The San Francisco call., 1898-06-07

KEY WEST, June e.-Captain Miller of the collier Merrimac arrived here to- dav. He said:
 Lieutenant Hobson's act was the bravest I ever saw or heard of. Every officer and man in the fleet would have volunteered to go but Hobson, being a naval constructor, was the man for the place. The details were arranged, and the crew was on board Thursday morn- ing and the vessel had started, but day commenced to break and the Admiral signaled for her return. Hobson begged to be permitted to proceed, saying he would be successful. However. the ad- miral insisted on his return. The men were given a good sleep and early the next morning the Merrimac started again. She had been thoroughly stripped of valuable articles, even the clock and bell being taken out.
 Along one side the torpedo belt had been arranged about ten feet below the water line, six torpedoes being placed so as to break open the compartments. These torpedoes had electrical connec- tion with battery on the bridge, and were to be discharged by pressing a button.
 Tt was arranged that the Merrimac was to be swung across the channel till one end grounded. The men that let go the starboard anchor were to let the life raft fall and then jump overheard. Last of all the man that pressed the key would plunge into the water The man at the key was undoubtedly Hobson. He would be unlikely to as- sign another man to the most danger ous post Besides he is the best swim mer in the navy.
 "The plan was carried out perfectly. The only thing we had not counted on was the Spaniards keeping such a sharp watch. Undoubtedly they knew something was afoot They permitted the Merrimac to pass between the Morro and Estrella forts without mo- tifying her. When she was in range of the other forts every gun in the har- bor was opened on her. We could not count shots, the firing was so furious. The forts must have fired a thousand times.
 'I was on the New York, watching, and the hearts of all of us faltered, for 1t seemed as if no ship could live in that hell of fire, and that no one on board could escape. The Merrimac an- chored. The men jumped overheard, and the forts then subsided refusing to fire at the men struggling in the water. The men reached the raft, where they were captured and taken to Morro fort.
 When Admiral Cervera's chief of staff came on board the New York several officers asked to be allowed to exchange places with Hobson, but this was not permissible. Cervera's officer could not find strong enough words to express his admiration for the bravery of the Americans. His courtesy and the action of the forts in sparing the men struggling in the water changed our opinion of the Spaniards, and made us think the stories of their honor and chivalry not so far wrong.
 After daylight We could see the masts and funnel of the Merrimac sticking out of the water. She was sunk exactly where we wanted her. We saw in the harbor three cruis- ers-the Cristobal Colon and Infanta Maria Teresa being among them-but don't know whether the other cruisers or the torpedo-destroyer are there. The black thing that some of our cf- fcers thought they saw coming after them has not been identified yet, and we are not sure that any or the oe- stroyerS are at santiago.
 "The insurgents sent us word that the men and guns from the cruisers had been sent ashore, and it looks as though the vessels would not try to eet out and the Spanish officers had no hone of escape or victory, but were de- termined to make a brave. stubborn fight to maintain Spain's honor. The story printed in New York that Lieu tenant Hobson and Rear Admiral Sampson Quarreled just before the | Merrimac went in is an entire false hood"
 WITH THE FLEET. OFF SAN TIAGO. June (via Kingston, Jamaica, June 5, delayed in transmission).-All the members of the Merrimac expedi- tion are safe. Two are slightly wounded. but Lieutenant Hobson es- caped without a scratch. This almost incredibly good news was brought out this afternoon to Rear Admiral Samp- son by Admiral Cervera's chief of staff, under a flag of truce
 Admiral Cervera," said the officer, is so touched by the bravery of your men that he felt it only right you should know they are alive. They are prisoners of war and are being well treated"
 Tremendous enthusiasm reigns over the complete success of the expedition. During the day the Merrimac was plainly seen lying athwart the chan neI. She could hardly have been placed better had she been sunk in the day time and with no accompaniment of fire. It was an anxious day on all the ships. By noon officers and men feared the Merrimac's heroes had died in their noble work. but at o'clock this after noon a little black tug flying a white flag was seen coming out from the saf- iron hills of the harbor. Slowly she moved toward the New York, the flag ship. Assistant Chief of Staff Staun- ton boarded the Vixen, flying a flag of truce, and met the Spanish tug, which proved to be the Colon, half way. Cap tain Oviedo signified his desire to see Admiral Sampson personally and he was taken on board the flagship. The enthusiasm as the news spread from signals from the Vixen was so intense that the appearance of the Spanish captain over the side of the New York hardly excited the surprise that might have been expected.
 Admiral Sampson greeted Captain Oviedo most cordially, thanked Admi-
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