphy. Oscar Delgnen John r..
Phillips. John Kelly and II. Clauson.
The latter, coxswain OF the New
York, took part In the expedition
against orders. They were all captured
by the Spaniards. but the Spanish adj
miral. In recognition OF their bravery,
sent word to the American admiral un-
der a flag OF truce that he was wlllir g
70 exchange the prisoners and assuring
the American commander that they
would be treated with the greatest kind
ness. Money and provisions have been
sent 60 them, and the necessary steps
are being taken TO bring about their eN-
change.
The three men from the Merrimac's =
crew were all green hands and shipped
recently for tho war.
The Merrlmac had on board 600 tons
OF coal when she was scuttled across the
channel.
Lieutenant Hobson started on his dar-
Ing errand az o'clock IN the morning.
The Merrimao was lying to the west
ward. Under cover OF the clouds over
the moon she stole IN toward the coast
and made her way to the eastward. fol-
lowed by a steam launch from the New
York with the following crew on board:
Naval Cadet ]. w. Powell of Oswego,
n. " Z. K. Peterson. coxsWain: il.
Landlord. apprentice OF the first class:
]. Mullings. coal passer; G. l.. Russell,
machinist af the second class In the
launch we're bandages and appliances
FOR the wounded.
From the crowded decks Of the New
York nothing could be seen Of the Mer-
rlmac after she had got under the shad-
ow Of the hills. For half an hour onl-
GERS and men strained their eyes peer
ing into the gloom, when tho Hash OF 4
gun atreamed out from Moro castla
and then all on board the New YoyE
knew the MeFrimac was nearing her
end. The guns from the Spanish bat
terry opposite MORO castle answered
quickly with more flashes, and for about
20 minutes flashes OK fire seemed to leap
across the harbor entrance.
The flagship was too far away 70 see
the effects OF the firing. but those on
board could hear the reports and when
the firing ceased It was judged that
Hobaon had blown up the Merrimac.
For an hour the anxious watchers walt
ed for daylight Rear Admiral Sampson
and Captain Chadwick were on the
bridge OF the New York throughout.
At 5 O'clock thin streams on 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 flar-
ship. Scarcely had the small craft been
sighted before a pun of smoke issued
from battery on the western arm OF
the harbor and shot plunged far over
the launch. Then for Is minutes the big
guns ashore kept up an irregular flre
on the little launch. As the shells fell
without hitting the object they were in
tended for, the men on board the New
York jeered at the Spanish marksman-
ship and cheered their shipmates.
At 6;15 a. m. the launch came along
side the flagship. but she did not have
on board any Of the crew Of the Merrl-
mac Cadet Powell reported that he
had been unable to see any signs OF the
Merrimac's crew. II developed that
with great bravery the cadet had gone
right under the batteries and only re-
turned when ali hope Of taking on board
the crew OF the Merrimac had TO be
abandoned
Cadet Powell also reported that be
had clearly seen the Merrimac's masts
sticking up just where Hobson hoped tc
sink her. north Of the Estrella battery
and we'll rast the guns of MORO castle
But Of the heroes who had pinned the
Spaniards I'm there was not sound or q
sign
Rear Admiral Sampson said: Il an
pretty sure the attempt was quite sue.
oessful. I hope all those brave fellow,
are not captured"
Cadet Powell believes the torpedoe,
previously fixed about the Merrima,
were eNplodad as planned, as Lieuten
ant Hobson was well up the harbor be
fore the spaniards opened fire on IN,
Merrimac.
over 140 men and officers volunteerel
for the expedition.
Commander Miller, who had charg
Of the Merrimac, pleaded with the al
miral TO let him go, but the latte
shought he had better not.
When IL was learned that only si
men and Lieutenant Hobson were to e,
there was considerable disappointment
on all sides, and when the New Yor
contingent went over the side late o
Thursday night some Of those VIII
We're left We're almost ready. brave an
strong as they We're. 10 sit down an
cry
The spirit shown by the men and on
Gers Of the feet in connection with th
Take your trade to the s.orekeepe