Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1898-06-11
MOST DARING FEAT.
Lieut.. Robson and Seven Brave Men
Add Lustre to Americas History.
They Ran the Merrlmac Into santiago
Channel and Sank Her-Finding Es-
y cape Impossible. They Rowed
y 20 y Spanish Ship.


WASHINGTON, June 8.-The navy do
partment has posted the following
bulletin: The navy department a
three o'clock Saturday afternoon re
ceived the following dispatch:
MOLE, Hayti. June A-Succeeded In sinhinI
Merrimac In the channel OF Santiago ut fou
p m, June This was carried out mos
calamity under tho command OF Nava
Instructor Hobson and seven men
by fiag of truce from the Spanish
ndmiral, Ccrvera, sent In recognition OF thei
bravery. am informed NIL are prisoners O.
war. two slightly wounded. Request authorit,
TO approve exchange, II possible. between
these and prisoners mt Atlanta Six OF tn,
Spanish squadron In the hnrbor of Santiago
unable to avoid being captured or destroyed,
SAMPSON
The name OF lIobson has gone or
the list Of American heroes, with Law
renee and Paul Jones, Perry and Cush
ing and the rest For 1t was Lieut..
Richmond 7. Hobson, OF Alabama,
who took the big collier Merrimas
right into the channel of Santiago, in
the face Of the fire from all the Span
ash ships and batteries, and there de-
liberately sank his vessel to keep Ger.
.er" I'LL Tue haroor until such tifne Us
the Americans get ready to capture
him and his ships Of war.
Particulars of the Daring Feat
Thursday night Admiral Sampson decided "a
send the Mcrrl e In and sink her nj the cham
nel's narrowcst par lie called for volunteers.
explaininy that IL was n desnern,e mission
death being almost certain far ali those who
ycntured in Tho nnvv sbow,J IN, s,ue n a
made NJ Snmnson wanted cI,ht mo, II.
could have had every oniccr and man In IN,
fleet Evervono ,yns more thnn rrndv. Nnnv
bepyed for Tho chance with t.nr,uI ,yes M,
Hobson and seven others w.r, selected. nnd
the rest had TO content Themselves with plvin ,
the hcroe, n cheer ms they went In their death
or fame.
Just before three o,clocl, Friday morniny tho
collier. ,lcenlv laden with ballasi material and
some coal. was headed wi,hnu, nrcIIminnrv
maneuyer STRAIGHT for Tho entrance over
which the REMAINING batteries of Moro frown
from onc side and those nj Socnn, from ,bo
other In the dark of the early mornlnr tho
Mcrrimnc. without light showing anvwh.re.
dashed well within the line Of the forts be-
fore she was discovered. our ships laundering
al the cncmy's batteries to divert their atten-
tion from the collier From the boat bearing
the flag Of truce 4, was learned that the Mrrri-
mac was frequently hit while stcuminy I'M tho
narrow channel but that none of the shots dis
,lbled her machinery. More than 100 proiret-
lies struck near her over n doz IN struck home
ana two OF nor lntrcpid m,n were bruised bv
splinters from the woodwork
When Hobson left the shin I'm the boat he
made an effort 10 row on, of The harbor and rec
gain the American fleet Lut h. had zone too
far up the cham Il and he soon saw that the
effort TO pass nil tho aroused batteries I'm tho
then daylight would mean the sacrifice of nil
his crew So he turned and rowcd straight to
the Spanish squadron Some shots were still
sent aft the boat. but before long the SPAN
iar,ls saw that Hobson evidently intended 10
give himself up and ceased Hiring. The Amer
lean lieutenant rowed straight to Admiral Ger
vera. who received the prisoners courteously
and treated them with respect due gallant men
who were prisoners Of war. II was undoubtod-
iy his admiration for the herolsm displayed In
the dash Of the Mcrrimac which led him TO send
out the tiag Of truce ana the offer Of un honor.
able exchange
The eye could not follow tho Merrimac, but
the ear soon told that she had been detected
by the Spaniards, for the fire from up the
channel Indicated that every possible gun was
being brought TO bear on her The Spaniartls
may also have endeavored TO destroy her by
the mines they are supposed to have In the
harbor. but II the attempt was made It did not
succeed, for the Mcrrlmac went to the point to
which Admiral Sampson had directed Hobson
TO take her There she was anchored and coolly
swung acress tho channel Then Hobson blew
o hole In her bottom and with his. seven men,
only two Of whom had been injured. took a
boat All that is yet known OF that heroic
dash; beyond these bare facts comes from Adj
Tho snnniss cnmmardor sor, wor, 70 somr
son, under fiay OF truce OF the capture Of the
eight American dare-devils. He CALAMITY
praised their heroism and offered to arrange
s M ~ TOT pfi s now "a inc
the truce 'i boat declared that HoSson and bis
men we're given q cheer us they came up to the
Spanish ships the sailors recognizing the
or IN ety. o. a. sae :, aeea , ,... u.,..
iected because Of his eooness in time o, danger
and his knowledge OF the explosives which no
was to use In sending his ship to the bottom
The explosive used was dynamite bomb.
operated by electricity. The bomb WIS placed
wen iSrwaIa . ana inc electrical apparatus Tor
IN M ,Hs .S os e.,nI a y, ren q. 'nI s,Sr
ths co,ior ma ,hsr ,n,,o ~ Tho ~. 49,.
the big vessel went down
The truce boat took bacl, TO Hob,on md his
men clothing and money. Capt ovideo, OF Cor.
vera's stan. cheerfully agreeing to deliver any
thing the Americans might desire to send
ovideo reported that Hobson was not hurt in
any way ana that the TWO men wounded by
spin'ers were were, not 9xs seriously injured
N MY W" '"", W",