The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-06-08


Lieut.. Hobson aud the men under
him. Last night Chaplain Royce iu-
voked this protection, but the few
then believed it possible that his
prayer could be granted.
Cadet Powell, who was the last man
to see Lieut.. Hobson before hi, start,
and who had charge of tho launch
during its pcrilous trip, after much
needed sleep told the story of his
experience. He said:
Lieut.. Hobson took short sleep
for few hours, which was often
interrupted. A quarter to he came
on deck and made final inspection,
giving his last instructions. Then
we had little lunch. Hobson was as
cool as cucumber. About 2:30
clock took the men who we're not
going on the trip into the launch, and
started for the Texas. the nearest
ship, but had to go back for one of the
assistant engineers, whom Hobson
finally compelled to leave. l shook
hands with Hobson the last of all.
He said: Powell, watch the boat 8
crew when We pull out of the harbor.
We will be cracks, ro ring 30 strokes
to the minute.
after leaving the Texas, l saw the
Merrimac steaming slowly in. It was
ouly fairly dark then. aud the shore
was quite visible. We followed about
three-qusrters Of mile astern. The
Merrimac stood about mile to the
westward of the harbor, and seemed a
bit mixed, turning completely around.
;! Finally, heading 20 the east, she ran
down, aud then turned in. We we're
then chasing i'm. because I thought
Hobson had lost his bearings. When
Hobson was about 200 yards from the
harboF the first gun was fired from the
eastern bluff. We were then half q
mile off shore, close under the batter
les. The firing increased rap dly.
We steamed in slowly, and lost Sigh.
of the Merrimac in the smoke, which
the wind carried off shore. It hun;
heavily. Before Hobson could have
blown up the Merrimac the western
battery picked US up and commenced
firing. They shot wild, and We only
heard the shots. We ran 10 still
closer to the shore, and the Cunuers
lost sight of US. Then we heard the
explosion of the torpedoes on the
Merrimac.
Until daylight we waited just out
side the breakers, half mile to the
westward Of MORO, keeping sharp
lookout for the boat or swimmers, but
saw nothing.
"Hobson had arranged to meet us
at that point, but thinking shat some
one might have drifted out, we crossed
In front of Moro aud the mouth Of
the harbor to the eastward. About B
clock we crossed the harbor again,
within quarter Of mile, and stood
to the westward. 10 passing we saw
one spar of the Merrimac sticking out
Of the water. We hugged shore just
outside of the breakers for mile, and
then turned toward the Texas, WHEN
the batteries saw us and opened FIRE.
It was then broad daylight. The first
shot dropped 3J yards astern, but the
other shots went will.
81 drove the launch for all she was
worth, finally making the New York.
The men behaved splendidiy."
The news Of Lieut.. Hobson's safety
lifted o great load from Cadet Powell's
mind.
Probably no other details Of this
marvellous trip will be known until
Lieut.. Hobson gets back.
Some heavy firing was done shortly
before midnight by the New York and
New Orleans, aimed >at what was
thought to be small gunboat. which
disappeared. Whether she WAS sunk
or not is not known. The firing took
place to the eastward of MORO.