The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-07
Continued from First Page.)
SANTIAGO HEROES.

SAN llAGU HtkUkS.
der the partial cover OF the bluffs n
had turned and eventually boarded the
Texas out OF range. Then he passed 10
the New ORR.
The brave fellow was broker hearted
at not finding Hobson and his men.
Lying closer IN thar the w~arships,
Powell had seen the firing before day
light. when the Mer-imac and her
dare devil crew, then we'll inside Moro
castle. were probably first discovered
by the Spaniards. He also heard an
explosion which may have been caused
by Hobson's ~torpeioes. The ensign
was not sure. He waited vainly hoping
70 rescue the heroe OF h Merrimac,
until he was shelled out by the forts.
The fleet seeing the launch return.
crowded close in shore TO learn the
news and, learning. went in closer still,
hoping 10 draw the Spanish fire. but
the forts remained silent. Inside the
hills enclosing the harbor couid be seen
a dense column Of moving smoke. as At
least one Spanish vessel moved down
the tortuous channel 10 the harbor
mouth. She did not show beyond Cayo-
smith, while the Dauntless remained in
sight. Beyond that her way was
pIDthEu ny II lhtII4ildC HuAh. Suilh
where Hobson determined, cross-wise
OF the narrow channel.
Yesterday afternoon while the Merri-
mac lay stripped 10 the buff" for her
last desperate run, she was inspected
by the Associated Press correspondent.
With matches off, gaping cargo ports
swung back and everything valuable
removed save her engines and $500 ions
of coal, that scarcely seemed to
in her - 2Varnn1lS hold she was nor an
inviting spectacle.
The seven men who were to risk
their lives on her were as cheerful as
school boys On a frolic. despite twenty
four hours sleeplessness and hard work.
COXsWain Deignan, with professional
pride, explained the several stations OF
the forlorn hope crew. j. E. Muir
ply was to curt loose the forward an
Choir, and Daniel Montague the after
one and they were then to jump over
board and swim to the life boat which
was towing astern. Phillips. Kelly
and Crank were to stop the engines and
knock away the Kingston valves to
flood the hold and Lieutenant Hobson
and Charette were to fire the ~torpedoes
from the bridge.
Words cannot paint the cool. matter
of-fact heroism of these enlisted men,
so calmly confident Of success in their
audacious undertaking. SO implicitly
trustful in the young lieutenant who
was to lead them, so oblivious Of every
thing except that they were going in.
They did not speak of coming out,
| with the exception of Deignan, who said
nonchlantly: oh. l guess we can
| stand a fair show of getting out; but
they can't stop US going in" this last in
| a most matter-of-fact style, as though
going in was the only point worth con
sidering. SO it was to them. This was
every day heroism, heroism in overalls.
black wood and coal dust from ankle
to eye brow.
Lieutenant Hobson despite his uni
form, was almost as dirty and isheV-
elled as his men, with forty eight hours
growth of beard, eyes sunken 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 q parade and nothing
could dull the fire Of those sunken
hazel eyes. Reserved, but courteous
| ever to g~entleness, he spoke briefly Of
his plans. He spoke as his men had
spoken of-gOing in. nothing of
coming out, except this, just at parting:
Now, pardon me, but in case you
gentlemen write anything of this expe-
dition, please don't say anything fndi-
vidually about its members until you
know
/ he accented the ldSt NOru, anu the
Inference was p~lain-until you know We
| are dead would have filled out the sem
tence."
While the Associated Press CORE
spondent was on the bridge OF the Mer-
| ri1nac, a young officer from the Mar
blehead came aboard on business. AS
he left he said:
Shall we send you fellows over some
breakfast? We would he delighted and
can do it just as we'll as not"
Never mind the breakfast old man."
responded Lieutenant Hobson, but II
you can send some coffee we would b.
very glad. You see we are swept pretty
clean here, and none Of Us have had
a drop of coffee since day before yes
terday."
1t was a trivial incident but coming
from a man doomed to almost certain
death, it seemed to add the last touch
Of the pathetic to a situation heart-
breaking enough in itself.