New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-05
BRAVE MEN IN A LAUNCH.
STORY OF A RESCUING CREW THAI
FOLLOWED HOBSON.

Kingston Jamaica June 4.-Cadet Powell
who had charge OF a launch which was to nave
p,cked I'D or assisted Lieutenant Hobson ana
his crew. after the Merrimac had been SUNK
told this story OF his experiences
"IJeu,enant Uobson took short sleep atter
midnight At . o'clock he came on deck ana
made n final inspection giving his last instruc-
tions Then we had n little luncheon. Hobson was
rs cool as a cucumber. About Z:3O O'CLOCK
took the men who were not going on the trip
into the launch and started for the Texas, the
nearest shin but had to 80 back for one or the
assistant engineers whom Hobson finally COM
PEELED to leave.
II shook hands with Hobson the last OF all
He said Powell. watch the boats crew wheh
we null out " the harbor. We Will be cracks
rowing thirty strokes to the minute
After leaving the Texas ! the Merrlmac
steaming slowly in. II was only talrV ua'l'
then and the shore was quite visible. We foi-
lowed about three quarters OF mile asterh' ihe
Merrlrnac stood about II mile 30 the west"ar"
OF the harbor and seemed bit mixed. turning
completely around. Finally. heading to the east
she ran down and then eurned IN.
"vo were then chasing him because thought
Uobson had lost his bearings. When Honson
was about three hundred yards from the harbor
the first gun was Nrei, from '"e e"o's'" "'''''
We were then hall mile o1 shore. close under
the batteries. The firing Increased rapidly. we
steamed in slowly and lost sight OF the Merri-
mac in tho smoke which the "ind carried oii
shore. II hung heavily.
.Rernre Hobson could have blown up tho Mer"
rimoc the w.stern battery picked us up and
beyan firing. They shot Wild. and We heard only
the shots We ran In still closer 70 the snore'
md the gunners lost sight OF US
Then we heard the explosion OF the torpedoes
on the Merrimac
WAITING FOR HOBsON's RETURN.
Until daylight we waited jus, outside the
breakers half a mile TO the westward OF MOTTO
keeping bright lookout for the boat or Tor
swimmers but saw nothing Hobson had ar
ranged 10 meet US at that point, but thinking
that some one might have drifted out we crossed
in from, ~ Morro and the mouth OF the harbor
10 the eastward.
About 2 o'clock We crossed the harbor again
within a quarter OF a mile and stood 10 the
westward In passing We saw one spar or the
Marrimac sticking out Of the water We husged
tho shore Just outside OF the breakers for mile.
and then turned toward tho Texas. when the
batteries saw us and opened fire.
81, was then broad daylight. The first shot
ered dropped thirty yards stern. but the other
shots went Wild.
u drove the launch for all she was worth.
orauv making the New York The men be-
haved splendIdly."
The news of Lieutenant Hobson's safety lifted
n great load from Cadet Powell's mind. Prob
eblv no other details OF this marvellous trip
will be known until Lieutenant Hobson gets
back.
Cadet Joseph W Powell was appointed to the
Naval Academy from NewYork In May 1913
IIe has been studying naval architecture at
Apnapol,s for the last year. Ho is a native OF
Oswego ~ y, and Is attached to Admiral
sampsons flagship.