The San Francisco call., 1898-06-06
HObSOn and His Men Had to Crepe Their Way
 in Darkness.
Inspiring Goodness of the Little Crew While Preparing to
 Challenge Death.

where Hobson promised, crosswise of the narrow channel
 Yesterday afternoon while the Merri- mac lay stripped to the buff'' for her last desperate run, she was inspected by the Associated Press representative. With hatches off, gaping cargo ports swung back and everything valuable removed save her engines and 2S00 tons of coal, that scarcely seemed to count in her cavernous hold, she was not an inviting spectacle.
 The seven men who were to risk their lives in 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 crew. Murphy was to cut loose the forward anchor and Daniel Montague the after one, and they were then to jump overheard and swim to the lifeboat which was towing astern Phillips, Kelley 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 trusting In the young lieutenant who was to lead them, so oblivious of everything except that they were going in. They did not speak of coming out, with the exception of Deignan, who said nonchalantly:
 "Oh, I guess we stand a fair show of getting out; but they can't stop us from getting in" this last in a most matter-of-fact style, as though going in was the only point worth considering.
 So 1t was to them. This was every day heroism-heroism in overalls and oil and coal dust from ankle to eye brow. Hobson, despite his uniform, was almost as dirty and disheveled as his men, with forty-eight hours growth of beard eyes sunken for lack of sleep and hands as black as a coal heaver's, but fho hands were as cool and firm in their grasp as though they were going on parade. and nothing would dull the fire of those sunken. hazel eyes. Re- served, but courteous even to gentle ness, he spoke of his plans. He spoke as his men had spoken-of going in, nothing of coming back, except this, just at parting:
 Now, pardon me, but in case you gentlemen write anything of this expe- dition. please don't say anything indi- vidually about its members until you know.''
 He accented the last word and the inference was plain, Until you know we are dead" would have filled out the sentence.
 While the Associated Press corre- spondent was on the bridge of the Mer- rimac young officer from the Marble head came aboard on business. When he left he said:
 Shall we send you fellows over some breakfast? We would be delighted and can do it just as well as not
 Never mind about the breakfast, old man." replied Hobson, but if you can send some coffee. we would be very glad. You see, we are swept pretty clean here. and none of us have had a drop of coffee since day before yester- day.
 It was a trivial incident, but coming from a man doomed to almost certain death, it seemed to add the last touch of the pathetic situation, heartbreak- ...-