The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-06-08
DARING CREW BLOCKS THE ENEMY.
SUNK THEIR SHIP.
Admiral Sampson Calls for Seven Mon TO Risk Their
Lives and 1000 American sssmen Respond.
The Heroes Captured BY spsnisrds.

The big American collier Merrimac
now lies In the narrow channel at Sam
tiago harbor effectually blocking in
the Spanish cruisers under Admiral
Cervera.
Everybody is astounded Mt the au-
dacity of the American vessel.
This result was accomplished
through the herosm OF Lieutenant
Richmond J.. Hobson. assistant naval
constructor; Daniel Montague. George
Charette, J. e. Murphy. Oscar Deig-
nan, John p. Phillips, John Kelly and
H. Clausen.
This was not n result OF Spanish
defined plan of Admiral Sampson
now at Santiago de cuba. The Com
modorc wished to block the narrow
channel at Santiago so the enemy
could not escape, thus enabling some
of the cruisers now about the harbor
desired to test the strength of the
Spanish torpedoes which filed the har-
Dor.
Rear Admiral Sampson during FRI
day morning decided to close the mar
row harbor entrance of Santiago de
Cuba by sinking the collier Merrimac,
loaded with coal, in the channel. He
called for volunteers to go to almost
certain death, and 1900 men offered
themselves.
Lieutenant Hobson and his seven
men were chosen, and at 3 n. m. Fri
day the Merrimac, under her own
steam, entered the channel under n
terrible Spanish fire. The vessel was
riddled with projectiles, but she an
chored and swung around. Lieutenant
Hobson then set off an internal tor
pedo with an electric attachment,
there was an explosion, the Merrimac
sunk, the channel was closed, and, ap-
parently. Admiral Cervera will be un-
able to escape.
Hobson and the hero crew of the
Merrtmac were saved in the following
manner Unable. after the sinking of
their vessel. to make their way back
through the storm of shot and shell,
they rowed into the harbor to the
Spanish flagship and were taken on
board.
All the members of the expedition
are safe. Only two of them were
slightly injured. and their names are
not known, Lieutenant Hobson was
not hurt All of the Merrmacs men
are held as prisoners of war.
Richmond Pearson Hobson, who
sunk the Merrimac at the risk of his
life. was born August II, 1870. at
Greensboro. Hail county. Alabama,
where he also graduated from the
Southern university at the head of his
class. Appointed to naval academy on
competitive examination in May 1885.
and although the youngest man of the
class, graduated at its head in 1889.
His first cruise was in the squadron OF
evolution on the flagship Chicago,
with Admiral Walker in the Mediter-
ranean. Later he made a cruise to
Brazil when the flag of the new Bra
lillian republic was recognized.
He was ordered to a special course
abroad, spending one year at the Ma
tional School of Mines at Paris and
two years at the School of Maritime
Science in Paris. The summer vaca-
tion was spent in the French ship
yards. He received diplomas from the
French school for distinction in naval
construction and design, both of hulls
and Of engines. He also spent some
time in the English shipyards. AS
signed to duty at the navy department
in 1894 in the Office of naval intelli-
gence in bureau of construction and
repair. While on this duty he wrote
report on his observations abroad: al
so report on disappearing guns
afioat. which was discussed by naval
experts on both sides of the water. In
1895 was on duty at New York naval
yard as assistant to the naval con-
structor When the present war broke
out he was assigned to active duty on
Admiral SIMPSONS flagship, and now
has won fame and glory by his daring
heroism.