The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1898-06-10
HOBSON'S DARING EXPLOIT.
SINKING OF THE MERRIMAC IN
SANTIAGO HARBOR DESCRIBED.
PERSONNEL OF THE BRAVE CREW.
Commendablo Courage 81 Launch Meu
who Were waiting 10 Rescue Hob
son aud nis Companion

The Associated Press gives the fol-
lowing detailed story Of the act Of
heroism performed by Lieutenant
Richmond p. Hobson and his seven
companions in sinking the collier Mer-
rimac across the channel leading into
the harbor Of Santiago de Cuba:
The narrow channel leading into
the harbor was completely blocked
early Friday morning when the United
States collier Merrimac was sunk /
across its entrance. II is now impos-
sible for the Spaniards 10 get out, aud /
IL is equally impossible for any vessels /
TO get into the harbor, therefore, the /
Spanish hrstclass armored cruisers
Maria Teresa, Cristobal Colon, Vizcaya |
and Almirante Oquendo, with the two
topedo boat destroyers Furor and Plu-
ton, are no longer any use TO Spain.
Lieutenant Hobson started on his
daring errand at 3 o'clock Friday
morning. The Merrimac was lying to
the westward, and under cover OF the
clouds over the moon, she stole in
toward the coast, making her way to
the eastward, followed by a launch.
From the crowded decks Of the
New York nothing could be seen of the
Merrimac after she had got under the
shadow of the hills. For half an hour
officers and men strained their eyes
peering into the gloom, when, sud
denly, the flash OF a gun streamed out
from Moro castle and then all on
board the New York knew the Merri-
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, and when the firing
ceased it was judged that Hobson had
blown up the Merrimac. For an hour
the anxious watchers on the steam
launch sent along to rescue the Merri-
macs crew, waited for daylight. Rear
Admiral Sampson and Captain Chad
wick remaining on the bridge of the
New York throughout the night.
Then Cadet Powell, who was in
command of the steam yacht, return
ing, reported that he had clearly seen
the Merrimac's masts sticking up Just
where Hobson hoped to sink her
north of the Estrella battery and we'll
past the guns of Moro. But OF the
heroes who had penned the Spaniards
in there was not a sound or sign.
Rear Admiral Sampson said: 81 am
pretty sure the attempt was quite sue
cessful 1 hope all those brave fellows
are not captured.
Cadet Powell, in making his report,
said he believed the torpedoes pre-,
yiously fixed about the Merrimac were
exploded as planned.
What actually happened on board
the Merrimac will not be known until
Hobson tells it himself.
Great admiration is expressed at the
department at the GOODNESS and discre-
tion shown by the young cadet, Geo.
w. Powell, who took command of the
New York's steam launch and lay un.
der the batteries until he was satisfied
from his own observation, that the
Merrimac had gone down before he
returned to the flagship.
The men Hobson selected to go will
him were Daniel Montague, George
Charette, JIG. Murphy, Oscar Deignan
John P. Phillips, John Kelly and H
Clausen. The latter, a coxswain of the
New York, took part in the expedition
against orders.
Daniel Montague is chief master al
arms of the New York.
George Charette is a gunners mate
on board the New York.
J. c. Murphy is a coxswain of tn
Iowa.
Oscar Deignan is a coxswain of til,
Merrimac.
John p. Phillips is a machinist 0
the first class, belonging to the Merri
mac
John Kelly is a water tender.
H. Clausen, who slipped on boa~'
the Merrimac without permission t.
take part in the expedition is a cox
, swain of the N ew York.
pROMOTTON FOR VORCON