Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-06-06
GALLANT BOYS. THEY.
The Heroic Eight Who Took the
Collier Merrimac Into the
Jaws Of Death,
MOST DARING ACT OF THE WAR.

L
at Santiago and Is Sunk-Cork Is Now
Secure in the Bottle.
| Off Santiago de Cuba, June 8, via
Port Antonio, Jamaica, June 6.-[Copy.
right, 1898, by the Associated Press J.
following is a detailed story Of the &C,
OF heroism performed by Lieutenant
Richmond P. Hobson and his seven
companions in sinking the collier Mer-
rinac across the channel leading into
the harbor of Santiago de Cuba. The
Spanish fleet is now helpless captive
in Santiago de Cuba harbor: The mar.
row channel leading into the harbor
was completely blocked early this morn
ing when the United States collier Mer-
rimac was sunk across its entrance. II
is now impossible for the Spaniards to
get cut, and it is equally impossible for
any vessel to get into the harbor. There
fore the Spanish first-class armored
cruisers Maria Teresa, Cristobal Colon
| Vizcaya and Almirante Oquendo, with
the two torpedo boat destroyers Furor
| and Pluton, are no longer of any use Ia
| Spain.
| Men Who Did the Business,
| This result was accomplished through
the heroism of Lieutenant Richmond
2. Hohson, assistant naval constructor
and Daniel Montague, George Charette
j. c. Murphy, Oscar Deignan, John p.
Phillips, John Kelly and H. Clauser,
The latter, coxswain, of the New
| York, took part in the expedition against
orders. They were all captured by the
| Spanish, but the Spanish admiral, in
recognition of their bravery, sent word
to the American admiral under a fla ?
or t:uce that he was willing 70 ex-
charge the prisoners, and assuring 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.
Gun Flashes Showed Her Progress.
The Merrimac had on board 600 tons
| of coal when she was scutted across
the channel Lieutenant Hobson started
on his daring errand at O'Clock this
| morning. Under cover of the clouds
ever the moon the Merrmal
stole in towards the coast ami
|
ward, followed by a steam launch from
the New Yoik. under command of Naval
Cadet ]. w. Powell. From the crowded
decks Of the New York nothing could
be seen of the Merrimac after she had
&C; under the shadow of the hills. For
half an hour officers and men strained
their eyes peering into the gloom, when
suddenly the flash of a gun streamed
out from MORO castle. and then all on
board the New York knew the Merrima !
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 harbor entrance. The flagship was
too far away to hear the reports. anG
when the firing ceased it was Judged
that Hobson had blown up the Merri-
mac.
| Powell! Reports 1t Success.
For en- hour the anxious watchers
waited for daylight. Rear Admiral
Sampson and Captain Chadwick were or
the bridge of the New York throughout.
AT 3 o'clock thin streaks of smoke Were
| seen against the western shore. quite
/
strong glasses made out the launch of
the New York returning to the flagship.
Scarcely had the small craft been sighted
before the Spaniards began shooting at
| her. AS the shells fell without hitting
the object they were intended for the
men on board the New York jeerd at
the Spanish craftsmanship and cheered
| their shipmates. At elsa. m the launch
| came alongside the flagship. Cadet
| Powell repSrted that he had been I'M
able TO see any signs of the Merrimac $
| crew. 1t developed that with great
bravery the cadet had 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 also reported that he had
| clearly seen the Msrrimac's masts stick
| ing up just where Hobson hoped to sink
her, north of the Estrella battery and
well past the guns of MORO castle.
/ -