Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-06-06
AN HEROIC DEED.
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overwhelmingly against reaching the
entrance before discovery. Hobson
| was so enthusiastic, however, that MS
| confidence was infectious and the ad
mral finally gave a reluctant con-
| sent.
Lieut.. Hobson's chief anxiety was
that in the dark he might miss the mar
row mouth and run onto the shoals. to
the westward. TO prevent the posi-
biIty of this, the plan of allowing the
Merrimac to run in under the Spanish
flag with the fleet in feigned pursuit,
firing blank cartridges and blazing the
path to the harbor entrance with
scarchliEhts was considered but aban-
| doned, because. among other reasons
! Lieut.. Ilobson with his volunteer crew
did not want to die. if their lives should
be sacrificed. under false colors. They
wanted to go down with these Stars
and Stripes floating proudly from the
Mcrrimac.
| When the admiral's consent was OBJ
tanned Lieut. Hobson became impa-
tent of all delay and that very night.
Wednesday, after the moon went down,
he set the time for the attempt. Vol
| uIlttiS were cIlltl loI VII al tilt oiiils7
of the fleet and to the credit of Ameri-
can navy, it may be said that few
| ninchcd.
| Whole cheering crews stepped for
ward at the summons for the extra
hazardous duty. About 800 on board
the New York. some $50 on board the
| Iowa ana q like proportion from the
other ships volunteered.
| Lieut. Hobson, like the hero he is.
decided to risk as feV lives as possible.
| He picked three men from the New
York and three from the Merrimac.
The latter were green in the service
but they knew the ship and had plead
ed hard to go, and one man slowed
away ON board the collier.
| Six other men, selected from various
ships with Ensign Powell in command
ma nned the launch which was to lie at
| the harbor mouth and take off those
! who escaped.
| The Mcrrimac was made ready. Six
| torpedocs We're strung along her port
| side, with wire connections to the
| bridge Her anchors We're dashed at
| the bow and stern. Her cargo OF coal
was shifted and her cargo ports were
| opened so that she would more readily
/ fill when the time came to cut her an
Choir lashings. open the sea cocks and
torpedo her bulkheads.
The work was not completed until
after 4 o'clock Thursday morning, but
with the sky paling in the east Lieut..
Hobson headed in on his desperate
mission. On board the ships of the fleet
picketed about the entrance every OIL
Ger and man, With many warm heart
beats for their brave comrades awaited
the issue with eyes anXiously fixed on
the jutting headlands that marked the
entrance of the harbor.
But as the Merrimac steamed for
ward. Rear Admiral Sampson. pacing
the deck of the flagship. looked at his
watch and at the appearance of the
strcaks in the east. decided that the
! Merrimac could not reach the entrance
before broad day light. Consequently
The torpedo boat Porter. which was
alongside was dispatched to recall the
daring officer.
Lieut. Hobson sent back a protest
With a request for permission to pro-
coed. But the admiral declined to al
low him to take the risk and slowly the
Merrmac swung about.
During the day Lieut. Hobs0n Went
aboard the lightship. His once white duck
trousers were as black as a coal HEAVIER :
his old fatigue coat was uuhuttOncd and
his begrimmed face was deeply furrowed
by tense drawn lines, hut steady rcsolu-
ton still shonc in his eyes.
yy1.. he. b. task ahead q
him. that. unmindfu of his appearance
and of all ceremony and naval etiquette
he told the admiral in a tone of command
that he must not again be intcrefcrct
with.
Il can carry this thing through"
said he. but there must be no more
recalls. My men have been keyed up
for "A hours and under tremendous
strain. Iron will break at last
Such was the indomtablc will ana cour,
agr with which he faced death and glory
When Hobson left the ship ANA the eH.
tended hands Of his shipmatcs. more thar
one Of the latter turned hastily to hide
the unbiddcn tears. The lieutenant
waved them adieu with smile on hi.
handsome face.
This morning. the Merrimac started
shortly after 3 O'Clock. The fun moor
had disappeared behind a black clout
banked IN the west, leaving only a gray
mark of hcaVng waters and the dim out
line of the Cuban hills showing agains
the linstarred sky to the watchers OF
board the ships of the feet. 1t was tina
calm hour before dawn when life is Il
its lowest chb and the tide runs out. car
rying the lives Of mortals with it.
Slowly the seconds of fate licked on as
for an hour. 5000 strained eyes stroVc Il
pierce the deep veil of night.
Suddenly several blood-red tongues o
fame shot down on the rocky cmincnC
on which MORO Castle is situated. The!
Were followed by jets and streams of fir
from the batteries opposite. The Mcrri
mac had reached the entrance of the har
Dor She must have passed so close tina
d stone loosened in the parapct OF tn
castle would have fallen on her deck.
Into the murderous hail showered down
upon her, the Merrimac passed and movet
on Il full quarter of Il mile 1t seems
miracle that her apparently riddled hui
could have reached the goal. After iiv
minutes the firing ceased and all again