The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-06-11
A DEED OF COURAGE.
Sinking of the Merrimac an Exhi-
bition of the Rarest Bravery.
Lieut.. Hobson and a Crew OF seves
block the Channel at Santiago
Under Heavy Fire-Cervern
Recognizes Their Courage.


Santiago de Cuba, June 4(via Kings
ton, Jamaica, June 6).--Rear Admiral
Sampson during Friday morning de-
cided TO close up the narrow 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 Ger.
tain death and 1000 men offered them.
selves. Lieut.. Hobson and six men were
chosen and at three o'clock Friday morn
ing the Merrimac. under her own steam,
entered the channel under a terrible
Spanish fire. The vessel was riddled
with projectiles, but she anchored and
swung around. Lieut.. Hobson then set
Off an internal torpedo with an electric
attachment. There was an explosion,
closed up, and, apparently, Admiral
Cervera will be unable 20 escape.
How the Heroes Were saved.
Kingston, Jamaica, June 6.-IIobson
and the hero crew OF, the Merrimac were
saved In the following manner: Unable
after the sinking Of their vessel, 10 make
their way back through the storm Of
shot and shell, they rowed into the har.
Dor to the Spanish flagship and were
taken on board unframed. The Span
tsh admiral, under flag OF truce, on
Friday sent word 10 the American adj
miral that he offered TO exchange the
prisoners, adding that in the mean
while Hobson and his party would be
treated with tho greatest kindness.
The News at Washington.
Washington, June 6. - Washington
rings with praise for the gallantry Of
Lieut.. Richmond p. Hobson and the
seven heroic seamen who joined him in
facing death at Santiago de Cuba while
sinking the collier Merrimac in the
channel just before daybreak Friday
morning. The gallant eight went TO
what seemed certain death with the
apparent GOODNESS of men performing
quiet daily duties.
Heroes Of the Merrlmnc.
LIEUT.. r.. II. HoBSoN.
DANIEL MONTAGUE.
GEORGE CIIARETTE
j. II. MURPHY.
OSCAR BEIGNAN.
JOHN J.. PHILLIPS.
JOHN KELLY.
RUDOLPH CLAUSSEN
The officer hero OF the Mcrrimac occasion
IS an assistant naval constructor and
hence attached to the staff, and heretofore
not ordinarily engaged in line duty. He
entered the naval academy from Alabama
I'm May. 1885, and IS now 3 years old He
graduated IN 1859 az the head Of his class,
! and MS Il consequence OF this distinction was
sent 10 France by the government TO take
course I'm naval architecture. When
the war broke out he applied for active
duty, and was sent with three naval ca
diets under his charge TO the flagship Of
Admiral SIMPSONS squadron. He IS de-
scribed as tall. athletic build, very quiet
and unassuming manner, and would
not be picked out ordinarily as having the
high bravery his intimate associates knew
lay beneath his modest manner
Dimcult Tnsk.
As TO the prospect of the Merrimac
/ being removed by the Spaniards, as is
reported to be under way at Santiago,
the officials at the navy department de.
clare that this is likely 10 be a difficult
dangerous and time-consuming opera.
ton. The hulk could be blown up by
the use Of dynamite charges, which
would not be difficult to place in the
shallow water where the Merrimac lies.
for the reports say the top OF the fun
mel Is above water, indicating depth of
about 40 or 80 feet, but il is believed
that the wreck lies in sight from the
sea, and IL is not doubted that Sampson
will post some of the heavy iron.
cads in such position as to be able to
command the site with her heavy guns
and prevent the Spanish wrcckers
from working At night something
might be accomplished by the wreck
ers, but even that work would be full OF
danger.
Substantial promotion IS in store for
the gallant men who took the Mer.
rimac in.
Ccrvcrn's Tribute to Bravery.
With the Fleet or Santiago, June 3,
via Kingston, Jamaica, June Ode.
layed in Transmission).- All the mem
bers Of the Merrimac expedition are
safe. Two are slightly wounded, but
Lieut.. Hobson escaped without a
scratch. This almost incredible good
news wns brought out to Rear Admiral
Sampson by Admiral Cervera's chief
OF staff, under a flag OF truce. admiral
Cervera," said Capt. Bastemonte y
Oveido, SIS so touched with the bravery
of your men that he felt IL only right
you should know they were alive. They
are prisoners Of war and are being well
treated"
Praised In London.
London, June 6.--All the papers refer
In terms OF the highest praise to Naval
Constructor Hobson's daring exploit at
Santiago de Cuba, but some doubts are
thrown upon the statement that the
Merrimac so completely blocks the
channel as the American reports assert.
New Chinese Capital.
London, June THE Globe says II
learns from reliable source that the
tsung-li-yumen (Chincse foreign oflice)
has decided TO make Stun Flu Capital OF
the province OF Shen SID the capital OF
the Chinese empire in place OF Peking.