The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-06-11
guard the entrance, without the sup
port from the fleet. Hobson and the

guard the entrance, without the sup
port from the fleet. Hobson and the
other hero crew of the Merrimac were
saved in the following manner: I'm
able, after the sinking Of their vessel
to make their way back through the
storm of shot and shells, they rowed
into the harbor to the Spanish flagship
and were taken on board unframed by
the enemy.
Ensign Powell, also of tho New
York, with steam launch, crept close
under the guns of Moro castle to take
off the heroes of the Merrimac, and
remained there pluckily until daylight
disclosed his position, without seeing
a trace of the Merrimac's daring crew.
To have remained longer would have
been sheer madness. Lieut.. Hobson
and his men will be exchanged in due
course of time.
Lieut.. Hobson conceived the dare
devil plan, and when the admiral's
consent was obtained he became impa-
tient Of all delay, and that very night
Wednesday,, after the moon went
down he set as the time for the at
tempt. Volunteers were called for on
all the ships of the fleet, and to the
credit of the American navy be it said
that few finched.
Whole, cheering, crews stepped for
ward at the summons to the extra
hazardous duty. About 800 on. the
New York, some 100 on the Iowa, and
like proportion from the other ships
volunteered; but Lieut.. Hobson, like
the hero he is, decided to risk as few
lives as possible. He picked three
men from the New York and three
from the Merrimac. The latter were
green in the service, but they knew
the ship and had pleaded hard to go,
and one man slowed away on board
the collier.
Six other men, selected from various
ships, with Ensign Powell in COM
mand, manned the launch, which was
to lie at the harbor mouth and take
off those who escaped.
The Merrimac was made ready. Six
torpedoes were strung along her port
side with wire connections to the bridge.
Her anchors were dashed ut the bow
stern. Her cargo of coal was shifted
and her cargo ports were open so that
she could more readily fill, when the
time came to cut her anchor lashings,
open the sea cocks and to,edo her
bulkheads.
When Hobson left the ships and ex-
tended hands to shipmates, more than
one of the later turned aside hastily to
hide the unbidden tear; but the lieu
tenant waved them adieu with smile
on his handsome face.
The Merrimac was discovered
while floating in the dead of night
through the narrow channel and the
murderous hail commenced to
shower down on her from the frown-
ing forts on the promontory. The
Merrimac passed and moved on full
quarter of mile, with plunging fire
from the batteries that surrounded
her. 1t seems miracle that her ap-
parently riddled hull could have
reached the goal. After five minutes
the firing ceased and all became dark
again. When the curtain of the night
was at last lifted the light disclosed |
tiny steam launch riding the waves at
the very throat of the entrance of the
harbor. In an instant the guns of the
shore batteries were turned upon her
and with last lingering vain look for
the crew of the Merrimac Ensign Pow
ell headed his launch close along
shore to the westward. In this Law
salvation. The guns of the batteries
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