The age-herald., 1898-06-06

aboard the Merrimac, which then lay close to the New York and the other ships as they passed the collier before sundown, cheered her with the same spirit that the British men of wars men cheered the American sailors heroism at Samoa.
 Lieutenant Hobson paid a short visit to the flagship shortly before midnight and then returned to. the Merrimac on board which craft he had been all day. As he started down the sea ladder there were many hands stretched out to grasp his and many quiet spoken, earnest wishes for sue cess, as it was thought then that Hobson would take the Merrimac early yester- day morning.
 At o'clock the admiral and Flag Lieu tenant Staunton got into the launch to make an inspection of the Merrimac. The working officers of the flagship stood on tho quarter deck, their glass focused on the big black ship that was to form an impas- sible obstacle for Spains best ships.
 The minutes slipped by, the crews had not completed their work on the Merrimac, but at last boat load of men, black and tired out came over to the flagship Last of all at 4:30 came the admiral. He had been delayed by a break down of the steam launch. Dawn was breaking over Santiago de Cuba and nearly everybody thought it was too late for the attempt to be made that morning. Then somebody. cried: She's going in" Surely the seemingly deserted collier was seen heading straight for Morro castle
 ORDERED TO RETURN.
 The torpedo boat Porter was lying near the flagship and at the admirals order. Lieutenant Staunton snatched up the mega phone and hailed the Porter, saying: "Por- ter, tell the Merrimac to return immediate ly." Smoke quickly poured from the Por- ters smokestack and the dark little craft darted toward the shore. By that time darkness had quite disappeared and quick ly as the fast torpedo boat tore through the water it seemed as if she would never head off the Merrimac
 At last when within range of the guns of the Spaniards the Porter crossed the Merrimac's bows and a sigh of relief went up from the eager watchers for they thought 1t sure death for Hobson to ven ture in at that hour.
 Sometime after 5 o'clock the Porter came tearing back and the Merrimac, to every ones surprise, kept her position. Admiral Sampson, Captain Chadwick and Lieuten- ant Staunton could not understand until Lieutenant Fremont from the deck of the torpedo boat shouted: Lieutenant Hob- son asks permission to continue on his course. He thinks he can make it."
 But in stern tones, tho admiral selt Hobson message to the effect that the Merlin ac mu t return at on e, and in due course of time tte med fer slo ly steam lack, her mmander evidently disal pointed with the order ec from the ac miral tl TO gl tfe e mma lt CT of the Perter, H5bsons s f gure anding out viSid- ly on the loney bridge of the Mer. imac. All day the collier lay near the flag hip and ella O. ae rrera at.ons we e m de to carry out he mission of the Mer imlc suc- oessfully. During the prep at ons Hob son was tireless, coo and co fident, super vising personally every little detail.
 When family Hotgon V ent o1 board the Merrimac last righc ne ha Il been with ut sleep since Wedn sd morning II uni form was begiin ed, s lands we black and he looked Ike a man who hal been hard at work in and about al engine on for a long time. As he said goodbye, tte lieutenant remarked that his oaly re ret was that al of the New Y rk No ulieers could not go with Linn.
 Rear Admiral Sampson, SD eaking Of the expedition said ''I think he will have a fair chance to get out. Yes, it is plucky very plu ky
 When the Merrimac started yestorday morning on the trip from which she was recalled, she had on board of her two msn who had no right to be there. They were assisting Engineer Crank of the Merr mac and Bcatswain Null n, of the New ferk' who had been working on the collier all day. These two men refused to leave the shin and as their disobedience was the ha- fire which produced Cush ns's ard Farra@ gu+ of the American navy, it was not of- fcially recognized.
 GRAND SPIRIT SHOWN.
 The shirt shown by the m and offers m the fleet in connection with the Mer l. mac exrediton is really srani ana yohl being merely expressed in words.
 1rnaar these circumstances, one can imag- ;,a inc immense feeling of satisfaction eX- nerienced when it became known that Hop- con and the crew of the Merrimac were safe Later in the day boat with a white flag nut out from the harbor and Captain Ovidio the chief official of Admiral Ger vera. boarded the New York and informed the admiral that the whole of the party had been captured and only two of the hero's had been injured Lieutenant Hob- son had not been injured. It appeared that the Spanish admiral was so struck with the courage of the Merrimacs crew that he decided to inform Admiral Sampson that they had not lost their lives, but were prisoners of war and could be exchanged. The daring portion of the programme does not appear to have been carried, which leads to the belief that she may have been mashed by a shot, for it seems Hobson and his men drifted ashore on an old cata- maran, which had been slung over the Merrimacs side at the last moment as an extra precaution. They were captured and sent to Santiago under guard previous to being transferred to Morro castle. where they are now understood to be confined.
 Money and provisions were sent to the prisoners through Captain Ovidio and 1t is believed Rear Admiral Sampson is talk
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