The Forrest City times., 1898-06-10
M|SS|ONOF THE MERR|MAC.
Daring Adventure of a Devoted Band of American Patriots in
 Santiago de Cuba Bay.
RAN TWO MILES UNDER SPANISH FIRE.
Enectualiy Corked Up Cervera's Bottle by Flowing Up Their Own Vessel, and Then Bo,dly Rowed to the spanish Flagship and surrendered-Th Bravery Hon. ored by the Enemy.

and Surrendered-Their Bravery Hon.
 ored by the Enemy.
 OFF SANTIAGO DE CUBA, June 3, a, m. via Port Antonio, Jamaica, June 4. -CDelayed in transmission.). The fol- lowing is detailed story of the act of heroism performed by Lieut.. Richmond P. Hobson and his seven companions in sinking the collier Merrimac 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 blocked early this morning when the United States collier Merrimac was sunk across it's entrance. It is now impossible for the Spaniards to get out, and it is equally impossible for any vessel to get into the harbor. Therefore, the Spanish frst-class ar mored cruisers Maria Teresa, Cristobal Colon, Vizcaya and Almirante Oquendo. with the two torpedo boat destroyers Furor and Fulton, are no longer of any use to Spain.
 This result was accomplished through the heroism of Lieut. Richard P. Hob- son, assistant naval constructor, and Daniel Montague, George Charette, J. C. Murphy, Oscar Deignan, John P Philips, John Kelly and K. Clausen. The latter, a coXswain of the New York, took part in the expedition against orders. They were all cap tured by the Spaniards, bat the Span ish admiral, in recognition of their bravery sent word to the American ad- miral, under flag of truce, that he was willing to exchange the prisoners, and assuring the American commander that they would be treated with the greatest kindness. Money and pro- visions have been sent to them, and the necessary steps are being taken to bring about their exchange.
 Montague is chief master-at-arms of the New York. He has served four years in the navy, is go 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 3l years old and resides at Lowell, Mass.
 J. c. Murphy is coxswain of the Iowa.
 Oscar Deignan is a coxswain of the Merrimac, and is about A years old
 John F. Phillips is a machinist of the first class, belonging to the Merrimac. He is 36 years of age, and his home is in Boston.
 John Kelly is a water tender, about s5 years. His home is near Glasgow, Scotland.
 II. Clausen, who slipped on board the Merrimac without permission, in order to take part in the expedition, isa cox swain of the New York.
 Lieut.. Richmond Pearson Hobson, assistant naval constructor, was born at Greensboro, Ala, on August IT, 1870, was appointed, after competitive examination, to the naval academy in May, 1885. He was the youngest mem- Der of his class, but graduated at the mead Of his eighteen companions. He has stadied engineering, under the auspices of the United States govern ment, in France and was made assist ant naval constructor in 1891. He is the author of a semi-political work entitled tThe Situation and Outlook in Europe" and was assigned to the flag shlp New York when Rear Admiral a-mpson sailed for the West Indies.
 Lieut. Hobson is nephew of John M. Morehead, of North Carolina, and is agrandson of Chief-Justice Pearson of that state. He is unmarried, and his rather, Judge James NJ. Hobson lives at Greensboro, Ala.
 The three men from the Merrimac's s crew were all green hands and shipped recently for the war.
 The Merrimac had on board GOO tons oi coal when she was scuttled across dhe channel.
 Lieut.. Hobson started on his daring errand at three o'clock in the morning. Ahe Merrimac was lying to the west ward Under cover of the clouds over the moon she stole in toward the coast, ana made her way to the eastward, toiowed by a steam launch fro m the New York, with the following crew on board: Naval Cadet J. W. Powell, of oswego, N. Y. P. K. Peterson, cox swain; H. Handford, apprentice of the nrst class; J. Mullings, coal passer; G.. h. Russell, machinist of the second class.
 Tn the launch were bandages and ap- Pllances for the wounded
 from the crowded decks of the New aork nothing could be seen of the nernmac after she had got under the snaoow of the hills. For half an hour oncgrs and men strained their eyes peermg into the gloom, when, sud uenly, the flash of gun streamed out rom Morro castle, and then all on ooara the New York knew the Mer-- mac vas nearing her end The guns om the Spanish battery opposite ofro castle answered quickly with