Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1898-06-08
MERR|MAC SUNK IN channel
DARING ACT OF AMERICANS
Under Orders Of Admiral Sampson
Eight Men Took the Vessel Into
the Entrance of Santiago Harbor
and Exploded Her-Are Admiral
Cervera's Prisoners.

Washington, June 4.-The navy depart
ment has posted the following bulletin:
"The navy department at o'clock re-
ceived the following dispatch:
".Mole, Haiti, June Ave succeeded
in sinking the Merrimac in the channel
at Santiago at p m, June 3. This was
Constructor Hobson and seven men.
"'By flag of truce from Spanish Ad
miral Cervera sent in recognition of theil
bravery, l am informed all are prisoners
of war, two being slightly wounded.
request authority to approve an exchange
if possible, between these and the prison
ers at Atlanta.
"'Six of the Spanish squadron are in
the harbor of Santiago, and unable tC
avoid being captured or destroyed.
How 1t Was Done
On Board Associated Press Dispatch
Boat Dauntless, off Santiago, June 8, via
Kingston, June Rear Admiral Sampson
during Friday morning decided to Close
the narrow harbor entrance to Santiago
by sinking the collier Merrimac loaded
with coal, in the channel.
He called for volunteers to go to al
most certain death and 1000 men offered
themselves. Lieutenant Hobson and six
men were chosen, and at a. IN. Friday
tered the channel under terrible Spanish
fire.
The vessel was riddled with projectiles
but she anchored and swung around
Lieutenant Hobson then set off an in
ternal torpedo with electric attachment
There was an explosion, the Merrimae
sank, the channel was closed and appar
emily Cervera will be unable to escape
Crew Was Saved.
Kingston, Jamaica, June 4.-Lieuten
ant Hobson and the hero crew of the Mer
rimac were saved in the following man
ner:
Unable after the sinking of their vesse
to make their way back through the
storm of shot and shell they rowed into
the harbor of the Spanish flagship and
were taken on board unframed. The
Spanish admiral, under a flag of truce
on Friday, sent word to the American
admiral that he offered to exchange the
prisoners, adding that, in the meanwhile
Hobson and his party would be treated
with the greatest kindness.
Washington, June 4.-The only Hobson
in the list of officers of the naval register
is Richmond P. Hobson, naval constructor
who is lieutenant of the junior grade
He was appointed as assistant naval con.
structor in 1891. He entered the navy
from Alabama.
Spaniards Clear the Channel.
Port au Prince, June 4.-Further news
received from Santiago confirms the re-
ports that bombardment of that place
began at o'clock yesterday morning.
After the action the Spaniards blew up
with dynamite the sunken collier, Merri-
mac, and have since been at work clear
ing the channel SO as to, in all probability
permit Admiral Cervera to put out to
sea should the Cadiz squadron arrive in
Cuban waters to relieve the blockaded
ships.
In the meanwhile the dispatches from
Santiago say the Spaniards pay tribute
to the audacity of the Americans in so
cleverly attempting to blockade the chan
mel. According to the Spaniards it would
be foolishness on the part of the Ameri-
cans to attempt to force the harbor en-
trance which is long and narrow and