The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-06

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 range. Then he
passed to the New York.
The brave fellow was broken hearted at
not finding Hobson and his men. Lying
closer in than the war ships. Powell had
seen the firing before daylight. when the
Merrimac and her daredevil crew. then well
inside MORO Castle, were probably first dis
covered by the Spaniards. He also heard
an explosion. which may have been caused
by Hobsons torpedoes. The ensign was not
sure. lie waited, vainly hoping to rescue
the heroes of the Merrimac, until he was
shelled out by the forts.
The fleet, seeing the launch return. crowd
ed close in shore to learn the news and,
learning it, went in closer still, hoping TO
draw the Spanish fire, but the forts re-
manned silent. Inside the hills inclosing the
harbor could be seen a dense column of
moving smoke. as at least one Spanish YES
sci moved down the tortuous channel to the
harbor south 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 just where
Hobson promised crosswise of the narrow
channel
Yesterday afternoon, while the Merrimac
lay stripped to the buff for her last des-
perate run, she was inspected by the Asso-
clated Press correspondent. With hagcheS
off, gaping cargo ports swung back and ev-
erything valuable removed save her engines
and $500 tons (this is probably a wild esti-
mate. six hundred tons being given else
Where) of coal, that scarcely seemed to
count in her cavernous hold, she was not
inviting spectacle. The seven men who were
to risk their lives in her were as cheerful
as schoolboys frolic, despite twenty
four hours sleeplessness and hard work.
Coxswain Deignan, with professional pride,
explained the several stations of the for
Iorn-hope crew. j. E. Murphy was to cut
loose the forward anchor and Daniel Mon
tague the after one, and they were then to
jump overheard and swim to the ifeboat,
which was towing astern. Phillips, Kelly
and Crank We're to stop the engines and
knock away the Kingston valves to flood
the hold, and Lieutenant Hobson and Cha
rette were to fire the torpedoes from the
bridge.
Words cannot paint the cool, matter-of-
tact heroism of these enlisted men, so
calmly confident of success in their auda-
clous undertaking, so implicitly trustful in
their young lieutenant who was to lead
them, so oblivious of everything except
that they were going in. They did not
speak of coming out with the exception of
Deignan, who said nonchalantly: oh guess
we stand a fair show of getting out; but
they can't stop us going in this last in
Of-fa act vi
in was the only point worth considering.
So it was to them. This was everyday
heroism, heroism in overalls, black with oil
and coal dust from ankle to eyebrow.
Lieutenant Hobson despite his uniform.
was almost as dirty and disheveled as his
men, with forty-eight hours growth of
beard, eyes sunlSen for lack of food and
sleep and hands as black as a coal heavens,
but the hands were cool and firm in their
grasp, as though he were going on parade
and nothing could dull the fire of those
sunken hazel eyes Reserved, but cour-
teous even to gentleness, he spoke briefly
Of his plans He spoke as his men had
spoken-of going in; nothing of coming
back, except this, just at parting:
Now, pardon me, but in case you gentle
men write anything of this expedition,
please don't say anything individually about
it's members until you know"
He accented the last word, and the in
ference was plain. He meant--"until you
know we are dead'-which would have
filled out the sentence.
While the Associated Press correspondent
was on the bridge of the Merirmac. a young
officer from the Marbehead came aboard
on business. AS he left he said "Shall we
send you fellows over some breakfast? We
would be delighted and can do 1t just as we'll
as not?"
Never mind about the breakfast, old
man. responded Lieutenant Hobson, but
if you can send some coffee we would be
very glad. You see we are swept pretty
clean here, and none of us have had a drop
of coffee since day before yesterday
1t was trivial incident, but coming from
a man doomed to almost certain death, it
seemed to add the last touch of the pa
thetic TO situation heartbreaking enough
in itself