The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1898-06-09
A BOLD DEED.
Volunteer Crew Scuttles the Merrinae
in the Mouth of Santiago Harbor.
Inc Heroes Attempted to Return But I'm.
der Heavy Fire Compelled to Row to
the Spanish Flag ship-They
Will BE Exchanged.

+ drlven In the bottle" was the com
ment of the naval afiicers at the nav,
department Saturday morning upor
the news Of the sinking of the collier
Merrimac in the channel at the en-
trance Of Santiago harbor.
KINGSTON, Jamaica June -IIobsor
ana the hero crew of the Merrima,
were saved in the following manner:
Unable, after the sinking of theii
vessel, TO make their wav bach
through the storm of shot anc
shell, they rowcd into the harbor tC
the Spanish flagship and were taken
on board unharmed. The Spanish
admiral under a flag Of truce ON Fri.
day sent word to the American admiral
that he offered to exchange the pris.
oners, adding, that in the meanwhile
Hobson and his party would be treat.
co with the greatest kindness.
NAsHINGTON. June 6.-Information
comes from the white house that the
secretary Of the navy has received a
dispatch from Adm. Sampson stating
that the Merrimac was sunk in the
channel off Santiago harbor for the
purpose blocking the passage.
On BOARD DlsPATCH Boat DAt-NT.
LESS, OFF SANTIAGO DE- CUBA. June q.
Via Kingston, jamaica -Rr. Adm.
Sampson, during Friday morning de.
cided to close the narrow harbor en-.
trance of Santiago de Cuba by sinking
the collier Merrimac, loaded with coal.
in the channel. lie called for volun-
teers to go to almost certain death and
1000 men offered themselves. Lieut..
HobSon and six men were chosen. and
Friday morning the Merrimac, under
her own steam, entered the chan
mel under terrible Spanish fire
The vessel was riddled with pro-
jectiles, but she anchored and
swung around Lieut.. tIobson then
set off an internal torpedo with
an electric attachment, there was an
explosion, the Merrimac sank. the
channel was closed, and, apparently,
Adm Cervera will be unable TO es-
cape.
WASHING TON. June 6-The war de- |
partment was open for business in a |
limited way for half the day Sunday. |
and Adjt. Gen. Corbin was hard at |
work at his desk in telographic corrc-
spOndence with army officers in all |
parts Of the country and par
ticularly regarding the Spanish
military prisoners from whom Sc
lections will be made for exchange Of
the gallant little band that sunk
the Merrimac. The commanding officer
at Fort Mcpherson, Ga, has furnished
the department a full list OF the cap
tives to facilitate the work of eN-
change This is likely to occupy more
time than was originally expected be-
cause of the difficulty of communicate
ing with the Spanish admiral at San
tiago
The number of Spanish prisoners at
Fort Mcpherson is one first lieutenant
seven second licutenants, one sergeant
and nine privates
Information afforded by the official
records of the navy department as to /
the full names and antacedents of the 4
gallant sailors who made up lIobson's t
little crew in sinking the Mcrrimac I
!iffers in some essentials from the t
lata furnished through the dispatch c
boats Sunday morning. The naval list l.
S about as follows: {
Daniel Montage, frst-class machin- 4
ST on the New York. born in Ireland n
nd % years old; last enlistment in A
)ccem Der. 1896; next of kin Kate Goli- Q
n. sister, 81 lIoratio street. New
'ork.
George Charette, frst-class gunncrs
nate on the New York, born in
.owell, Mass, 30 years of age; last ,
nlistment May 90, 1898; has been in u
he service since 1884; his next of kin j.
Alexander Charette, father Lowell, .
lass +
Osborn mot Oscar Deignan, cox -
vain OH tn, Merrimac, born in Stu u
rt, Ia, 81 years old; last enlistment u
prn %, 1898; next of kin Julia Deig- P'
an, mother, Stuart, Ia. a
George f. mot John P.) Phillips, III
achinist on the Merrimac. born in
oston, "a years old; last cnlistmc mt
Iarch So 1898: next of kin Andrew X
hillipS, ambrdgeport, Mass. T.
Francis probably instead of john p,
ely. water tender on the Mcrrimac, :.
,rn in Boston, 2S years old; enlisted ~
Norfolk, April 81, last; next of kin, 49,
ranciS Kelly, Boston. m
Randolph Clausen. coXswain on the ~
cw York; born in Boston aud IS years 10
age; last enlistment February -, no
o.; next of kin. Teresa Clausen, wife,
: Cherry street, New York.
1t is apparent to the department Off
ais that the call for volunteers die In
It extend beyond the two ships, New tn
)rk and Merrimac, as all the men ba
med belonged to those two vessels. fol
Great admiration is expressed at the sa,
partment at the cool pluck and dis. ut,
elton shown by the young cadet, ia
orge w. Powell, who took command shi
the New York's steam launch and pl;
= under the batteries for many hours
til he was satisfied from his own OBJ ,
walton that the Merrimac had gone
wn before he returned to the flag :"
p. 1t is felt that his fate involved se'
display of quite as much courage ~" w
was shown by the Merrimac crew -" w
d he is likely to profit by it, -,
Hobson to BE Promoted.
June Cit was stated
nday night at the white house that '