The age-herald., 1898-06-05
CERVERA'S FLEET
 IS LOST ID SPAIN
One Deed of Magnificent Daring Removed Spanish Squadron
 as a Factor in the War.

Copyrighted by the Associated Press)
 Port Antonio, Jamaica, June 3-Oelayed in transmission.)-As single deed of magnifi- centAmerican daring lost to the kingdom of Spain the powerful fleet of Admiral Ger vera.
 Just before dawn today seven gallant sea- men took the collier Merrimac under the blazing Morro battery and anchored her beneath spiteful fire of musketry and heavy cannonading from the shore and the wrecked hull of the vessel effectively closed the entrance to the harbor, within which the Spanish squadron is hopelessly and helplessly locked up.
 This splendid stroke, which leaves the government at Washington free to act without further fear of the Spanish fleet was planned by Lieutenant Richmond F. Hobson, who commanded the expedition. He is naval constructor, attached to the Anapolis academy and his home is in Ala bama. With him went Danel Montague, George Charette,f J. D. Murphy, Oscar Deignan, John Psc Phillips and John Kelly, all non-commlssioned officers enlisted men. A steam launch from the flagship New York, commanded by Cadet J. w. Powell, followed the Merrmac to the mouth of the harbor, and despite the firing from the forts cruised in the vicinity for an hour and half after the colier was sunk, but no sign of the brave Americans was seen, and Cadet Powell was finally compelled to rejoin the flagship.
 The plan to block the entrance to Santi- ago harbor had been under consideration for several days, as Rear Admiral Samp- son had decided that it was impossible to take his fleet inside.
 Stern Orders to Return
 lieutenant Hobson had expected to do the work Wednesday night but owing to the delay in preparing the ship 1t was de- ferred. The daring officer attempted to run in after daylight on Thursday and was only stopped under protest after stern orders to return from the admiral. All day yester- day the preparations proceeded and by nightfall the craft was in readiness. A row of torpedoes had been placed outside the hull so that Lieutenant Hobson could explode them from the bridge of the ves- sel and thus insure her rapid sinking. At nightfall the various ships of the fleet passed the doomed Merrimac, cheering her Justify. Hundreds of men and scores of officers volunteered for the duty, and Con- mander Merrill, who had been the captain of the Merrimac, begged permission of Ad- miral Sampson to go, but Lieutenant fob-
 
 but the men who were going on the dan-' gerous errand had been taken from the Merrimac, and the collier took position near the New York to await the appointed hour. It was an impressive night among the men of the fleet, for few expected that the members of the little crew would see another sunrise.
 The night was cloudy with fearful light ming flashing behind the dark lines of the hostile shore, now and then showing the grim shadows of the battlements. Soon af- ter 3 o'clock the black hull of the Merrimac began to drift slowly toward the land, and in half an hour lost to sight. It was Lieutenant Hobson's pan to steam past Moro, swinging crossways the channel, drop his anchors, open the valves, explode the torpedoes on the port side. leap over- board preceded by his crew and make their escape in little lifeboat which was lowed by his crew and make their escape in a little Efeboat which was lowed astern if possible; and if not to attempt to swim ashore.
 All the men were heavily armed ready to make fierce resistance to capture.
 Flash Fr m Morro's Gun
 Scarcely had the ship disappeared when @ flash from Morro's guns proclaimed that she had been discovered. Immediately tfe other batteries around opened fire, but the ship went steadily on. A heavy battery and musketry fire continued for a hall hour. and guns were fired at intervals un- til long after daylight None of the Amer ican ships dared to fire for fear of striking the Merrmac's crew
 As daylight came on the steam launch could be seea cruising close to the harbor entrance. A til half past five the search was kept up and then under shower of Spanish shells which flew wide of their mark Cadet Powell steamed away and half later boarded the New York and re- ported to Admiral Sampson that he believed the entire crew of the Merrimac had been lost. The Merrimac, he said, lay well across the channel. her masts showing that Lieutenant Hobson had done his work well, sinking. tine ship almost fin the exact spot decided upon. The channel Is not as wide as the Merrimacs length, and it Is impos- sible for the Spaniards to raise or destroy the wreck under the guns of the American fleet. E-rltD
 Admiral Cervera is no longer figure In the war; The cruisers Crfstobal Colon, In- fanta Maria Teresa, ViDcaya and Almirante 0quendo are known to be inside, and it is believed that two or three small warships, possibly torpedo boats, are with them.