The record-union., 1898-06-06

this pyrotechnical display But it did
not come, so Hobson had apparently
chosen the less spectacular but equally
desperate plan Of quietly stalking The
forts alone and in darkness.
Black cloud banks to the westward
had hidden the moon for two hours be-
fore its setting depriving Hobson of his
own wish for just a bit of light TO
guide him in under the Spanish guns.
Fate could scarcely have been harder
At ) o'clock the moon showed for a
few moments, blood red, and then II
was extingushed in the sea.
y Too late" said every one. He Will
never have time to run in by that
Almost at the same moment dawn
broke in the east as quickly as alght
had fallen the previous evening. 70
the eastward, just where the Merrimac
lay last night loOmed up the black
shadow of a vessel.
He has missed his chance" was the
remark There the collier lay, spread
in the southern brilliancy. Morro's
deep red walls showed against the blue
hills and opal clouds.
Suddenly a dazzling flash, like a hell
ograph ray, leaped from the battle
ments, followed by slow spreading
cloud of white smoke. There was no
report but far up the coast white Jet
of spray leaped from the sea. The
SpaniardS were waking up.
Glasses were strained where the Mer-
rmac had been. She was gone. The
Vixen had been mistaken for her our
ing the morning light. Glasses swept
the horizon in search for the Merrimac.
She was nowhere visible. Bright
flashes and bllowing smoke rose from
point to point where the harbor bat
teries were located. The SEaniards
were awake sure enough and buzzing
like an upset hive.
"Hobson has run in on them and
fooled us ALL" was said, But" it was
added, what are the idiots shooting
at?"
The spraying shells rose everywhere.
beyond the Brooklyn and inside the
Texas, but the fire was seemingly con-
centrated westward close to the shore.
There a thin thread of smoke disclosed
their target, the New York's launch,
which Ensign Powell had gallantly
held close under Morro's walls until
after daylight, when, driven out by the
fire of the big guns, he had run far up
the shore, under the partial cover of the
bluffs and had turned and event
ually boarded the Texas, out of range.
Then he passed on to the New York.
Being closer in than the warships,
Powell had seen the firing before day
light when the Merrimac and her dare
devil crew. then well inside Morro
Castle, We're probably first spied by the
Spanish He also heard an explosion,
hxv IIn1
sens torpedo. The Ensign was not
sure He waited vainiy, hoping to res
cue the heroes of the Merrimac, until
he was shelled out by the forts.
The fleet, seeing the launch return,
crowded close inShOre to learn the
news, and, learning that, went in closer
still. hoping to draw the Spanish fire,
but the forts were silent. Inside the
hills enclosing the harbor could be seen
a dense column of moving smoke, as at
least one Spanish vessel moved down
the tortuous channel to the harbor's
mouth She did not show beyond Cayo
Smith while the Dauntless remained in
sight
Beyond that her way was blocked
by the Merrimac's hulk, sunk where
Hobson promised croSsWiSe of the mar
row channel
Yesterday afternoon while the Merr1-
mae lay stripped to the buff" for her
last desperate run she was inspected
by the Associated Press representative.
With matches off, gaping cargo. ports
swung back and everything valuable
removed save her engines and 2,3oo
tons of coal that scarcely seemed 10
count in her cayernOuS hold, she was
not an inviting spectacle.
The seven men who We're to risk their
lives in her were as cheerful as school
boys on a froic, despite twenty-four
hours sleeplessness and hard work.
CoXsWain Deignan. with professional
pride, explained the several stations of
the fortunate crew Murphy was to
cut loose the forward anchor, and Dan
iel Montague the after one, and they
were to lump 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
10 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
audacous undertaking, so implicitly
trustful in their young Lieutenant who
was to lead them, so oblivious of every
thing except that they were going III.
They did not speak of coming out. With
the exception of Deignan, who said non
| chalantly, "Oh, | guess We stand fair
show Of getting out; but they can't
stop US from getting in" this last in 4
J most matter-of-fact style, IS though