The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-06-08
Robson and His Seven Msn Blockadsd San
tiago Harbor.
An EXPLOIT THAT RANKS WITH THE
GREATEST OF BRILLIANT WORK
or LAND Or SEA.

4 HIS IttSuAl WIS AttDli p4lcutd
daring exploit in which all the men in
terested expected to lose their lives. They
planned, after sinking the Merrimac with
torpedoes. If they were not blown ont O
the water by Spanish mines or torpedoes
TO escape from the Merrimac in small
boat and reach the steam launch of the
cruiser New York, which had followed
them. Ia this they failed. They sue
ceeded in getting away from the Merri-
mac before the torped oes which they had
"set'' exploded and sunk the collier, but
they were unable 10 find the steam
launch, which had become lost from
them. There was nothing 10 do but sur
render TO the Spaniards, who had sent
out a boat from Admiral Cervers's flag
ship and picked them up. The names NJ
the heroes are:
DANIEL MONTAGUE,
J. c. MURPHY.
OSCAR DEIGNAN.
JOHN p. PHILLIPS.
JOHN KELLY.
II. CLAUSEN.
GEORGE CHARETTE.
X. p. HOBSON.
The Spanish admiral in recognition OF
their bravery sent word to the American
admiral, under flag Of truce, that he
was willing 10 exchange the prisoners,
and assuring the American commander
that they would be treated with the great
est kindness. Money and provisions
have been sent to them and the necessary
steps are being taken to bring about their
exchange.
STORY or THE MRRRIMAc.
A Pittsburg Dispatch special cable tells
the following remarkable story of the
sinking of the Merrimacs
Late Thursday afternoon aud during
the night the greater part OF the coal re-
manning in the Merrimac was placed on
board the warships. Commander ]. NJ.
Miller and the crew of 40 left the collier
and Lieutenant Hobson and seven went
on board. His orders were simple lie
was to run into the channel to a certain
point, if the Merrimac was not sunk in
the meantime, then blow up the ship and
take their chances OF escape.
When Lieutenant HobsOn and the sew
en- babe their comrades goodby those
who stayed behind and those who went
never expected to see each other sgain.
And yet the 1900 envied the eight, who
jol1ed about their good fortune.
The start was made at 3 o'clock Friday
morning. The Merrimac numbered along
under her own steam. The big American
warships drew nearer to protect the coll
ier from the Spanish fleet as best they
could.
Every light was hidden and the collier
moved along. She slipped by the scouts
guarding the entrance to the harbor. 1t
was a. IN. when she entered the chan
mel.
Then the guns of Fort Morro discovered
the Merrimac, plowing ahead, bent on
proceeding as far as possible before she
sank, fearful of running aground before
an advantageous place was reached. The
guns from Soeapa fort and from the bat
teries along shore opened fire.
SHOTS FALL LIKE RAIN.
The gunners had the range 10 a foot.
It was fair for them to suppose that the
Merrimac was a big warship; that she
was leading the way for the Others, and
that the whole feet was trying to force an
entrance to the harbor. If they sank her
no other ship could pass. The shots fell
npOn the collier like rain in a tropical
storm. She had path 80 feet wide. She
must keep in it.
On either side. before and behind. the
great guns doomed and roared. AS the
collier moved along the Reina Mercedes,
the Spanish flagship, gunboats and tor
pedo boats opened fire upon her.
The Merrimac was no warship with
protected sides, with great guns-no fight
ing ship. She was but a merchantman
shell could no more stop the great pro-
jectiles than so much paper. And the
men aboard could not fight back. They
had no arms. They GOULD not know the
exhilaration and excitement of combat.
They could only Withstand the rain Of
shot as best they could, marYeling each
second that they were still alive.
Upon the bridge stood lieutenant Hob
son. Now and then his brother officers
could catch a glimpse of his figure by
means of their powerful glasses. They |
knew he was measuring his chances as
quietly and eoolly as he made his ealcu-
lations over his drawing-tabl in a navy
yard.
Down in the waiss OF the ship were the |
stokers and the engineers. They could |
hear the roar OF the guns that reverbera-
tod between the cliffs. They could work,
but they knew that if anything happened |
10 the ship no power ON earth could save
them. There was lofly, sublime courage |
in the stokehole of the Merrimac ,ss. |
morning.