The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-06-10
BRAVE TO DESPE RATION
Act That Shut Up Cervera Securely in
the Harbor at Santiago.
GALLANT HoBsoN SETS A HIGH MARK
Steams Straight Into the Teeth Of the
Spanish Batteries and Sinks His Ship
In the Channel-Story of Hero
ism to Win Admiration.

Aohi W svAh
on Santiago de Cuba, June 8. via
Port Antonio. Jamaica, June 6.-[Copy-
right, 1898, by the Associated Press.]-
following is 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 captive
In Santiago de Cuba harbor: The mar
row channel leading into the harbor
Nas completely blocked early this morn
ing when the United States collier Mer-
rimac was sunk across it's entrance. 1t
is now impossible for the Spaniards to
get out, and it is equally impossible for
any vessel to get into the harbor. There
fore the Spanish first-class armored
cruisers Maria Teresa. CristobaI Colon,
Vizcaya and Almirante Oquendo, with
the two torpedo boat destroyers F>uror
and Pluton, are no longer Of any use to
Spain.
Cervera Recognizes True Grit.
This result was accomplished through
the heroism of Lieutenant Richmond
p. Hobson, assistant naval constructor,
and Daniel Montague, George Charette,
]. c. Murphy, Oscar De4gnan, John p.
Phillips, John Kelly and H. Clausen.
The latter, coxswain, of the New
York, took part In the expedition against
orders. They were all captured by the
Spanish, but the Spanish admiral, In
recognition Of their bravery, sent word
to the American admiral under a nag
OF truce that he was willing ID rx-
change the prisoners, and assuring the
American commander that they would
be treated with the greatest kindness.
Money and provisions have been sent to
them and the necessary steps are being
taken to bring about their exchange.
Spanish Batteries Open Fire.
The Merrimac had on board 600 tons
Of coal when she was scuttled across
the channel. Lieutenant Hobson started
on his daring errand at o'clock this
morning. Under cover of the clouds
ever the moon the Merrimac
stole in towards the coast and
made her way to the east
ward, followed by steam launch from
the New York, under command of Naval
Cadet j. w. Powell. 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
suddenly the flash of a gun streamed
out from MORO castle, and then all on
board the New York knew the Merrimac
was nearing her end. The guns from
the Spanish battery opposite MORO
castle answered quickly with more
flashes, and for about twenty minutes
flashes Of fire seemed to leap across
the harbor entrance. The flagship was
too far away to hear the reports, and
when the firing ceased 1t was judged
that Hobson had blown up the Merri-
mac.
Cadet Powelrs Deed of Gallantry.
For an hour the anxious watchers
waited for daylight. Rear Admiral
Sampson and Captain Chadwick were on
the bridge of the New York throughout.
At o'clock thin streaks of smoke were
seen against the western shore, quite
close to the Spanish batteries, and
strong glasses made out the launch of
the New York returning to the flagship.
Scarcely had the small craft been sighted
before the Spaniards began shooting at
her. AS the shells fell without hitting
the object they were intended for the
men OH board the New York jeerd at
the Spanish craftsmanship and cheered
their shipmates. At 6:15a- m. the launch
came alongside the flagship. Cadet
Powell reported that he had been I'M
able to see any signs of the Merrimac's
crew. 1t developed that with great
bravery the cadet had gone right under
the batteries and only returned when
all hope Of taking on board the crew of
the Merrimac had to be abandoned.
Cadet Powell also reported that he had
clearly seen the Merrimacs masts stick
ing UP just where Hobson hoped to sink
her, north Of the Estrella battery and
we'll past the guns of MORO castle.
Associated Press Dispatch Boat
Dandy, off Santiago de Cuba, via Kings
ton, Jamaica, June 7.-[Copyright, 1898,
by Associated Press. ]-Lieutenant Rich
mond p. Hobson and the seven heroes
who aided him to block the harbor of
Santiago de Cuba with the hulk Of the
collier Merrimac have escaped with
their lives and are now prisoners of
war. Two Of the men are slightly in
jured, one In the cheek and one in the
hip. Both will recover in a short time.
The news of the safety Of the men on
the Merrimac was brought to the flag
ship New York Friday afternoon by a
Spanish tugboat flying a flag Of truce.
She came out by order of Admiral Ger
vera, who was represented by Captain
Bustamente Y Oviedo, his chief of staff.
The Spanish admiral was so struck by
the wonderful daring shown by Lieu
tenant Hobson and his men that in gen.
erous admiration of the bravery of his
foeman he sent his chief of staff to let
the American fleet know that the men
were safe and well treated as prisoners
of war.
After being aboard the flagship nearly
two hours Captain Oviedo took formal
leave of Admiral Sampson, every honor
being accorded him as he left the ship.
launch containing clothing and sup
plies for the American prisoners was
sent to the tug and Captain Oviedo
promised that they should be delivered
to them. The escape of the men on the
Merrimac is considered nothing short Of
miraculous unless the firing of the
Spaniards was worse even than usual
and that is practically out of the