The San Francisco call., 1898-06-06

ON BOARD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS DISPATCH BOAT DAUNT- LESS, off Santiago de Cuba, June g. a. m. (via Port Antonio. Jamaica, June 4)-Knowing Hobson's desperate plan, the dispatch boat took up a position at sunset opposite the narrow harbor en- trance and just outside the line of the blockading warships. The swift tropical twilight plotted out the Cuban shore like a dissolving view in a theater
 The last sign of the doomed Merrimac seen from the dispatch boat was her black shadow close in shore, seven miles east of Morro, and probably hidden from it's lookouts by the high land close to the coast.
 All night long glasses had been trained on the streak of gloom which was all that marked the shoreline. Heavy clouds plotted out the full moon, except at brief intervals, when its light brought out the shadowy bulk of the battle-ships, which was as quickly : swallowed up again. Now and then a : signal light of the fleet winked and was answered by another far down the coast. Then more darkness, silence and waiting.
 The center of interest, the moon, re- mained black. Knowing that one tentative plan was for the fleet to chase the Merrimac in a pseudo blockade runner using blank cartridges on her and search lights to point to Hobson the harbor entrance, every one waited for this pyrotechnical display. But It did not come. so Hobson had apparent ly chosen the less spectacular but equally desperate plan of quietly stalk ing the forts alone and in darkness
 Black cloudbanks to the westward had hidden the moon for two hours be- fore it's setting, depriving Hobson of his own wish for just bit of light tc guide him in under the Spanish guns. Tate could scarcely have been harder At 8 o'clock the moon showed for a few moments. and then it was eXtinguished in the sea.
 Too late" said every one, "he will never have time to run in by that"
 Almost at the same moment dawn broke in the east as quickly as night had fallen the previous evening. To the eastward, just where the Merrimac lay last night, loomed up the black shadow of a vessel
 He has missed his chance" was the remark There the collier lay, spread in the southern brillancy. Morro's deep red walls showed against the blue hills and opal clouds.
 G heliograph ray, leaped from the battle ments, followed by a slow-spreading cloud of white smoke There was no report, but far up the coast white jet of spray leaped from the sea. The battle-ships were waking up.
 Glasses were trained where the Mer- rimac had been. She was gone. The Vixen had been mistaken for her dur ing the morning light. Glasses swept the horizon in search for the Merrimac. She was nowhere visible. Bright flashes and billowing smoke arose from point to point where the harbor batteries were located. The Spanards were awake sure enough and buzzing like an upset hive.
 "Hobson has run in on them and fooled us all," was said; but" it was added, what are the idiots shooting at?"
 The spraying shells arose every where beyond the Brooklyn and in- side the Texas, but the fire was seem- ingly concentrated westward, close to the shore. There a thin thread of smoke disclosed their target, the New York's launch. which Ensign Powell had gallantly held close under Morros walls until after daylight, when, driven out by the fire of the big guns, he had run far up the shore under the partial cover of the bluffs, and had turned and eventually boarded the Texas. out of 4dASC- 4llcll iAC pdSSGQ Oll lO llIe New York
 The brave fellow was heartbroken at not finding Hobson and his men. Be ing closer than in the warships, Powell had seen the firing before daylight, when the Merrimac and her daredevil crew, then we'll inside Morro Castle, were probably first discovered by the Spaniards. He also heard an explosion, which may have been caused by Hob sons torpedo. The ensign was not sure Re waited. vainly hoping to rescue the heroes of the Merrimac, until he was sheled out by the forts
 The fleet. seeing the launch return, crowded close in shore to learn the news, and learning it, went In closer still. hoping to draw the Spanish fire, but the forts were silent. Inside the hills enclosing the harbor could be seen a dense column of moving smoke. as at least one Spanish vessel moved down the tortuous channel to the harbor mouth She did not show beyond Cayo- smith while the Dauntless remained in sight. Beyond that her way was blocked by the Merrimac's hulk. sunk -