The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-06-08
PROGRESS OF THE WAR.
The --latest Developments in
the War Between United
States and Spain.
Sampson Stops the Channel by Sink
ing the Merrimac.

WASHINGTON, June 4.-The navy
department has posted the following
bulletin:
The navy department at 3 o'clock
received the following dispatch:
"sMoLE, HAYT1, June 4.-Succeeded
in sinking Merrimac in the channel OF
Santiago at 4 a. H., June 3. This
was carried out most gallautly under
the command of Naval Constructor
Hobson aud seven men. By flag of
truce from the Spanish admiral,
Cervera, sent in recognition Of their
bravery, am informed all are prison
ers of war, two slightly wounded.
Request authority to approve ex-
change, if possible, between these ard
the prisoners at Atlanta. Six of the
Spaniard squadron in the harbor of
Santiago unable to avoid being cap
tured or destroyed.
"'Signei SAMPSON.
The State yesterday muruing in i's
5 O clock edition gave the news of the
junction of the fleets Of Sampson and
Schley; of the cutting of the last cable
connecting Blauco with Madrid, and
the forecast Of the glorious news con-
tained in the above official report. 1t
required second edition and all sub
scribers save very few got the iufor-
nation. The cable that became silent
at 5 a. m. remained go, and the story
from the Wanda was never COM
pleted
On Board the Associated Press
Dispatch Boat 'Dauntless,' off San
tiago de Cuba, June i, via Kingston,
ia. June 4.-Rear Admiral Sampson,
during Friday morning, decided to
close the narrow harbor entrance OF
Santiago de Cuba by sinking the
collier Merrimac, loaded with coal, in
the channel. He called for volunteers
to 90 to almost certain death, and
forty men offered themselves. Lieu5
tenant Hobson aud six men we're
chosen and at 3 a. m. Friday morning
the Merrimac, under Ter own steam,
entered the chanuel under terrible
Spanish fire. The vessel was riddled
with projectiles, but she anchored
and swung round. Lieutenant Hobson
then set off an internal torpedo with
an electric attachment; there was an
explosion; the Merrimac sank; the
channel wa cl ,sed, and, apparently,
Admiral Cervera will be unable to
escape.
KINGSTON, ia, June 4.-Hobson
and the hero crew of the NJ :rrimac
were saved in the following manner:
Unable, after the sinking of their
vessel to make their way back through
the storm of shot aud shell they rowed
into the harbor to the Spanish flag
ship and were taken on board un-
harmed.
The Spanish admiral under flag Of
truce on Friday sent word to the ad-
miral that he offered to exchange the
prisoners, adding that in the mean
while that Hobson and his party would
be treated with the greatest kindness.
Lieut.. Hobson appears to have car
ried out his plan to the smallest de-
tails, except as regards the method of
escape. The rowboat in which the
crew were to attempt to escape was
either blown up or shot to pieces, for
Lieut.. Hobson and his men drifted
ashore on an old catamaran which was
slung over the ship side at the last
moment as an extra precautlon. Upon
reaching shore the men we're taken
prisoners and sent to Santiago City
unde. guard. Later they were taken
to Moro castle, where they now are.
Capt. Oviedo, Admiral Cervera as
chief of staff, who boarded the New
York under flag of truce, did not
give further details of the capture.
The bravery of the Americans evi-
IDENTIFY excited as much admiration
among the Spauiards as it did among
the men of the American feet: The
prisoners will be perfectly safe, and
will probably be we'll treated while
they remain in Moro castle. The
feet is wild with delight tonight over
the termination of the most daring
expedition siuce the destruction of
the Confederate ironclad Albemarle
by Lieut.. Cushing in 1864. The
admiral is just as glad as the youngest
jackie. Capt. Chadwick, of the flag
ship New York, who is usually most
conservative in speaking of the Incl
dent, said
"Splendid; splendid; too much can
not be said about it.
The general opinion is that no man
ever deserved recognition by congress
for personal bravery more than does
Lieut.. Hobson. His work was done,
and his men are safe. When he
started on the expedition few thought
he could accomplish his object.
Officers of the feet, when questioned
as TO whether Capt. Oviedo could
have had any ulterior design in visit.
ing the New York under flag OF
truce, secuted the suggestion, saying
thst the visit was prompted By pure
chivalry on the part of the Spaniards,
and was noble of them.
Clausen, the New York's coxswain,
went on the Merrimac against orders.
Nothing could have kept him from
that trip into she jaws Of death.
It is probable that the Spanlards
will trv TO blow up the Merrimac, but