The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1898-06-09

message From Samp.Oo.
MoLs HAITI, June, 4.-"Succeeded ia
sinking Merrimac in the channel OF
Santiago 1t .. M. Juoe q. This VA
carried out most calamity under the
command Of Naval Constructor Hob
son and seven men. BY . flag of truce
from the Spanish Admiral, Ger, era
sent in recognition of their bravery,
am informed all are prisoners OF war,
two slightly wounded. Request au.
thority to approve exchange, il posi-.
Bile, between these and the prisoners IT
Atlanta. Six Of the spanish squadron
in the harb0r Of Santiago unable to
avoid being captured or destroyed.
SAMPSON"
The Merrimac Sunk.
BY the Associated Press of Santiago
de Cuba, June 4.
Rear Admiral Sampson, during F.,;-
day morning decided to close the mar
row hafb0r entrance Of Santiago de
Cuba BY sinking the collier Merrimac,
loaded with coal, in the channel. He
called for volunteers to 20 to almost
certain death, and 1900 men offered
themselves. Lieut.. Hobson and six
men were chosen, and at 3 q. M, Fri.
day morning, the Merrimac, under her
own steam, entered the channel under
a terrible Spanish fire. The vessel was
riddled with projectiles. but she an.
chored and swung around. Lieut..
Hobson then set off an internal torpedo
with an electric attachment, there was
an explosion, the Nerrimac sank, the
channel was closed, and apparently,
Admiral Cervera will be unable to es-
cape.
Lieut.. Hobson and the heroic crew
OF the Merrimac were saved in the fol-
lowing manner. Unable, after the
sinking Of the vessel to make their
way back through the storm of shot
and shell, they r0wed into the harbOr
to the Spanish flagship, and were
taken on board unharmed. The Span
ish Admiral, under flag of truce, on
Friday sent word to the American Ad-
miral that he offered to exchange the
prisoners, adding that in the mean
while H0bs0n and his party would be
treated with the greatest kindness.
Escape Alive.
Lieut.. HObson appears to have car
ried out his plan to the smallest de-
tails, except as regards the method of
escape. The rOWb0at in which the
crew were to escape was either blown
up or shot to pieces, for Lieut.. Hobson
and his men drifted ashore on an old
catamaran which was slung over the
ships side at the last moment, as an
extra precaution. Upon reaching
shore the men were taken prisoners
and sent to Santiago City under guard.
Later they were taken to MORO Castle,
where they now are.
Capt. Oviedo, Admiral Cervera's
chief of staff, who boarded the New
York under flag of truce, did not
give further details of the capture.
The bravery Of the Americans evil
dently excited as much admiration
among the Spaniards as it did among
the men of. the American fleet. The
prisoners: will be perfectly safe, and
will probably be we'll treated while
they remain in MorrO Castle. The
fleet is wild with delight tonight over
the termination of the most daring
expedition since the destruction of the
Albemarle by Lieut.. Cushing 6 in 1864.
The Admiral is just as glad as the
youngest Jackie.
1t is probable that the Spaniards
will try to blow up the Merrimac, but
improbable that they will succeed.
Speculation is rife as to the exact de-
tails of how Lieut.. Hobs0n managed to
blow himself and ship up and live to
tell the tale. His her0ism has cleared
up the situation well. The Spanlards
are now doubly hemmed in.
Story Of the Adventure.
The story of the sinking of the
Merrimac is one of the most thrilling
of the war.
As is well known, the harbor at
Santiago is very narrow. One or two
ships sunk across its mouth would as
effectually prevent the escape of the
Spanish fleet as though line of battle.
ships were anchored there. There is
no doubt that this fact appealed to
Admiral Sampson and he decided to
block the channel in some way. After
the decision came action. In bis feet
was the collier Merrimac, q large
steamer purchased some time ago in
New York. The great steel hull Of the
Merrimac offered the barricade which
the Admiral sought and the ship WAS
marked for destruction.
The next step was to end q crew to
accompany her on her dangerous mis-
sion. A volunteer crew was asked for.
Eight men were selected and placed
on board Of what seemed certain to be
their coffin. In the stillest hour of the
mOrning-between and 4 O'Clock
the PROV of the Merrlmac. with Just
enough men on the ship to run the
engine and handle the wheel, was
turned toward the narrow entrance to
Santiago harbor. 1t 10 easy to imagine
that the officers and crews of the
squadron watch the steamers onward
progress with beating hearts. Nearer
and nearer she approached the harbor
entrance. In the moonlight which
fell upon Caribbean Sea her black hull
could be seen slowly moving toward
destruction. Evidently she passed the
first line of dreaded t0rpedOe1 safely,
but when she was . little further in
the harbor there was explosion and
the vessel sank.
SKETCH OF LIEUTENANT HOBSON.
The nation was thrilled Saturday
with the bravery of the young Naval
Constructor, Richard Pearson Hobson
who guided the Merrimac into the har.
Dor Of Santiago under the flre Of thu
forts, and deliberately sunk her across
the narrow channel The young man;
grandfather was Chief Justice Rich
mond Pearson, of North CarOliua, and