Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-06-09
A DETAILED STORY.
The Sinking Of the Collier Merrimae
in Santiago Bay.
NTREPIDITY OF THE LITTLE CREW.
Went Upon q Mission that Almost Certain.
ly Involved Death, with the Goodness
of Men Going on Dress Pa
rade-The Result.
lCopyright, lses, low the AssoeiateA Pressl

OFF SANTIAGO DE CUBA, june >, z O.
m, via Port Antonio, Jamaica, June 4.
delayed in transmlssion.). The fol-
lowing is a detailed story Of the act OF
heroism performed by Lieut.. Richmond
7. Hobson and his seven companions
in sinking the collier Merrimac across
the channel leading into the harbor of
Santiago de Cuba:
The Spanish fleet is now helpless,
being held captive in Santiago de Cuba
harbor. The narrow channel leading
into the harbor was completely
blocked early this morning when the
United States collier Merrimac was
sunk across its entrance. 1t is now
impossible for the Spaniards to get
out, and it Is equally impossible for
any vessel to get into the harbor.
Therefore, the Spanish first-class ar
mored cruisers Maria Teresa, Cristobal
Colon, Vizcaya and Almirante Oquendo,
with the two torpedo boat ~destroyers
Furor and Pluton, are no longer of any
use to Spain.
This result was accomplished through
the heroism of Lieut.. Richard p. Hob
son, assistant naval constructor, and
Daniel Montague, George Charette, J.
C. Murphy, Oscar Deignan, John P.
Philips, John Kelly and Ii. Clausen.
The latter, q coxswain of the New
York, took part in the expedition
against orders. They were all cap
tured by The Spaniards, bat b Span
ish admiral, in recognition of their
bravery, sent word to the American ad-
miral. under a flag Of truce, that he
was willing to exchange the prisoners,
and assuring the American commander
that they would be treated with the
greatest kindness Money and pro-
visions have been sent to them, and
the necessary steps are being taken to
bring about their exchange.
Montague is chief master-at-arms of
the New York. He has served four
years In the navy, is 20 years OF age
and his home is in Brooklyn.
George Charette is a gunner's mate
of the first class on board the New
York. He has served IA years in the
navy, Is 81 years old and resides at
Lowell, Mass.
j. C. Murphy is u eoxswain of the
Iowa.
Oscar Deignan is q coXswain of the
Merrimac, and is about "a years old
John P. Phillips is a machinist Of the
first class, belonging to the Merrimac.
He is SO years of age. and his home is
in Boston.
John Kelly is u water tender, about
IS years. His home is near Glasgow,
Scotland.
H. Clausen, who slipped OF board the
Merrimac without permission, in order
to take part in the expedition, lisa cox
swain of the New York
Lieut.. Richmond Pearson Hobson,
assistant naval constructor, was born
at Greensboro, Ala, on August IT,
1870, was appointed, after a competitive
examination, to the naval academy in
May, 1888. He was the youngest MEM
Der of his class, but graduated at the
head of his eighteen companions. He
has stddied engineering, under the
auspices of the United States govern
ment, in France and was made assist
ant naval constructor in 1891. He Is
the author of q semi.politieal work
entitled The Situation and Outlook in
Europe" and was assigned to the flag
ship New York when Rear Admiral
Sampson sailed for the West Indies.
Lieut.. Hobson Is a nephew of John
M. Morehead, of North Carolina, and is
a grandson of Chief-Justice Pearson OF
that state. He is unmarried, and his
father, Judge James NJ. Hobson, lives
at Greensboro, Ala.
The three men from the Merrimac's
crew were all green hands and shipped
recently for the war.
The Merrimac had en- board 900 tons
of coal when she was scuttled across
tho channel.
Lieut. Hobson started OF his daring
errand at three o'clock In the morning.
The Merrimae was lying to the west
ward. Under cover of the clouds over
the moon she stole in toward the coast,
and made her way TO the eastward,
followed by a steam launch fro In the
New York, with the following 9 Oh
board: Naval Cadet j. W. Powell, 0
| Oswego, N. Y; P. K. Peterson, cox
swain; II. landlord, apprentice Of the
| first class; ]. Mullings, coal passer; G.
L. Russell, machinist Of the SECOND
| class.
\ IN the launch were bandages and ap
| planes for the wounded.
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 oil OF
| board the New York knew the Merri
mac was nearing her end. The guns
/ from the Spanish battery opposite
| Moro castle answered quickly with
/ more flashes and for about 20 minute:
| flashes of fire seemed to leap across
| the harbor entrance.
The flagship was too far away t.
| hear the reports, and when the firing
ceased it was judged that Hobson hat
blown up the Merrimac. For an hour
| the anxious watchers waited for day
| light. Rear-Admiral Sampson ant
| Capt. Chadwick were On the bridge o
the New York throughout.
At S o'clock thin streams OF smok
were seen against the western shore
quite close to the Spanish batteries
and strong glasses made out the launcl
of the New York returning to the flag
ship. Scarcely had the small Graf
been sighted before q puff Of smoke is