The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-06-05

On Board the Associated Press Dis
patch Boat Dauntless, off Santiago,
June (via Kingston).-Rear Admiral
Sampson, during Friday morning, de-
cided to close the narrow harbor en-
trance to Santiago de Cuba by sinking
the collier Merrimac, loaded with coal,
in the channel. He called for volun-
teers to go to almost certain death, and
1000 men offered themselves. Lieuten-
ant Hobson and six men were chosen,
and at a. m on Friday morning the
Merrimac, under her own steam, en-
tered the channel under q terrible
Spanish fire.
The vessel was riddled with projec-
tiles, but she anchored and swung
around. Lieutenant Hobson then set
Off an internal torpedo with an electric
attachment.
There was an explosion, the Merri-
mac sank. and the channel was closed,
and, apparently, Admiral CerVera VIII
be unable to escape.
With the American Fleet, off Santi-
ago de Cuba. June 8 (via Mole st.
Nicholas, Hayti, June D--Al the
members Of the Merrimac expedition
are safe. Only TWO of them were
slightly injured, and their names are
not known. Lieutenant HobSon was
not hurt. All of the Merrimac's men
are held as prisoners of war.
The news of their wonderful escape
was sent 10 Rear Admiral Sampson by
Admiral Cervera, the Spanish admiral
being so struck with the courage of
the Merrimacs crew that he thought
Admiral Sampson should know that
they had not lost their lives. Admiral
Cervera's chief-of-staff, Captain OWE
do, boarded the New York, under a
flag Of truce, bearing the announce
ment of the safety of the Merrimac's
provisions and money for the prison
ers
HOW THEY ESCAPED.
Kingston, Jamaica, June ADDISON
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 she'll
they rowed into the harbOr TO the
Spanish flagship and were taken on
board unframed. The Spanish adj
miral, under a flag of truce on Friday,
sent word TO the American admiral
that he offered to exchange the prison
ers, adding that in the meantime Hob
son and his party would be treated
with the greatest kindness.
DID HIS WORK WE'LL.
The daring Hobson attempted to run
in after daylight on Thursday and was
Only stopped under protest after stern
orders TO return from the admiral. All
day yesterday the preparations pro-
ceeded and at nightfaH the craft was
in readiness. a row of torpedoes had
been arranged outside the hull so that
Lieutenant HObson could explode them
from the bridge of the vessel and thus
bar mid ciy1lyf1cr 4 7ierh+ foll
the various ships Of the fleet passed
the doomed Merrimac, cheering her
Justify. Hundreds of men and scores
of officers volunteered for the duty. and
Commander Merritt, who has been with
the Merrimac, begged permission OF
Admiral Sampson to go, but Lieuten-
ant HObSOn wanted only six men. BY
10 o'clock all but the men who were
going on the dangerous arrand had been
taken from the Merrimac and the col
lier took a position near the New York
to await the approaching hour. 1t was
an impressive night among the men of
the fleet, for few expected that the
members Of the little l%w would see
another sunrise. The rizht was cloudy
with fitful lightning flashes behind the
dark lines of the hostile fort, now and
then showing the great shadows Of the
baJtlamentS.
Soon after o'clock the black hull of
the Merrimac began to drift slowly to-
ward the land and in a half hour was
lost to sight. 1t was Lieutenant Hob
sons plan 10 steam past Moro swing
ing crosswise to the channel, drop his
anchors, open the valves, explode the
torpedOes and on the port side leap
overheard, preceded by his crew, and
make his escape in a little life boat
which was towed astern, if possible,
and if not possible, to attempt TO swim
to shore. An the men were heavily
armed, ready 10 make a fierce resist
ance to capture.
The Merrimac LAYS well across the
channel, her masts showing that Lieu
tenant Hobson had done his work we'll
sinking the ship almost in the exact
spot decided upon. The channel IS not
as wide as the MerrimaCs length, and
it is impossible for the Spaniards to
raise or destroy the wreck under the
guns of the American fleet.
Lieutenant Hobson appears to have
carried out his plan to the smallest de-
tails, except as regards the method OF
escaping. The rowboat in which the
crew were 10 attempt to escape was
either blown up or shot to pieces, for
Lieutenant 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.
On reaching shore the men were
taken prisoners and sent to Santiago
City under guard. Later they were
taken 10 MORO castle, where they are
now
Captain Oveido, Admiral Cervera' s
chief of staff, who boarded the New
York under a flag OF truce did not give
further details of the capture. The
bravery of the Americans evidently ex-
cited as much admiration among the
Spaniards as it did among the men CT
the American fleet. The prisoners will
be perfectly safe, and will probably be
well treated while they remain in MORO
castle.
FLEET WENT WILD.
The fleet is wild with delight tonight
over the termination of the most dar-
ing expedition since the destruction OF
the confederate ironclad Albemarle by
Lieutenant Cushing in 1864 The ad-
miral is just as glad as the youngest
jackie. Captain Chadwick of the flag
ship New York, who is usually most