Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-06-11

Liteuenant Hobson might have been
lecturing TO a class of cadets on une
theory oil how to build ships, so delib-
crate was his ann His ehiet anN-
iety was that in the dark he mlSn1
miss tie narrow cut and run onto the
shoals al the west of the entrance
TO prevent the possibility of this, the
plan of allowing the Merrimac to run
in under the Spanish flag with the
feet in feigned pursuit, firing blank
cartridges and blazing the path TO the
harbor entrance with ~searchlghts
was considered, but abandoned ne
cause. among other reasons, Lleuten-
ant Hobsou and his volunteer crew dlu
not want TO die IL their lives should be
sacrificed under false colors. lhey
wanted 10 go down with the stars ana
stripes floating proudly from the Mer.
rimac. When the admiraIs consent
was obtained Lieutenant Hobson pc
came impatient Of all delay, and that
very night, Wednesday, after the moon
went down, he set the time Tor the at
tempt.
uuntireds of Volunteers.
Volunteers were called for on all OF
the ships of the fleet, and to the credlt
of the American navy, be IL SAID thao
few finched, while cheering crews
stepped forward at he summons TOT
the extra hazardous duty. Abou 200
ON board the New York, some $50 on
hoard the Iowa and a like proportion
from the other ships volunteered, u
Lieutenant IIobson. like the hero he
IL decided To risk as few lives as pos
sible. He picked three men from inc
New York and three from the Merit
mac. The latter were green IN the
service. but they knew the ship ana
had pleaded hard to go, while u man
slowed himself away ON board the col
: Gus ships, with Cadet Powell in com
maud, manned the launch which was
Ia lie at the harbor mouth and take OF
those who escaped.
'Ine McrrimaC was made ready, SIX
torpedoes were strung along her port
side with wire connections 10 the
bridge. Her anchors were dashed at
the bow and stern. Her cargo of coal
was shifted and her cargo ports were
opened that she would more readily
fIl when the time came TO cut her an
chor lashings, open the sea cocks and
torpedo her bulkheads. The work was
not completed until 3 o'clock Thurs
day morning. but with the sky paling
in the east Lieutenant Hobson headed
in ON his desperate mission. As the
Merrimac steamed forward Rear Ad-
miral Sampson. pacing the deck of the
flagship. looked ut his watch and at
the Frightening east and decided that
the MerrimaC could not reach the en-
trance before broad daylight. Conse-
Uucntly the torpedo boat Porter, which
was alongside. was dispatched TO recall
the daring officer.
Lieutenant Ilobson sent back n pro-
test with a request for permission 10
proceed. But the admiral declined TO
allow him TO take the risk and slowly
the McrrimaC swung about.
Uobson Protests to the Admiral.
During the day Lieutenant llobson
went aboard the flagship. His once
white duck trousers were rs black as n
coal heavens; his old fatigue coat was
u%nbuttoned and his bcgrimed face
deep furrowed by tense drawn lines,
but resolution shone in his eyes. 80
/ absorbed was he in the task ahead Of
linn that. unmindful Of his appearance
and of all ceremony and naval Ell
auette. he told the admiral in a one Of
command that he must not again be
inlcrfered with.
Called Rack by Sumpson.
II can carry this thing through
said he, but there must be no more
recalls. Ny men have been keyed w
for t~wenty-four hours and under q
tremendous strain. Iron will break al
last"
Such was the indomitable will and
courage with which he faced death and
glory.
When Hobson left the ship and the
extended hands of his shipmates. more
than one of the latter turned hastily
to hide the unbidden tear. But the
lieutenant waved them adieu with q
smile ON his handsome fnce.
This morning the Merrimac started
1 in shortly after ; O'Clock. The ful
moon had disappeared behind a blacl
cloud bank in the west, leaving only {
gray mark of heaying waters and tho
dim outline Of the Cuban hills show
ing against the unstarred sky to the
watchers ON board the ships of the
fleet. It was that calm hour before
dawn. when life is at its lowest ebt
and the tide runs out, carrying Tho
lives of mortals with 1t.