The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-06-06

there. They were Assistant Engineer
Crank of the Merrimac and Boatswain
Mullin of the New York, who had been
working on the collier all day. These
two men refused to leave the ship, and
as their dlsobedience was of the nature
which produced Cushings and Farra-
CUTS for the navy, it was not officially
recognized. The spirit shown by the
men and officers of the fleet in connec-
ton with the Merrimac expedition is
really grand and beyond being merely
expressed in words.
Under these circumstances one can
imagine the immense feeling of salts
faction experienced when it became
known that Hobson and the crew of
the Merrimac were safe.
Later in the day boat with a white
flag put out from the harbor and Cap
tain Oviedo, the chief of staff of Ad-
miral Cervera, boarded the New York
and informed the admiral that the
whole party had been captured and
that only two of the heroes We're in
jured. Lieutenant Hobson was not
hurt. 1t appears that the Spanish adj
miral 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 pris-
oners of war and could be exchanged.
The dingy portion of the programme
does not appear to have been carried
out, which leads to the belief that she
may have been smashed by shot, for
it seems Hobson and his men drifted
ashore on an old catamaran which had
been slung over the Merrimac's side at
the last moment, as an extra precau-
ton. They were captured and sent to
Santiago under guard, previous to be-
ing transferred to MORO castle, where
they are now understood to be con-
fined. Money and provisions were sent
to the prisoners through Captain
Oveido and it Is believed Rear Adj
miral Sampson is taking the steps nee
essary to bring about their exchange.
The fleet tonight is in a state of de-
lighted enthusiasm and the admiral Is
just as happy as the youngest sailor
The general opinion is that no man
ever deserved recognition for personal
bravery more than does Lieutenant
Hobson Cadet Powell, who was the
last man to see Lieutenant Hobson, be-
fore his start and who had charge Of
the launch during it's perilous trip, af-
ter much needed sleep, told the story
of his experience. He said. 'Lieuten-
ant Hobson took a short sleep for a
few hours, which was often interrupt
ed At a quarter to two he came on
deck and made a final inspection, CIV
ing his last instructions. Then we had
little lunch. Hobson was as cool as
a cucumber At about 2:30 o'clock I
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 of the assistant
engineers, whom Hobson finally COM
PEELED to leave shook hands with
Hobson 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 steaning 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 about a mile to
the eastward of the harbor and seemed
a bit mixed, turning completely around,
and, finally heading to the east she
ran down and then turned in. We were
then chasing her, 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 about a
half mile off shore and nearing the bat
teries The firing increased rapidly.
Ill o,,l {frt,f rf
the Merrimac in the smoke which the
wind carried off. shore. 1t hung heavi-
1y. Before Hobson could have blown
up the Merrlmac the western battery
picked us up and commenced firing,
The shots went wild, however, and we
only heard them. We ran in still closer
to the shore and the gunners 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 a mile to the
westward Of Moro, keeping a sharp
lookout for the boat or for swimmers;
but, saw nothing. Hobson had arrang-
ed to meet us at that point, but think
ing that some one might have drifted
out, we crossed in front Of MORO and
the mouth of the harbor, to the east
ward. About five o'clock we cross
ed the harbor again, within a quarter
of a mile and stood to the westward.
In passing we saw one spar of the Mer-
rimac sticking out Of the water. We
Rugged the shore just outside Of the
breakers, for a mile and then turned
toward the Texas when the batteries
cayu 11s and fopepad fire IF was then
breaking daylight. The first shot drop
ped thirty yards astern, but the other
shots went wild. drove the launch for
all she was worth, finally making the
New York. The men behaved splen-
did1y.'
A BRAKEMAN ATTACKED BY
EAGLES