Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1898-06-10
MERR|MAC SUNK N CHANNEL
DARING ACT OF AMERICANS.
Under Orders of Admiral sampson
Eight Men Took the Vessel IntO
the Entrance Of Santiago HaFh0r
and Exploded Her-Are Admiral
Cervera's Prisoners.

the Entrance of Santiago Harbor
and Exploded Her-Are Admiral
Cervera's Prisoners.
Washington, June 4.--The navy depart
ment has posted the following bulletin:
"The navy department at o'clock re-
ceived the following dispatch:
Mole, Haiti, June I've succeeded
in sinking the Merrimac in the channel
at Santiago at p. IN, June 3. This was
carried out under the command of Naval
Constructor Hobson and seven men.
"'By flag of truce from Spanish Ad-
miral Cervera sent in recognition Of their
bravery, am informed all are prisoners
of war, two being slightly wounded.
request authority to approve an exchange,
if possible. between these and the prison
ers at Atlanta.
"'Six of the Spanish squadron are In
the harbor of Santiago, and unable TO
avoid being captured or destroyed.
How II Was Done.
On Board Associated Press Dispatch
Boat Dauntless, OF Santiago, june 3, via
Kingston, June Rear Admiral Sampson
during Friday morning decided to Close
the narrow harbor entrance to Santiago
by sinking the collier Merrimac loaded
with coal, in the channel.
He called for volunteers to 70 to A.
most certain death and 1000 men offered
themselves. Lieutenant Hobson and nix
men were chosen, and at q. m. Friday
the Merrimac, under her own steam, On
tered the channel under terrible Spanish
fire.
The vessel was riddled with projectilss,
but she anchored and swung around.
Lieutenant HobsOn then set of an in
ternal torpedo with electric attachment.
There was an explosion, the MerrimAe
sank, the channel was closed and appar-
emily Cervera will be unable to escape.
Crew Was saved.
Kingston, Jamaica, June 4.--Lieuten-
ant Hobson and the hero crew of the Mer-
rimac were saved In the following man
ner:
Unable after the sinking Of their vessel
to make their way back through the
storm of shot and shell they rowed into
the harbor of the Spanish flagship and
were taken on board unframed. Tho
Spanish admiral, under flag Of truce,
| on Friday, sent word to the American
admiral that he offered to exchange the
prisoners, adding that, in the meanwhile,
Hobson and his party would be treated
with the greatest kindness
Washington, June 4.-The only Hobson
in the list Of officers Of the naval register
is Richmond P. Hobson, naval constructor
who is lieutenant Of the junior grade.
He was appointed IA assistant naval con.
structor in 1891. He entered the navy
from Alabama.
spaniards Clear the Channel.
Port au Prince, June 4--Further news
received from Santiago confirms the re-
ports that a bombardment of that place
began ut o'clock yesterday morning.
After the action the Spaniards blew up
with dynamite the sunken collier, Merri-
mac, and have since been at work clear
ing the channel so as to, in all probability
permit Admiral Ceryera to put out to
sea should the Cadiz squadron arrive in
Cuban waters to relieve the bl0ckaded
ships.
In the meanwhile the dispatches from
Santiago say the Spaniards pay tribute
to the audacity Of the Americans in 10
cleverly attempting to blockade the chan
mel. According to the Spaniards it would
be foolishness on the part Of the Ameri-
cans to attempt to force the harbor en-
trance which is long and narrow and
thoroughly mined, seemingly forming an
insurmountable barrier.
There are great numbers of insurgents
in the vicinity of Santiago waiting for
some decisive action on the part OF the
American fleet which will undoubtedly be
the signal for land attack on the town,
Cuba IsoIated.
| OF Santiago de Cuba, June 8, S p. m.
tPer Associated Press boat Wanda, via
Kingston, Jamaica, June ~ - The last
cable strands binding Cuba to the outside
world were cut this afternoon by cable
vessel conveyed here by the United States
dispatch boat Dolphin
This black sea crab delved all day along
the coast, hour by hour, and its claws at
length brought up the barnacle clustered
cable strands and snapped them and to.
night Cuba is wholly isolated.
The first cable picked up was that run
ming to Kingston. 1t was found early
: this morning. The coast loop connecting
Santiago and Guantanamo was then cut
Proceeding to Guantanamo the cable YES
sci finally grappled and severed the Ha
. itien cable. This ends the cable cutting
operations begun a month ago when the
I Marblehead and Window lost five men
in the fight off Cienfuegoes, where three
cables were crippled and several hundred
e Spaniards killed by shells from warships
: The strands cut today were the only
= ones remaining, except few coast loops
G and those will probably be severed in ]
e short time.