The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-06-06
5 IMMORTALS.
Story of the Journey Into the
Jaws of Death,
Made by the Crew Of the Merri-
mac at Santiago.
THEY DID NOT RETURN
But Their Mission Was Fully
Accomplished.
All We're Made Prisoners by the
Spaniards.
THEY DID NOT RETURN

Off Santiago de Cuba, June 3.-via
Port Antonio, Jamaica, June 6, per AS
ISOLATED Dispatch boat, Dauntless.-Ihe
following is a detailed story of the act
of heroism performed by Lieutenant
Richmond P. Hobson and his seven
companions in sinking the collier Mer-
rirnac across the channel leading into
the harbor of Santiago de Cuba;
The Spanish fleet is now helpless, be-
ing held captive in Santiago de Cuba
harbor The narrow channel leading
into the harbor was completely blocked
when the United States collier Merr1-
mac was sunk across its entrance. 1t
is now impossible for the Spaniards to
get out, and it equally impossible for
any vessels to get into the harbor
Therefore the Spanish first class ar
mored cruisers Maria Teresa, CristObal
Colon, Vizcaya and Almirante Oquen-
do, with the two torpedo boat destroy
ers, Furer and Pluton, are no longer OF
any use to Spain.
This result was accomplished through
the heroism of Lieut.. Richmond +.
Hobson, assistant naval constructor
and Daniel Montague, George Charette,
]. c. Murphy, Oscar Deigman, John p.
Phillips, John Kelly and H. Cluasen.
The latter, a cOxswain OF the New
York, took part in the expedition
against orders.
They were all captured by the Span
iards but the Spanish admiral in rec
og'nitiOn of their bravery, sent word to
the American aOInlral QnOGf Il nag Oh
truce, that he was willing to exchange
the prisoners and assuring the Ameri-
can commander that they would be
treated with the greatest kindness.
Money and provisions have been sent
to them and the necessary steps are
being taken for their exchange.
Montague is chief master of arms of
the New York. He has served four
years in the navy, is 29 years Of age
and his home is Brooklyn.
George Charette is gunner's mate
of the first class, on board the New
York. He has served fourteen years in
the navy and is 81 years old. He re-
sides at Lowell, Mass.
]. c. Murphy is a coxswa1n of the
Iowa
Oscar Diegman is a coxswain of the
Merrimac and is about "a years old.
John P. Phillips is machinist of the
first class, belonging to the Merrimac.
in Boston.
John Kelly is a water tender, about 50
years of age. His home is near GlaS-
gov, Scotland.
Merrimac without permission, in order
to take part in the expedition, is a cox
swain of the New York.
Lieut.. Richmond Pearson HobSon, as
sistant naval constructor, was born at
Greensboro, Ala, on August II, 1870,
was appointed after a competitive ex-
animation, to the naval academy in
May, 1885. He was the youngest mem
Der of his class but graduated at the
head of his eighteen companions. He
has studied engineering, under the aus
pieces of the United States government
in France and was assistant naval con-
structor in 1891. He is the author of
a semi-political work entitled THE Sit
uation and Outlook in Europe" was as
signed to the flagship New York when
Rear Admiral Sampson sailed for the
West Indians.
Lieut.. HObson is a nephew of John M
Morehead of North Carolina, and
ora nj Chief M
that state; he is unmarried, and his
father, Judge James NJ. Hobson lives at
Greensboro, Ala.
The three men from the Merrimac's
crew were all green hands and shipped
recently for the war.
The Merrimac had on board 600 tons
of coal when she was Scuttled across
the channel.
Lieut.. Hobson started on his daring
errand at o'clock. The Merrimac was
lying to the northward. Under cover
of the clouds over the moon, she stole
in towards the coast and made her way
to the eastward, followed by a steamer
launch from the New York, with the
following crew on board: Naval Cadet
]. w. Powell of Oswego, N. Y; P. K.
Peterson, cOXSwain; H. HanfOrd, ap-
prentice of the first class; J. Mullings.
coal passer; G. I. Russell, machinist of
the second class.
In the launch were bandages and ap-
planes for the wounded.
From the crowded decks of the New
York nothing could be seen of the Mer-
rimac after she had got under the
shadow of the hills. For half an hour
officers and men strained their eyes
pearing into the gloom when, suddenly,
the flash of gun streamed out from
MORO castle, and then all on board the
New York knew the Merrimac was
nearing her end. The guns from the
Spanish battery opposite MORO castle
answered quickly with more flashes,
and for about twenty minutes flashes
of fire seemed to leap across the har-
Dor entrance. The f1agships were too
far away to hear the reports, and when
Hobson had blown up the Merrimac.
For an hour the anxious watchers
waited for daylight. Rear Admiral
Sampson and Captain Chadwick were
on the bridge of the New York through
out.
At o'clock thin streams of smoke
were seen against the western shore;
quite close to the Spanish batteries;
of the New York returning to the flag
ship. Scarcely had the small craft
been sighted before a puff of smoke is
sued from q battery on the western arm
oyer the launch. Then for fifteen min
utes the big guns ashore kept up an ir-
regular fire on the little launch. AS
the shells fell without hitting the OBJ
9ect they were intended for. the
men on board the New York jeered at
the Spanish craftsmanship and cheered
their shipmates.
At 6:15 the launch came alongside
the flagship, but she did not have on
board any of the crew of the Merri-
mac Lieutenant Powell reported that
he had been unable to see any signs
of the Merrimac's crew. It developed
gone right under the batteries and only
returned when all hope of taking on
board the crew of the Merrimac had to
be abandoned.
Cadet Powell a1So he