The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-06-09
her. After about 1--WE minutes the fir.

her. After about five minutes the fir.
ing ceased and all became dark again.
When the curtain of the night was at
last lifted the light disclosed a tiny
steam launch riding the waves at the
very throat of the entrance of the har-
Dor. In an instant the guns of the
shore batteries were turned upon her,
and, with last lingering, vain look for
the crew of the Merrimac, EnsigH Pow.
ell headed his launch close along shore
to the westward. The guns of the bat
teries to the westward could not be de-
pressed enough to hit the little launch
and the guns on Moro castle could not
bear upon her.
But the Spaniards nevertheless fred
wildly, overshooting the launch until
the latter was fully two miles up the
coast Then some Of the shells began
to drop fairly close and one of them
threw cloud of spray on board the
small craft. In the meantime the ships
of the fleet had drawn on until the New
York, Massachusetts,, Texas and Marble.
head were barely three miles off Moro
castle.
1t is now thought to be impossible for
the Spaniards to get out or for any ves-
sci to get into the harbor. Therefore,
the Spanish first class armored cruisers
Maria Teresa, Cristobal Colon, Vizcaya
and Almirante Oquendo, with the two
torpedoboat destroyers Furor and Plu-
ton, are no longer of any use to Spain.
This result was accomplished through
the heroism of Lieutenant Richmond p.
Hobson, assistant naval constructor.
and Daniel Montague, George Charette,
j. Q. Murphy, Oscar Deignan, John p.
Phillips, John Kelly and II. Clausen.
The latter, a coxswain of the New
York, took part in the expedition
against orders. They were all captured
by the Spaniards, but the Spanish ad.
miral, in recognition of their bravery,
sent word to the American admiral,
under flag of truce, that he was will.
ing to exchange the prisoners and as.
suring the American 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 to bring about
their exchange.
Montague is chief master of arms of
the New York. He has served four
years in the navy, is 30 years old and
his home is in Brooklyn.
George Charette is gunner mate of
the first class on board the New York
He has served ii years in the navy, is
81 years old and resides at Lowell,
Mass
j. Q. Murphy is a coxswain of the
Iowa.
Oscar Deignan 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
He is 80 years of age and his home is in
| Boston.
John Kelly is water tender, about
80 years old. His home is near Glasgow
| Scotland.
r.. Clausen, who slipped on board the
| Merrimac without permission in order
to take part in the expedition, is q
coXswain Of the New York.
Lieutenant Richmond Pearson Hob
son, assistant naval constructor, was
born at Greensboro, Ala, on Aug. H.
1870, was appointed, after a competitive
examination, to the naval academy in
May, 1855.
The three men from the Merrimac's
crew were all green hands and shipped
recently for the war.
The Merrimac had on board about
600 tons of coal when she was scuttled
across the channel.
|
followed the Merrimac to the mouth OF
the harbor had the following crew on
board:
Naval Cadet J. w. Powell of Os
wego, N. Y.
=. X. Peterson, coxswain.
II. Handford, apprentice of the frs
class.
j. Mullings, coal passer.
G. L. Russell, machinist of the
second class.
In the launch were bandages and ap
pliances for the wounded
ST. NICOLAS, Haiti, June G.-All the
members of the Merrimac expedition
are safe. Only two of them were
slightly injured and their names are mo-
known. Lieutenant Hobson was moi
hurt. All of the Merrimacs men ar,
held as prisoners of war.