Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1898-06-07
DEED OR HEROES
Detailed Story Of the Sinking
of the Merrimac in SAM
tiago Harbor.
AobsOn and His Seven Conn.,
panionS Faced Almost
Certain Death.
RESCUERS IN A LAUNCH
Naval Cadet Powell and Crew
Under Fire of the Span
: iSh Batteries.


ish Batteries.
Only Returned to the Fleet
When Hope of Rescue
J Was Gone.
On Board the Associated Press Dis.
patch Boat Dauntless. off Santiago de
Cuba, June &-(Via Port Antonio,
Jamaica, June 4.)--The following is q
delayed story of the act Of heroism per.
formed by Lieutenant Richmond p.
Hobson and his seven companions in
sinking the collier Merrimac across the
channel leading into the harbor OF
Santiago de Cuba:
The Spanish feet is now helpless,
being held captive in Santiago de Cuba
Aarbor. The narrow channel leading
into the harbor was completely blocked
early this morning when the United
States collier Merrimao was sunk
across its entrance. It il now impos-
,Gble for the Spsniards to get out, and
II is equally impossible for any vessel
10 got into the harbor. The result was
Accomplished Through tho Heroism
Of Lieutenant Richmond p. Hobson,
assistant naval constructor, and Daniel
Montague, George Charette, ]. 9.
Murphy, Osborn Diegnan. George Phil.
kpps, Francis Kelly and Randolph
Causon. The latter, q coxswain Of the
Kew York. took part in the expedition
against orders. They were al captured
~ the Spanish. but the Spanish ad-
niral. in recognition OF their bravery.
sent word to the American admiral
under a flag of truce that he was will.
ing to exchange the prisoners and as.
surfing the American commander that
they would be treated with the great
,sst kindness Money and provisions
have been sent to them, and the necss.
sasy steps are being taken to bring
obout their exchange.
Under Cover Of Darkness.
Lieutenant Hobson started on his
daring errand at = o'clock this morn.
ing. The Merrimao was lying to tho
westward. Under cover Of the clouds
over the moon she stole in towards the
coast and made her way to the east.
ward followed by steam launch from
ahe New York, with the following
crew on board: Naval Cadet J. w.
Powell of Oswego, N. T.; P. K. Peter.
son, coxswain; H. landlord, appren.
tice of the first class; J. Mullings, coal
passer; G. L. Russell, machinist Of the
second class. In tho launch were
bandages and appliances for the
wounded.
From the crowded decks Of the New
York nothing could be seen Of the
Merrimao after she had got under the
shadow of the hills. For half an hour
officers and men strained their eyes
,peeriug into the gloom, when suddenly
the fash Of q 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
Scress the harbor entrance. The flag.
ship was too far away to hear the re-.
ports, aud when the firing ceased it
was judged that Hobson had blown up
the Morrimac. For an hour tho anx.
sous watchers waited for daylight.
Rear Admiral Sampson and Captain
Chadwick were on the bridge Of the
New York throughout At 3 o'clock
thin streaks Of smoke were seen against
the western shore. quite close to tho
Spanish batteries, and strong glasses
made out the launch of the Now York
returning to tho flagship. Scarcely
had the small craft been sighted when
q puff Of smoke issued from tho battery
on the western arm Of the harbor, and
a shot plunged far over the launch.
Then for Is minutes the big guns
ashore kept up an irregular fire on the
little launch. As the shells fell with.
out hitting the object they were intend.
ed for, the men on board the New
York
Lssrsd ~ the Spanish Markmanship
and oheersd their shipmates. At 8:16
.. m. the launch came alongside the
flagship, but she did not ha W on board
any Of the crew Of tho Merrimao.
Cadet Powell reported that he had
been unable to 80 any signs Of tho
Merrimac's crew. It developed that
with great bravery the cadet had gone
aght under the batteries and only 70.
turned. when all hops. Of taking on
board the crew or the nGerrimac had to
D abandoned.
Cadet Powell also reported that he
1sd clearly seen the Merrtmao's masts
sticking up just where Hobson had
hoped to sink her, north Of the Es.
trsala battery, and we'll past the guns
q MORO castle.
But Of the heroes who had penned
the Spaniards in there was not sound
nor sign.
RumorsA Hsfresux II Assassinatsd.
! CAPE HAYT1EN, Hayti, June ct 10