The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-07

he men should be able to swim to the
dingy. / may jump before 1 am down
I'D. But / don't see that it makes
much difference what I do. / have
fair chance of life either way. II our
dingy gets shot to pieces We snail
then try to swim for the beach rignt
under Morro castle. We shall keep to-
gether at. all hazards. Then we may
be able to make our way back to the
ship. We shall fight the sentries or
squad until the last, and we shall only
surrender to overwhelming numbers,
and our surrender will only take place
as a last and as a most uncontemplat-
ed emergency
Lieutenant Hobson might have been
lecturing to a class of cadets on the
theory of how to build ships, so de-
liberate was his manner. He was late
ly at Annapolis, in charge of the post
graduate course in naval construction
and is accounted one of the best and
most able naval constructors in the
service, being entirely wrapped up in
his profession.
The PRELIMINARY wark of this des-
perate undertaking was a strain upon
the officers and men. On Wednesday
morning directly after Rear Admiral
SIMPSONS arrival, and as soon as he
was. certain the Spanish fleet was in
the harbor, the preparations to scuttle
the Merrimac in the channel were
commenced. All day long the crews
from the New York and Brooklyn were
on board the collier, never resting in
their efforts to prepare her. She lay
alongside the Massachusetts, discharg-
ing coal when the work was first be-
gun.
The news of the intended expedition
travelled quickly throughout the fleet
and it soon became known that volun-
teers were needed for a desperate un-
dertaking. From the Iowa's signal
yard quickly f1uttered the announce
ment that she had 140 volunteers and
the other ships were not far behind.
On the New York the enthusiasm was
intense. Over 200 members Of the crew
volunteered to go into that narrow har-
Dor and face death. The junior Off
GERS literally jumped over each other
in their eagerneSS to get their names
on the volunteer list.
Commander Miller, who had charge
Of the Merrimac, pleaded with the ad-
miral to let him go, but the latter
thought he had better not.
When it was learned that only six
men and Lieutenant HObson were to
go, there was considerable disappoint-
ment on all sides, and when the New
YOrk's contingent went over the side
late on Wednesday night, some of
those who were left were almost ready,
brave and strong as they were, to sit
down and cry.
All Wednesday night the crews work
ed on board the Merrimac, which then
lay close to the New York and the
other ships, they passed the collier,
before sundown, cheered her with the
same spiri> that the British men-of-
war cheered the American sailors he
roism at Samoa.
Lieutenant Fobson paid a brief visit
to the flagship shortly before midnight
and then returned to the Merrimac, on
board of which craft he had been all
day. AS he started down the sea lad
der there were many hands stretched
out to grasp his and many quiet-spok-
en-, earnest wishes for his success, as
it was thought then that Hobson
would take the Merrimac in early yes
terday morning.
At 8 o'clock the admiral and Flag
Lieutenant Staunton got into the
launch to make an inspection Of the
Merrimac. The working gangs were
still on board of her, and on board the
New York the officers of the flagship
stood on the quarter deck, their glasses
focused on the big, black hull that
was to form an impossible obstacle for
Spain's best ships.
Tile minutes slipped by and the
crews had not completed their work
on the Merrimac. But, at last, a boat
load of men, black and tired out, came
over to the flagship. Last of all, at
4:30 o'clock, came the admiral. He had
been delayed by a breakdown of the
steam launch.
Dawn was breaking over Santiago
de Cuba and nearly everybody thought
it was too late for the attempt to be
made that morning. Then somebody
cried:
'She's going in!''
Surely enough, the seemingly de-
serted collier was seen heading
straight for MORO castle.
The torpedo boat Porter was lying
near the flagship and, at the admirars
order, Lieutenant Staunton snatched
up the megaphOne and hailed the Por-
ter. saying:
Porter, there! Tell the Merrimac to
return immediately"
Smoke quickly poured from the Por-
ter's smokestacks and the dark little
craft darted toward the shore
By that time. darkness had quite
disappeared and quickly as the fast
torpedo 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 it sure
death for Hobson to venture in at that
hour.
Sometime after o'clock the Porter
came tearing back and the Merrimac,
to every ones surprise, kept her po-
sition.
Admiral Sampson, Captain Chad
wick and Lieutenant Staunton could
not understand until Lieutenant Fre-
mont, from the deck of the torpedo
boat, shouted:
Lieutenant Hobson asks permission
RI 70 thinks