The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-06-08
sure death for Hobson to venture in at

II sure death 1or ROBSON TO venture In at
te s9s TINS The Porter came
0n xdm 5n1PT ssmI kept her RGs9
Lieut.. Staunton could not understand until
Lieut.. Fremont from the deck Of the tor
peao boat shouted: Lieut.; Hobson asks
thinks he can make It.
But In stern terms the admiral sent Hob
son message to the effect that the Mer-
rimac must return at once and in due
course OF time the doomed collier slowly
steamed back her commander evidently
disappointed with the order received from
the admiral through the commander of the
Porter, Hobsons figure standing out wildly
All day yesterday the collier lay near the
flagship and more elaborate preparations
we're made to carry out the mission Of the
arations Hobson was tireless, cool and con-
hdent, supervising personally every little
detail.
When finally Hobson went on board the
Merrimac last night he had been without
sleep since Wednesday morning. His uni
and he looked like a man who had been
hard at work In an engine room for long
Se Only the ~as
Of the New York's volunteers could not go
SAMPSON CALLED 1T "PLuCKY,"
Rear Admiral Sampson. speaking Of the
Il think he will have fair chance to
When the Merrimac started yesterday
morning on the trip for which she was re-
aa she had se Of her bo
Assistant Engineer Crank. of the Merrimac
and Boatswain Muliin, of the New York
who had been working on the collier all
These two men refused to leave the ship,
and as their disobedience was Of the nature
1or the American navy. 1t was not officially
recognized.
of the fleet in connection with the Merri-
being merely expressed in words. Under
these circumstances one can imagine the
immense feeling of satisfaction 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 Capt Oveido,
the chief of staff of Admiral Cervera,
admiral that the whole Of the party had
been captured, and that only two of them
had been injured. Hobson had not been in
was so struck with the courage of the Mer-
rimac's crew that he decided to inform
Admiral Sampson that they had not lost
could be exchanged.
The dingy part of the program was not
she may have been smashed by a shot,
for 1t 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 precaution. They
were captured and sent to Santiago under
guard previous to being transferred to
MORO castle, where they are now under
stood to be confined.
Money and provisions were sent to the
believed Rear Admiral Sampson is taking
the steps necessary to bring about their ex-
change.
ENTHUSIASTIC MARINES.
The fleet tonight is in state of delighted
enthusiasm. and the admiral is as happy as
the the young sailor The general opinion is
personal bravery more than does Lieut..
see Lieut.. Hobson before his start, and
who had charge of the launch during it's
perilous trip. after, much-needed sleep
was was asked to tell the story of his expert
Lieut.. Hobson took short sleep for
a quarter to two he came on board GARD and
instruction Then we had little Ki lunch. Hob
2:3o o'clock I took the men who were not
going on the trip into the launch and
had to go the Back or the Of be
engineers whom Hohson finally compelled to
leaye IL shock h PoSs with Hob s last
crew when we'll out Of the harbor. we will
be cracks rowing thirty strokes to the
After leaving the Texas I saw the Mer-
~ dark then and the shore was quite WISH
mile to the westward Of the harbor and
around and finally. heading to the east,
she ran down and then turned in. We were
then chasing him, because l thought Hob
son 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 half mile off shore and
nearing the batteries.
The firing increased rapidly. We steamed
slowly and lost sight of the Merrimac in
the smoke which was carried off shore
Before Hobson could have blown up the
Merrimac the western battery picked us up
and commenced firing. They shot wild, how
still closer to the shore and the gum
lost sight of us. Then we heard the
explosion Of the torpedeos or the Merrimac.
Until daylight we waited just outside the
breakers, half mile to the westward Of
Morro keeping a sharp. lookout for the
boat for swimmers but saw nothing.
Hobson had arranged 20 meet us at that
drifted out we crossed in front Of MORO,
and the mouth of the harbor to the east
ward.
At about o'clock we crossed the harbor
again, within a quarter of mile and stood
to the westward. In passing we saw one spar
Of the Merrimac sticking out of the water.
We Rugged the shore just outside the
wards the Texas when the batteries saw
us and opened fire. It was then broad day
light. The first shot fired dropped 30 yards
astern, but the other shots went wild.
Il drove the launch for al! she was worth.
finally making the New York. The lnen be.
haved splendidly."