The record-union., 1898-06-05

raS chief OF stan, who boarded the New
York under a flag of truce, does not
give further details of the capture.
The bravery of the Americans evil
IDENTIFY excited as much admiration
among the SpaniardS as it did among
the men of the American fleet. The
prisoners will be perfectly safe, ana
will probably be well treated while they
remain in MORO Castle.
The general opinion is that no man
ever deserved recognition by Congress
for personal bravery more than does
Lieutenant Hobson. His work was We'll
done and his men are safe. When he
started on the expedition few thought
he could accomplish his object. Clausen,
the New York's coXswain, went on the
Merrimac against orders. Nothing
could have kept him from that trip
into the jaws of death. 1t is probable
that the Spaniards will try to blow
up the Merrimac, but improbable that
they will succeed.
Speculation is rife as to the exact de-
tails of how Lieutenant Hobson man.
aged to blow himself and ship and live
to tell the tale. His heroism has
cleared up the situation we'll The
Spaniards are now doubly he,nmed in.
to see Lieutenant Hobson before his
start, and who had charge of the
launch during it's perilous trip, told
the story Of his experience. He said:
II shook hands with Hobson the last
of all. He said: Powell. watch the
boats crew when we pull out Of the
harbor We will be cracks, rowing
thirty strokes to the minute
he r 10
Merrimac steaming slowly in. 1t was
only fairly dark then, and the shore
was quite visible. We followed, about
three-quarters Of a mile astern. The
Merrimac stood about mile to the
westward of the harbor and seemed a
bit mixed, turning completely around,
finally heading east, then ran down and
turned in We were then chasing, be-
cause I thought Hobson had lost his
bearings.
When Hobson was about 200 yards
from the harbor the first gun was fired
from the eastern bluff. We were then
half mile off shore, close under the
batteries. The firing increased rapidly.
We steamed in slowly, and lost sight of
the Merrimac in the smoke, which the
wind carried off shore. 1t hung heav
ily Before Hobson could have blown
up the Merrimac the western battery
picked up and commenced firing. They
shot wild. and we only heard the shots.
We ran in still closer to shore, and the
gunners lost sight of us. Then we
heard the explosion of the torpedoes on
the Merrimac.
Until daylight we waited just out
side the breakers, half a mile TO the
westward of MORO, keeping a bright
lookout for the boat or for swimmers,
but saw nothing. Eobson had arrang
ed to meet US at that point, but think
ing that some one might have drifted
out, We crossed in front of MORO and
the mouth of the harbor to the east
war About 5 o'clock we crossed the
harbor again within a quarter of a mile,
and stood to the westward. In passing
we saw one spar of the Merrimac stick
ing out of the water. We hugged the
shore Just outside of the breakers for a
mile, and then turned toward the Texas,
when the batteries saw US and opened
fire 1t was then broad daylight.
THE first shot fired dropped eighty
yards astern, but the other shots went
wild.
Il drove the launch for all she was
worth, finally making the New York.
The men behaved splendidly.'
The news of Lieutenant HObson's
safety lifted a great load from Pow
ellis mird. Probably no other details
of this marvellous trip will be known
until Lieutenant Hobson gets back.
Some heavy firing was done shortly
before midnight by the New York and
New Orleans. aimed at what was
thought to be a small gunboat, which
disappeared. Whether she was sunk or
not is not known. The firing took place
to the eastward Of Morro.
ONLY TWO SLIGHTLY INJURED.
WITH THE AMERICAN FLEET
(off Santiago de Cuba), June 3.-(via
Mole ST. Nicholas, Hayti, June ~
copyrighted, 1898, by the Associated
Press).-AI the members of the Merri-
mac expedition are safe. Only two Of
them were slightly injured, and their
names are not known. Lieutenant
Hobson was not hurt. All of the Mer-
rimac's men are held as prisoners Of
war.
The news Of their wonderful escape
was sent to Rear Admiral Sampson ty
Admiral Cervera, the Spanish Admiral
being so struck with the courage Of the
Merrimac's crew that he thought Ad-
miral Sampson should know that they
had not lost their lives Admiral Ger
yera's chief Of staff Captain Oviedo,
boarded the New York under a flag Of
truce bearing the announcement of the
safety of the Merrimac's men, and re-
turning with supply of provisions
and money for the prisoners.
LIEUTENANT HOBSON.
WASHINGTON, June 4.-The officer
hero Of the Merrimac is an Assistant
Naval Constructor, and hence attached
to the staff and therefore not ordinarily
engaged in line duty. He entered the
Naval Academy from Alabama in 1880,
and is now 2S years old. He gradu-
ated in 1889 at the head of his class,
and as a consequence of this distinction
was sent to France by the Government
to take a course in naval architecture
in pursuance of a policy to give cadets
of the highest standing chance to ac-
uuire the highest possible knowledge
in skill. He attended the Ecole Poly
technique, and returned to the United
States in 1898, and served for time
in the Bureau of Construction in Wash
ington. and then went to the navy yard
at New York. Later he served with
Admiral Bunce on the North Atlantic
station. and then went to the Naval
Academy to take a post graduate course
of instruction in naval construction.
When the war broke out he applied for
active duty. and was sent with three
naval cadets under his charge to the
flagship Of Admiral SIMPSONS squad
ron. He is described as a tall, ath-
letic built, very quiet and unassuming