Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1898-06-10
a DEED OF COURAGE.
Blocking Of the Channel at santi-
ago Under Heavy Fire.
STORY or SINKING OF TIE nERRlaAC
Lieut.. Hobson and His Brave Crew
Take Places Among the Heroes OF
the War Cervern Gracefully
Recognizes Their Courage.

N Take Places Among the Heroes of
the War Cervern Gracefully
Recognize. Their Courage.
Washington, June 6.-The navy de-
partment has posted the following bull
letin:
."rhe navy department at three o'clock
received the following dispatch: Mole
Hayti, June 4.-Succecded in sinking Mer-
rlmac in the channel OF Santiago at four
5. M. June 3. This was carried out most
gallantly under the command OF Naval
Constructor Hobson and seven men. BY
Z nag Of truce from the Spanish Admiral
Cervera, sent in recognition Of their
bravery, am informed all are prisoners
Of war, two being slightly wounded. Re
quest authority to approve exchange Il
possible between those and the prisoners
4 at Atlanta. Six OF the Spanish squadron in
the harbor Of Santiago unable to avoid be-
"(signedy SAMPSON"
Heroes Of the Merrtmnc.
LIEUT.. R. B. HOBsON.
4 DANIEL MONTAGUE r,l
GEORGE CHARETTE.
J. e. MURPHY.
OSCAR BEIGNAN.
JOHN r. PHILLIPS.
JOHN KELLY.
The officer hero OF the Merrimac 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
in May, 1885. and Is now IS years old. He
graduated in 1889 at head OF his class. and
as a consequence Of this distinction was
sent to France by the government to take
a course In naval architecture. When
the war broke out he applied for active
duty, and was sent with three naval ca
dets 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 the modest manner.
A Difficult Task.
AZ to the prospects Of the Merrimao
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 to be 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 funnel
is above water, indicating depth of
about 40 or so feet, but it is believed
that the wreck lies in sight from the
sea, and it is not doubted that Samp-
son will post some Of the heavy iron
clads in such position as to be able
10 command the site with her heavy
guns and prevent the Spanish wreckers
from, working. At night something
might be accomplished by the wreckers,
bat even that work would be full of dan
ger.
Substantial promotion is in store for
the gallant men who took the Mer-
rimac in.
How Merrimac Wa. Sunk.
On Board the Associated Press Dis
patch Boat Dauntless, off Santiago de
Cuba, June 4 (via Kingston, Jamaica,
June 6).-Rear Admiral Sampson, dur
ing Friday morning decided to close the
marrow 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 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,
the Merrimac sank, the channel was
closed up, and. apparently, Admiral
Cervera will be unable to escape.
How the Heroes Were saved.
Kingston, Jamaica, June g. Hobson
and the hero crew Of the Merrimac were
saved in the following manner: Unable,
after the sinking of their vessel, to 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
1sh 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 meanwhile
Hobson and his party would be treated
with the greatest kindness.
Rumor Of Another Engagement.
Cape Haytien, Hayti, June e.-The
United States troopship Resolute, for
merly the Yorktown, under convoy OF
the torpedo destroyer MayAower, the
converted Ogden Goelet yacht of the
same name, arrived at Mole St. Nicholas
Saturday and departed shortly after.
Advices from Mole St. Nicholas say that
Saturday, some distance off Jean Rabel,
n No -
Hayti, half way between Port de Paix
and Mole St. Nicholas, combat took
place between three Spanish and four
American warships. The American
ships are said to have withdrawn from
the combat. One of the Spanish war;
ships entered the harbor of Jean Rabel
for water. The officers of the ships w.
ing at Mole St. Nicholas were extremely
reticent. Jean Rabel is an insignificant
seaport and there is no telegraphic sta
ton there. 1t is thought possible that
the Spanish ships encountered were the
vanguard of the Cadiz fleet. The names
of the American ships are not ascer-
tanned, but it is believed here that thew
were probably scouts.
Predicted spnin's Defeat.
Montreal, Can, June 6.-Ramon Car
rama, who is at the head of the Span.
ish spy bureau in Montreal, recently
wrote letter to the minister of marin e
at Madrid in which he criticised Ad.
lniral Camara and predicted the ulti
mate defeat of Spain. The letter was
secured by United States secret service
detectives and is published. Carranza's