The times., 1898-07-25
HoBsoN's MOVEMENTS.
The Young Lieutenant Reappears
In NewF,YurIs

in NewhXarIk
New York, July 2A-The manner in
which Lieut.. Hobson. the hero of the
Merrimac. moves around is a perpetual
source of wonder osjmen familiar with
the easy-going methods of naval officers
ashore. Since landing at this port on
Friday morning, this energetic young
man has been to Washington and back,
and has completed full arrangements for
additional work TO be done by the Merritt
& Chapman Wrecking Company in rails
ing the Spanish war ships sunk off San
tiago. In his cyclontc movements he re-
sembled rather circus advance agent
two days behind his schedule than
all quarters men asked each other "Ain't
he hustler!" and the reply was always,
"Well amt her!
IT is easy to understand now that this
tail, calm Southerner rebelled at delay
when he had formulated his plan TO sink
the Merrmac across the mouth of San
| tiago harbor. Beneath his placid exterior
is a mine of energy, an indomitable will
and a quick judgment that turns him the
FlSHI way whichever dH emergency arises,
and melts difficulties as furnace blast
might melt snow.
His business in Washington finished on
Friday night, he boarded the first train
he could get, and was whirled back TO
| this city. He came over with the early
commuters from Communipaw, on the 6
o'clock boat and none knew the tall
49,
and brown derby. He reached the Astor
| House and ate his breakfast. There he
was recognized, but he escaped TO his
room before a demonstration was under
way.
Business at the Office of the Merritt &
| Chapman Wrecking Company, on the
fourth floor of No. 80 Wall street, was
| just getting into the routine swing of the
| day when a tall young man, wearing a
| gray business suit and brown derby,
entered the door, and in a round, hearty
voice announced that his name was Hob
| son. and that he desired to see Capt. 1.
| ]. Merritt. The clerks slid down from
| their desks and crowded round him, while
| from the hallway poured in the janitor-
who had recognized him as he left his
/ cab-the elevator man. Office boys, bank
! ers. brokers and clerks all anxious 10
! see the hero of the Merrimac, and TO
shake his hand. But he escaped to an in
! side office, where he was informed that
! Capt, Merritt was al Whitestone l.. l.,
| with his family, aboard his steam yacht,
/ Carrie, all ready for a cruise 10 Nara
/ gansett Bay.
1T is imperative" he said, that l
should see Capt Merritt at once. Is there
no way of communication. with him by
| telephone?' F1
1t was discovered that Capt Merritt
was just then ashore al Mhitestone, and
| he was soon talking to the young naval
officer. Lieut.. Hobson said that the con-
dition of the Cristobal Colon the Spanish
cruiser, which ne believes can be saved.
admits of no delay. and suggested that
| an immediate conference on the ways and
means would be acceptable. He said he
would go TO Whitestone If necessary.
Capt. Merritt Immediately gave orders
that the wrecking tug ". L. Chapman
take Lieut. Hobson 10 Whitestone.
! Accompanied by Isaac L. Chapman,
Lieut.. Hobson fairly fought his way out
| of the Office On all sides he was besieSed
| by men and women anxious to shake his
| hand Astonishment rather than yexa-
ton or pride predominated in the express
sion on his clear-cut face as he blushing
ly plowed his way through the throng-
When he reached the street great
crowd set up a cheer, and as he started
on half run down Wall Street toward
| the river the crowd followed him.
Turning up South Street, Lieut.. Hobson
and Mr.. Chapman made their way TO pier
l6. East River Entering the dock house,
they left the crowd at the gate and hast
ened aboard the Chapman, which had
steam up and was ready TO get away as
soon as the lines were cast off. As the
~, I
on shore cheered and when the captains
of the tugs and other steam vessels in the
harbor learned that the slim man sitting
on the rail was Lieut.. Hobson they
footed their whistles continuously. The
voyage up the river was a perfect ova-
ton.
AT Whitestone the yacht Carrie was dis
covered anchored a short distance from
the steamboat dock. The tug dropped an
chor near by and Lieut.. Hobson went
aboard the yacht in small boat. A large
proportion of the population of White
stone and Whitestone Landing lined the
shore and cheered the hero as he was
rowed across the river.
Lieut. Hobson was in consultation with
the veteran wrecker nearly an hour He
told Capt. Merritt that neither ne nor
other naval officers agreed with the state
ment of Capt. Sharp, the Merritt-Chap-
man tAlSi = t!ldl the ATISlOpd4 colon can
no. be raised. He briefly outlined his plan
of raising her, and secured the hearty
! concurrence of Capt. Merritt, who al once
issued the necessary orders. Just what
viii be done Is, of course, secret but il
is foregone conclusion that the visit OF
Lieut.. Hobson to the head of the old
wrecking concern will hasten the work OF
raising the two Spanish cruisers the
Maria Teresa and the Cristobal Colon
| IaIe-
on the tug, while Capt. Merritt SAILED
away for Narraganett Bay. When pie
l3 was reached Lieut.. Hobson went ashort
and walked with Mr.. Chapman 10 tht
office OF the Chapman Derrick & Wreck
ing Company, in the Lords Court build
ing. He remaines there over half al
hour, talking with the members of th
firm about business pertaining to the rails
ing of the sunken warships. He wa
introduced TO the clerks and to the vet
eran sea dogs in the Merritt Chapman
employ. Then he bade all hands good-b,
and left the office alone
The hall was crowded with people VIII
wanted TO shake his hand. He steppe,
into an elevator, and the proud boy il
charge shot him to the ground floor with
out a stop. So swift and unobtrusiv
was his escape through the corridor tha
the crowd that had gathered there di
not recognize him until he reached tn
street. Then a mighty CHAR went up, an
the blushing hero lodged into a drug
store for glass of soda water But tn
: boy at the fountain recognized him an
shouted, "Hurrah for Hobsoni" as h
squirted the sizzling fluid into the glass
Lieut.. Hobson smiled at the boy blusheC
gulped down the soda water, and mad
his escape, to enter the cavernous depth
of the army and navy building, in White
| nall Street There he. was safe