Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-06-05
with the greatest kindness.

with the greatest kindness.
Lieutenant Hobson appears to have car
ried out his plan to the smallest details,
except as regards the methods of, escape.
The rowboat in which. the crew were 70
attempt to escape was either blown up or
shot to pieces, for Lieutenant Hobsen and
his men drifted ashore on an old catamaran
which was siung over the ships side at the
last moment as an extra precaution. Upon
reaching shore, the men were taken pris-
oners and sent to Santiago city under
guard. Later they were taken to Moro
castle. where they are now. Captain oveido.
Admiral Cervera's chief of .staff, who
boarded the New York, under q nag Of
truce. did not. give further details Of the
capture. The bravery Of the Americans
evidently excited as much admiration
among the spaniards as 1t did among the
men Of the American feet. The prisoners
will be perfectly safe. and will probably
be well treated while they remain in MORO
castle. !.
The fleet is wild with excitement to-
night over the termination Of the most
daring expedition since the destruction Of
the Confederate ironciad, Albemarle. by
Lieutenant Gushing, In 1854. The admiral is
just as glad as the youngest 5aekies Cap
| taip Chadwick. Of the flagship. New York,
who is usually most conservative. In speak
ing of the incident, said:
'Splendid! Splendid! Too much cannot
| be said about it." "'tit-r.E
The general opinion Is that no man ever
deserved recognition by congress for per-
sonal bravery more than does Lieutenant
Hobson:. His work was we'll done. and his
men are safe. When he started on the
| expedition few thought he could accom-
plish his. object. Officers Of the fleet, when
| questioned as to whether Captain ovfedo
could have had any Interior design in Wis
iting the New York under a nag Of truce,
| visit was prompted by pure. chivalry on
the part Of the spaniards. and was noble
| Of them. 49,
| Clausen, the New York's coxswain. went
| on the Merrimac against orders. Nothing
| could have kept him from that trip into
the jaws Of death. -. -.
It is probable that the Spaniards will
| try to blow up the Merrimac, but improb-
| able that they will succeed. Speculation is
rife as to the exact details of how Lieuten-
ant Hobson managed to blow himself and
ship up and live to tell the tale. His hero
| ism has cleared up the situation well. The
spanfards are now doubiy ihemmed in.
At quarters on the New York last even
ing. Chaplain Royce. praying before the
bareheaded crew on deck, thanked God for
having preserved Lieutenant Hobson and
| the men under him.
Cadet Powell who was the last man to
see Lieutenant Hobson before his start.
and who had charge of the launch during
its perilous trip, after much needed sleep.
told the story Of his experience, He said:.
Lieutenant Hobson took a short sleep
for a few hours which was. often inter-
rupted. A quarter. TO 2 o'clock he came
on deck and made final inspection. giving
/ his last Instructions. Then we had a lit
tie lunch. Hobson was as cool as Gu
cumber. About 2:30i o'clock took the
men who were not going on the trip into
the launch and started for the Texas the
nearest ship, but had to go back for one
i Of the assistant engineers. whom Hobsor
finally compelled to leave. shook hands
with Hobson the last of all. He said:
Powell. watch the boats crew when
we pull out Of the harbor, We will be
cracks, rowing thirty strokes to the
minute
"After leaving the Texas, saw the Mer-
rimac steamins slowly in. 1t was only
fairly dark then and the shore was quite
visible. We followed about three-quarters
Of a mile astern. The Merrimac stood
1 about a mile to the westward Of the har.
1 bor and seemed a bit mixed turning com.
pletely around. Finally. heading to the
east, she ran down and then turned in
We were then chasing him, because
thought Hobson had lost his bearings
When Hobson was about 200 yards from
the harbor. the first gun was fired from
the eastern bluff We were then half 8
| mile of shore, close under the batteries
The firing increased rapidly. We steamed
| in slowly and lost sight Of the Merrimat
in the smoke which the wind carried Of
4 shore. It hung heavily. Before Hobsor
could have blown up the Merrimac, thu
western battery picked up snd commenced
firing. They shot wild, and we only heart
| the. shots, We ran In still closer to tn
shore. and the gunners lost sight OF US
Then We heard the explosion Of the tor