The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1898-06-09
A BOLD DEED.
Volunteer Crew Scuttles the Merrimac
in the Mouth Of Santiago Harbor.
The Heroes Attempted to Return But Un-
der Heavy FIRE Compelled to Row to
the Spanish Flag ship-They
Will BE Exchanged.

ment Of the naval afficers at the navy
department Saturday morning upon
the news of the sinking of the collier
Merrimac in the channel at the en-
trance of Santiago harbor,
KINGSTON, Jamaica, June 6.-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
she'll, they rowed into the harbor to
the Spanish flagship and were taken
on board unharmed. The Spanish
admiral under flag of truce on Fri.
day sent word to the American admiral
that he offered to exchange the prs.
oners, adding, that in the meanwhile
Hobson and his party would be treat.
ed with the greatest kindness.
WASHINGTON, June 6.-Information
comes from. the white house that the
secretary of the navy has received a
dispatch from Adm. Sampson stating
that the Merrimac was sunk in the
channel off Santiago harbor for the
purpose blocking the passage.
| On BOARD DISPATCH BOAT DAUNT
LESS, OFF SANTIAGO DE CUBA, June g.
Via Kingston, Jamaica Adm.
Sampson, during Friday morning de-
| cided to close the narrow harbor en-
trance of 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. Lieut..
Hobson and six men were chosen, and
| LN..sl
her own steam, entered the chan
mel under terrible Spanish fire.
The vessel was riddled with pro-
jec.iles, 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, and, apparently,
Adm. Cervera will be unable to es-
cape.
WASHING TON. June 6.-The war de-
partment was open for business in a
limited way for half the day Sunday,
and Adjt. Gen. Corbin was hard at
work at his desk in telegraphic CORE
spondence with army officers in all
parts of the country and par
ticularly regarding the Spanish
military prisoners from whom Sc
lections will be made for exchange OF
the gallant little band that sunk
the Merrimac. The commanding officer
at Fort MCPHERSON. Ca, has furnished
the department full list of the cap.
tives to facilitate the work of ex
change. This is likely to occupy more
time than was originally expected be
cause of the difficulty of communicat
ing with the Spanish admiral at San
tiago
The number of Spanish prisoners a.
Fort MCPHERSON is one first lieutenant
seven second lieutenants, one sergeant
and nine privates.
Information afforded by the otficia
records of the navy department as to
the full names and antecedents of the
gallant sailors who made up Hobson:
little crew in sinking the Merrimae
differs in some essentials from the
data furnished through the dispatch
boats Sunday morning. The naval lis
is about as follows:
Daniel Montage, trst-class machin
list on the New York. born in Irelanc
and 20 years old; last enlistment il
! December, 1896; next of kin Kate Gold
en-. sister, "a Horatio street, New
York.
George Charette, first-class gunner
mate on the New York, born il
Lowell, Mass, 30 years of age; las
enlistment May 90, 1898; has been il
the service since 1884; his next of XII
! is Alexander Charette, father, Lowell
Mass.
Osborn mot Oscar Deignan, cox
swain on the Merrimac, born in Stu
art Ia, 81 years old; last enlistmen
April 22, 1898; next of kin Julia Deig
nan, mother, Stuart, la.
George f. mot John P) Phillips
= machinist on the Merrimac, born il
Boston, "a years old; last enlistme n
March so. 1898: next of kin Andrey
Phillips, Cambridgeport, Mass.
!. Francis (probably instead of John
Kelly, water tender on the Merrimac
/ born in Boston, 2S years old; enliste
!. at Norfolk, April 2l, last; next of kin
t Francis Kelly, Boston.
\ Randolph Clausen, coXswain on tn
. New York; born in Boston and % year
of age; last enlistment February 81
a 1897; next of kin, Teresa Clausen, wife
). 1877 Cherry street, New York.
1t is apparent to the department Oft
a cials that the call for volunteers di
a not extend beyond the two ships, Ne,
|, York and Merrimac, as all the me
{ named belonged to those two vessel.
n Great admiration is expressed at tn
: department at the cool pluck and dis
cretion shown by the young cader
George w. Powell, who took comman
. of the New York's steam launch an
!. lay under the batteries for many hour
a until he was satisfied from his own ol
1 servation that the Merrimac had gon
= down before he returned to the fias
d ship 1t is felt that his fate involve
Q display of quite as much courag
Q as was shown by the Merrimac cre'
and he is likely to profit by it.
| To Po tad