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

The history of wars furnishes no incl
dent OF ralor and utter fearlessness sur
passing the splendid act performed by
! Lieutenant Richmond P. Hobson and
his heroic crew Of seven volunteer sea-
men in the entrance to the harbor OF
Santiago de Cuba. The performance
Y ndds a thrilling chapter of courage and
voluntary willingness to face almost GER
tain death to the glorious record OF
herpisni which is the history OF Ameri-
can naval warfare. It is q pity that in
the first reports of the brave deed which
has provoked the admiration of the
world, and even won congratulations
from the commander Of the Spanish war
feet. against which the movement was
Z directed, the names Of those who COM
posed the little crew of volunteers un-
der Lieutenant Hobson were omitted.
Each and every one OF them is Us worthy
! to be honored us q hero as his brave
4 Commander is, and all will be 50 honor
s ed by the government and the people.
It is not surprising that performance
s<of such courage us to cause the Spanish
commander to send a flag OF truce id
recognition Of the bravery OF this crew
of tds American enemies, and to assure
the American commander that they
would be treated with consideration
y while prisoners In his hands, should
~ cbb11er or. 4to OIL ma r,+top of +1o ,,,o-,5
Admiral Sampson called for eight
Z volunteers to perform the perilous mis-
z sion Of taking an unarmcd and unarm-
ored vessel, q hulk used merely os coal
transport, into the mouth of death,
amid a storm Of shells and cannon shot,
X hurled from powerful engines OF de-
strucdon, and to sink her in narrow
/ channel, Itself planted with deadly
I mines, and take their chances Of escape.
When this summons came. It IS to the
I glory OF the American navy and the
honor of the country that. not the eight
men necessary alone responded to the
1 call, but that every man on board the
American fleet, 1000 in all, volunteered,N
while some pied To have the honor, and
many were disappointed that they were
mot selected. Not in all history has
there been an incident more inspiring
and exhibiting a more daring spirit, and
none has there been which more s.rik-
ingly showed the loyalty OF seamen 10
Sshetr country's cause.
The feat that was accomplished. md
! which won admiration even from the
i enemy. was Of greater significance than
4 as On historic exhibition OF American
i hero!sm. 1t was case OF The men who
q undertook, the task approaching the full
{ meaning of the necessity and amport-
A ance OF the movement. and Its possible
bearing upon the general results Of the
war, to that degree that they
were willing and even nnx-
sols and proud to offer their lives for the
sacrifice. Arc not the exploit and It's
4 results enough TO warrant the belief
that the ruling hand of Providence must
have guided these men in their under
taking for the American cause IN q war
! for a better civilization
The Significance as affecting The war
situation IS vital. It made certain the
complete bottltng UP of the Spanish war
s dcet, and rendered It. temporarily at
aesat. os harmless MS II 81 werc at the
bottom OF tho Gca. 1t was, to use Tho
language Of a correspondent. Tho "plac-
: dng Of the chopper In tho bottle. with
The collier Mcr74mao as the cork" In
she rnennr1mc. tho American nation will
mot Ignore the claims OF The eight heroes
" VINO performed this remarkable fcnt to
ne ihonorcd as they deserve. Prompt
measures for their exchange and rcstor-
alton ae1on 70 tarclr fleet, aud their promo