The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-06-06

via Port Antonio, Jamaica, June 4, per
Associated Press dispatch boat Daunt-
less delayed in transmission 1.-THE
following is a 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 Spanish fleet is now helpless,
being held captive in Santiago de Cuba
harbor. The narrow channel leading
into the -harbor was completely block
ed early this morning when the United
States collier Merrimac was sunk
across its entrance. 1t is now impOssi-
bic Loo the Spaniards 10 get out, and
it's equally impossible to get into the
harbor. Therefore, the Spanish first
class armored cruisers Maria Teresa,
Cristobal Colon. Vizcaya and Almiran-
tie 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 Lieutenant
Hobson. assistant naval constructor.
and Daniel Montague, George Charette,
j. G. Murphy. Oscar Deignan, John p
Phillips, John Kelly and r. Clausen.
The last named, a coxswain of the New
York took part in the expedition con-
trary to orders. They were all cap
ish admiral, in recognition of their
bravery, sent word to the American
admiral. under a flag of truce, that he
was willing to exchange prisoners and.
assuring the American commander that
they would be treated with the great
est kindness. Money and provisions
have been sent to them, and the neces-
sary steps are being taken to bring
about their exchange.
MERR TNSPFCTEn
Yesterday afternoon, while the Merrf-
mac lay stripped to the buff" for her
last desperate run, she was inspected
by the Associated Press reporter. With
matches off, gaping cargo ports swung
back and everything valuable removed
save her engines and 1890 tons of coal.
that scarcely seemed to count in her
cavernous hold, she was not an inviting
spectacle.
The seven men who were to risk their
lives in her were as cheerful as school
boys on a, frolic, despite "A hours sleep
1essness and hard work. Ccxswain
Deignan, with professional pride ar
ranged the several stations of the for
lo-n crew. Murphy was to cut loose
the forward anchor and Daniel Mon
tague the after ore anC they were to
jump overheard and swim to the life
boat which was to swing aStern.
Phillips, Kelly and Crank were to slip
the engines and knock away the Kings
ton valves to flood the hold and Lieu
tenant HobsOn and Charette were to
fire the torpedoes from the bridge.
--o COOL HEROISAI.
Words cannot paint the cool. matter
OF fact heroism CT these enlisted men,
so calmly confident of success in their
audacious undertaking, so implicitly
iruStful Of their young lieutenant who
= l. Ii
thing except that they were going in.
They did not speak OF coming out,
with the exception OF Deignan, who said
IJonchalantly: "Oh. l guess we stand
fair show of getting out; but they
can't stop us from going in," this last
in a most matter of fact style, as
though going in was the only point
worth considering. So it was to them.
This was every day heroism, heroism
in overalls and oil and coal dust from
ankle to eye brow.
Hobson, despite his uniform, was
almost as dirty and disheveled as his
men, with Is hours growth of beard,
eyes sunken for lack of sleep and hands
as black as a coalheaver's, but the
hands were as cool and firm in their
grasp as though they were going on
parade, and nothing would dull the
fire Of these sunken hazel eyes. Re
served but courteous ever to gentle
ness. He spoke of his plans. He
spoke as his men had spoken-of going
in-not of coming out, except this, just
at parting:
Now, pardon me, but in case you
gentlemen write anything of this ex-
petition, please don't say anything in
dividualIy about its members unless
you know"
He accented the last word and the
inference was plain until you know we
ont fha
sentence.
While the Associated Press CORE
spondent was on the bridge of the
Merrimac, q young officer from the
Marblehead came aboard on business. /
When he left he said: -Shall We send
you fellows over some breakfast, we
would be delighted and can do it just
as well as nOt?"
Never mind about the breakfast, old
man." replied Hobson, but if you can
send some coffee, we would be very
glad. You see, we are swept pretty
clean here, and none of US have had a
drop of coffee since day before yester- /
day"
It was a trivial incident, but coming /
from a man doomed 10 almost certain |
death, it seemed TO add the last touch /
of the pathetic situation, heartbreaking /
enough in itself.
THE MEN.
Montague is chief master at arms of
the New York. He has served four /
years in the navy, is % years of age, /
and his home is in Brooklyn.
George Charette is gunner's mate /
of the first class on board the New
York He has served IA years in the |
navy is 81 years of age, and resides at
Lowell, Mass.
]. c. Murphy is coxswain of the
Iowa.
Oscar .Deignan is a coxswain of the
Merrimac, and is about "a years of age.
John p. Phillips is machinist of the
first class, belonging to the Merrimac
He is sc years of age, and his home is
In Boston.
John Kelly is a water tender, about
So years of age. His home is near GlaS-
gov, Scotland
Fl. Clausen, who slipped on board the
Merrimac without permission, in order
to take part in the expedition, is a coz
swain of the New York.
Lieutenant Richmond Pearson Hob
son, assistant naval constructor, was
born at Greensboro. Ala, Aug. IL, 1870,
was appointed, after a competitive eX-
animation, to the naval academy in
May, 1885. He was the youngest mem
Der of his class, but graduated at the
head of his IS companions. He has
studied engineering under the auspices
of the United States government, in
France and was made assistant naval
constructor in 1891. He is the author
of a semi-political work entitled THE
Situation and Outlook in Europe" and
was assigned TO the flagship New York
wflen Rear Admiral Sampson sailed for
the West Indies.
Lieutenant Hobson is nephew of
John A Morehead of North Carolina, i
and is grandson OF Chlef Justlce