The record-union., 1898-06-05
But That Americans and Insurgents
Are Attacking Santiago City.
The Sinking Of the Merrimac Plan Of
Rear-AdmiraI Sampson, in Order
to Close the Channel of
the Harbor.

copyrighted, 1898, by the Associated
Press).-A report which cannot be
certified is current here this morning
that the American fleet off Santiago lie
Cuba destroyed the Spanish fleet at
that place yesterday, but no direct
news from there has yet been received.
Information received here direct from
that the bombardment began at 3
o'clock in the morning.
Dispatches received here say it is
reported in Santiago de Cuba that
United States troops have been de-
barked at Punta Cadrena.
The dispatch adds there was heavy
cannonading yesterday afternoon at
Santiago de Cuba, and that extraor-
binary commotion prevailed at that
place. All the Spanish troops, it is said,
are concentrated at the Notifications
in the suburbs, while the insurgents
and American forces were making a
grand attack on the land side.
In the evening, the dispatch goes on
to say, at a distance of about eight
miles off the coast, twenty American
warships, five of which were cruisers,
could be seen. 1t was believed in
Santiago de Cuba that this was the
and Commodore Schley.
The steamer which was blown up at
the entrance of the harbor of Santiago
was the Merrimac, a former collier Of
4,C0O tons. 1t is now understood that
this vessel was sentsin for the purpose
of sinking it, and thereby filling the
channels so that the Spanish warshps
could not leave the port in case Ad-
miral Camara's fleet arrived off the
Cuban Coast.
FIRING RESUMED.
CAPE HAYTIEN, June 4-11:JO a. m.
copyrighted, 1898, by the Associated
Press).-Firing was resumed by the
American squadron off Santiago de
Cuba at 1890 Friday. Details are
lacking.
1t is. reported at Santiago that three
warships have been detached from the
American fleet to convoy a fresh sup
ply Of munitions and arms to the Gu
ban Coast
SINKING OF THE MERRIMAC.
ON BOARD THE ASSOCIATED
PRESS DISPATCH BOAT DAUNT-
LESS, OFF SANTIAGO, June 4, via
Kingston Gamaica), June Copy
righted, 1893, by the Associated Press).
-Rear-Admiral Sampson, during FIJI
day morning, decided to close the mar
row harbor entrance to Santiago, de-
liberately sinking the collier Merrimac
loaded with coal in the channel. He
called for volunteers to go to an al
most certain death, and 1900 men Of
fered themselves. Lieutenant Hobson
and six men were chosen, and at
a. m Friday the Merrimac, under her
own steam, entered the channel under
a terrible Spanish fire. The vessel was
riddled with projectiles, but she an
chored and swung around. Lieutenant
Hobson then set off an internal torpedo
with an electrical attachment. There
was an explosion, the Merrimac sank,
and the channel was closed. and ap-
parently Admiral Cervera will be un-
able to escape.
HOW THE HEROES WERE SAVED.
KINGSTON (Jamaica), June Copy
righted, 1898, by the Associated Pressl.
-Hobson and the hero crew of the
Merrimac 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 rocked into the harbor to the
Spanish flagship and were taken on
board unharmed The Spanish Admiral,
under a flag of truce, on Friday sent
word to the American Admiral that he
offered to exchange the prisoners, add
ing that in the meanwhile Hob5On
and his party would be treated with
the greatest kindness.
Lieutenant Hobson appears to have
carried out his plan to the smallest de-
tails, except as regards the. method cf
escaping. The rowboat, in which the
crew were to attempt to escape. was
either blown up or shot to pieces, for
Lieutenant Hobson and his men driftc1
ashore on an old catamaran, which
was slung over the ships side at the
last moment as an extra precaution.
Upon reaching shore the men were
taken prisoners and sent to Santiago