The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1898-06-10


MOLE ST. NICOLAS, June 4.-The
name of Hobson has gone on the list
of American heroes, with, Lawrence !
and Paul Jones, Perry and Gushing l.
and the rest. For it was Lisuten-
ant Richmond P. HObson of Ala |
/ bama who took the big collier |
! Merrimac right into the channel of
| Santiago, in the face of the fire from !
all the Spanish ships and batteries,
and there deliberately sank his ves-
sci to keep Oervera in the harbor
until such time as the Americans
get ready to capture him and his
ships of war. '"' 31n 90
With Lieutenant HObsOn went
Daniel Montague, George Charette,
J. T. Murphy, Oscar Deignan. John
?. Philips and John Kelly, all non
commissioned officers or enlisted
men. . Hr
Thursday night Admiral Sampson
decided to send the Merrimac IN
and sink her at the channels mar
rowest part. "
He called for volunteers, explain
ing that it was a desperate mission,
death being almost certain for all
those who ventured in. Then the
navy showed the stuff it is made of.
Admiral Sampson wanted eight
men. He could have had every
officer and man in the fleet. Every
one was more than ready. Many
begged for the chance with fearful
eyes.
But Hobson and seven others were
selected, and the rest had to content
, themselves with giving the heroes a
, cheer as they went to their death or
. fame.
Just before 8 O'clock Friday morn
ing the collier deeply laden with
ballast material and some coal, was
headed, without preliminary ma
, neuver, straight for the entrance,
. over which the remaining batteries
, of Morro frown from one side and
. those of Socapa from the other.
In the dark of the early morning
2 the Merrimac, without a light show
ing anywhere, dashed we'll within
the line of the forts before she was
T. discovered, our ships laundering at
the enemy's batteries to divert their
attention from the collier.
The eye could not follow the
Merrimac, but the ear soon told that
. she had been detected by the Span
ilrds, for the fire from up the chan
, mel indicated that every possible
gun was being brought to bear on
i. her.
The American Lieutenant surren-
. dered to Admiral CerVera, who re-
ceived the pri.Oners cOurteOusly and
" treated them with the respect due
gallant men who were prisoners of
= war. 1t was undoubtedly his admi-
ration for the heroism displayed in
s the dash of the Merrimac which led
; him to send out the flag Of truce and
4; the offer of an honorable exchange.
y From the boat bearing the flag of
}, truce it was learned that the Metri-
4; mac was frequently hitwhile steam,
n ing up the narrow channel, but that
none of the shots disabled her ma
chinery.
}. More than a hundred proiectiles
struck near her, over dozen struck
" home and two of her intrepid men
were bruised by splinters from the
a, woodwork.
IS The Merrimac went directly to the
y point to which Admiral Sampson
e. had directed Hobson to take her
r. There she was anchored and coolly
,r swung across the channel. Then
O. HObson blew hole in her bottom
IA All that is vet known of that he
~ roic dash, beyond these bare facts
Ia comes from Admiral Cervera him
ID self.
he The Spanish Commander sen
er word to Admiral Sampson, under /
le flag of truce, of the capture of tn,
n eight American dare. devils.
% He gallantly praised their heroism
rs and offered to arrange an exchange
~ for Spanish prisoners now in th,
lie hands of the United States.
a The Spaniards on the truce boa
at declared that Hobson and his mel
le were given cheer as they came NJ
~. to Spanish ships, the sailors recog
ID nizing the bravery of the deed.
st In the fee: it is said that Hobsol
o. was selected because of his coolnes
as in time of danger and his knowledg
d of the explosives which he was L
,ni' use in sending his ship to the bot
~ tom.
@ @as The explosive used was a dyna
nd mite bomb, operated by electricity
w The bomb was placed well forward
ce and the electrical apparatus for ex
az plOding it was located on deck a
Is the stern.
Ia In this sway it was possible to bloV
ne a hole in the collier and then tax
to the boats before the big vesse
IN went down. '...
Dn Some time after the collier ha
st been sunk two boats put out from
"a the harbor to the place where he
"a masts showed above the water. !
,ir was suspected that the Spaniard
a were endeavOring to dynamite tn
wreck and clear the channel. /