Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-06-08

megaphone and hailed the Porter, say
ing: Porter, there. Tell the Merrimac
to return Immediately"
Smoke quickly poured from the Porter's
sm0kestacks and the dark little craft
darted toward the shore.
By that time darkness had quite dis
appeared and, quickly as the fast tor
pedo-boat tore through the water, it
seemed as if she would never head off
the Merrimac.
At last, when within range of the guns
of the Spaniards, the Porter crossed the
Merrimac's bows, and a sigh Of relief
went up from the eager watchers, for
they thought that it was death for Hob
son to venture in at that hour.
Some time after O'Clock the Porter
came tearing back and the Merrimac, to
everyone's surprise, kept her position.
Admiral Sampson, Capt. Chadwick and
Lieut.. StauntOn could not understand I'M
til Lieut. Fremont from the deck of the
torpedo-bOat. shouted: Lieut.. Hobson
asks permission to continue on his course.
He thinks he can make it"
But in stern tones the admiral sent
HobsOn message to the effect that the
Merrlmac must return at once. and in due
course of time the doomed collier slowly
steamed back, her commander evidently
disappointed with the order received from
the admiral through the commander of the
Porter, HobsOn's figure standing out vivid
ly on the lonely bridge of the Merrimac.
All day yesterday the collier lay near
the flagship and more elaborate prepare
tons were made to carry out the mission
of the Merrimac successfully. During
these preparations Hobson was tireless,
cool and confident, supervising personally
every little detail.
When finally Hobson went on board the
Merrimac last night he had been without
sleep since Wednesday morning. His uni
form was begrimed, his hands were black
and he looked like man who had been
hard at work in an engineroom for long
time. He said goodby.
The lieutenant remarked that his only
regret was that all Of the New York
volunteers could not go with him.
Rear-Admiral Sampson, speaking of the
expedition, said: 81 think he will have
a fair chance to get out. Yes it is plucky,
very plucky.'
Two Heroic Stowaways.
When the Merrimac started yesterday
morning on the trip from which she was
recalled she had on board of her two
men who had no right to be there. They
were Assistant Engineer Crank of the
Merrimac and Boatswain Mullin Of the
New York, who had been working on
the collier all day
These two men refused to leave the
ship, and as their disObedience was of the
nature which produced Cushings and Far
y
not officially recognized.
Under these circumstances one can
imagine the immense feeling of satisfac
ton experienced when it became known
that HObSOn and the crew Of the Merri
mac were safe. Later in the day boat
with white flag put out from the har-
Dor and Capt Oviedo, the chief of staff
of Admiral Cervera, boarded the New
York and informed the admiral that the
whole of the party had been captured
and that only two of them had been
injured. Hobson had not been hurt 1t
appears that the Spanish admiral was
SO struck with the courage Of the Merri-
macs crew that he decided to inform AID
miral Sampson that they had not lost
their lives, but were prisoners of war
and could be exchanged.
The dingy portion of the programme
does not appear to have been carried out.
which leads to the belief that she may
have been smashed by shot for it seems
Hobson and his men drifted ashore on IN
cid catamaran which had been slung over
the Merrimac's side at the last moment
as an extra precautiOn. They were cap
tured and sent to Santiago under guard,
previous to being transferred to MORO
castle, where they are now understood to
be confined.
Money and pOvisions were sent to the
prisoners through Capt. Oviedo, and it
is believed RearAdmiral Sampson is TAX
ing the steps necessary to bring about
their exchange.
The feet tonight is in a state of de-
lighted enthusiasm and the admiral is
just as happy as the young sailors. The
opinion is that no man ever deserved
recognition for personal bravery ClOre
than does Lieut.. Hobson