Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1898-06-09
Tho Merrimno Sunk by Her Own Moii
In the Channel of Santiago.

| MOLE, IIAYTr, juno 4.-Succccdcd in
sinking Morrimac in tho channel of San
tiaSo at 4 A. NJ, Juno 3. This was car
ricd out most gallantly under tho com
mand of Naval Constructor IIo bson and
seven men. BY flag of truce from the
Spanish admiral, Corvora, sent in rccog-
milton OF their bravery, am informed
all arc prisoners of war, two slightly
wounded. Request authority to approve
exchange, if possible, botwoon these and
the prisoners at Atlanta. Six of the
Spanish squadron in tho harbor of San
tago unable to avoid boing captured or
destroyed.
(Signcd) SAMPSON.
A DEED WORTHY OF AMERICANS.
On Board tho Associated Press Dis
patch Boat "DauntlcSS," of Santiago do
Cuba, Juno i, via Kingston, jamaica,
juno 4.--Rcar Admiral Sampson, during
Friday morning, decided to close tho
narrow harbor entrance Of Santiago do
Cuba by sinking tho collier Mcrrimao,
loaded with coal, i'll tho channel. He
called for volunteers to go to almost GER
tain death, and 1000 mon offered them
selves. Lieutenant iionsun and six men
were chosen ut 3 A. M. Friday morning
tho Mcrrimac, under hcr own steam,
entered tho channel under terrible
Spanish fro. Tho vessel was riddlod
Will plOJcChllcS, DuG SnC anCnOrCu and
swung round. Lieutenant IIQlSon then
set Oft an internal terpe;a,S1; with an cleo
trio attachment. There was an cxplo-
sion, tho Mcrrimac sunk, the channel
was closed, and, apparently, Admiral
CCrvcra will be unable to escape.
Eow TIE HEROES WE'RE SAVED.
KINGSTON, JAMAICA. Juno 4.-Uobson
and tho hero crew Of the Mcrrimac werc
saved in the following manner: Unable,
after the sinking of their vessel, to mako
their way back through the storm of
shot and shell, they rowcd into tho har-
bor to the Spanish flagship and were
taken on board unharmcd.
The Spanish admiral, under a flag of
truce, on Friday, sent word to the admi-
raj that he offered to exchange the priS-
oners, adding that in tho meanwhile
1Iobson aud his party would DC treated
with the greatest kindness.
Lieutenant IIobson appears to have
carried out his plan to the smallest
details, except as regards tho method of
escape. The row boat in which the crew
were to attempt to escape was either
blown up or shot to pieces, for I.ieutcn-
ant lIobsOn and his men drifted ashore
OH an old cHtamaran, which was slung
over tho ships side at tho last moment
as an extra prccaution. Upon reaching
shore the men were taken prisoners and
sent to Santiago City undcr guard. Lator
they were taken to MORO Castle, where
they now are.
Capt. Ovictlo, Admiral Cervcras chief
Of stan, who boarded the New York
under flag of truce, did not give fur
thCr details of the capture.
The bravery of tho Americans evi-
IDENTIFY excited as much admiration among
the Spaniards as it did among the mon
Of the American fleet. The prisoners
will be perfectly safe, and will probably
be well treated while they remain in
Moro Castle. The fleet is wild with
delight tonight over the termination Of
the most daring expedition since tho
destruction OF the Confederate ironclad
Albcmarlc by Lieutenant Gushing in
1851 4 he admiral is just rs glad as tho
Youngest inc' =" Capt. Chadwick. Of
the flagship y York, who is usually
most conservative, in speaking of the
incident, said: "Splcndid! splendid! Too
much cannot be said about it,"
The general opinion is that no man
deserves recognition by Congress for
personal bravery more than does Lieu
tenant l!obson. His work was well done
and his men arc safe. When he started
on the expedition few thought he could
accomplish his OBJ bjcct.
Officers of the fleet, when qut STONED
as to whether Capt. Ovicdo could have
had any ultcrior design in visiting the
New York under a flag of truce, secuted
the suggestion, saying that tho visit was
prompted by pure chivalry on tho part of
tho Spaniards, and was noble of them.
o