The Republican., 1898-06-09

dSheu W De dllOWeU TO execute 1t nlIn-
self. 1t seemed certain death and al
most certain failure, as the odds were
overwhelmingly against reaching the
entrance before discovery; but Hob
son was so enthusiastic that his con-
fidence was infections, and the ad-
miral finally reluctantly gave his con-
sent
Wouldn't Die Under False CoIors.
Lieut.. Hobson's chief anxiety was
that in the dark he might miss the
narrow channel and run on the shoals
at the west of the entrance. To pre-
vent the possibility of this the plan of
allowing the Merrimac to run in un-
der the Spanish flag with the fleet in
feigned pursuit, firing blank cartridges
and blazing the path to the harbor en-
ysrsssice with ses-sst afeisiys, was coffs1ea'
cred, but abandoned, because. among
other reasons, Lieut.. Hobson and his
volunteer crew did not want to die, if
their lives should be sacrificed, under
false colors. They wanted to go down
with the Stars and Stripes floating
proudly from the Merrimac
A Host of Volunteers.
All day Wednesday crews from the
Newly ork andBrooklyn were on board
the collier, never resting in their eff
forts to prepare her. She lay along
side the Massachusetts,, discharging
coal when the work was first begun.
The news of the intended expedition
travelled quickly through the fleet and
it soon became known that volunteers
were needed for a desperate under
taking. From the Iowa's signal ward
quickly fiuttered the announcement
that she had 140 volunteers and the
other ships were not far behind
On the New York the enthusiasm
was intense Over 200members of the
crew volunteered to go into that mar,
row harbor and face death. The iu-
nior officers almost tumbled over each
other in their eagerness to get their
names on the volunteer list.
Commander Miller, who had charge
of the Merrimac, pleaded with the ad-
miral to let him go; but the admiral
thought he had better not do so.
When it was learned that only six
men and Lieut.. Hobson were to go
there was disappointment on all sides.
As the New York's contigent went
over the side of the Merrimac Wednes-
day night some of those who were left
were almost ready. brave and strong
as they were, to sit down and cry.
Were To Start Thursday Morning.
All Wednesday night the crews
worked hard on board the Merrimac,
which then lay close to the New York.
The other ships, as they passed the
collier at sundown, cheered her.
Lieutenant Hobson paid a short
visit to the flagship a short time be-
fore midnight Wednesday and then
returned to the Merrimac, on board
which craft he had been nearly all
day. AS he started down the sea lad
der there were many hands stretched
out to reach his and many quiet
spoken, earnest wishes for his success,
as it was expected that he would take
the Merrimac in early Thurday morn
ing.
At a. III. the admiral and Flag
Lieutenant Staunton got into the
launch to make an inspection of the
Merrimac. The working gangs were
still on board of her. On board the
New York the officers of the flagship
stood on the quarterback, their glasses
focused on the big, black hull that
was to form an impossible obstacle
for Spain's best ships. The minutes
slipped by. The crews had not COM
pleted their work ON the Merrimac.
But at last boat load of men, black
and tired out, came over to the flag
ship.
Last ofall came the admiral who had
been delayed by a breakdown of the
steam launch.
Called Back The First Time.
Dawn was breaking over Santiago
de Cuba and nearly everybody
thought it was too late for the attempt
to be made that morning, then some
body cried:
'She is going inI'
Sure enough the seemingly deserted
collier was seen heading straight for
Moro Castle. The torpedo boat Por-
ter was lying near the flagship. At
the Admiral's order Lieut.. Staunton
snatched up the megaphone and hail
ed the Porter, saying:
Porter, there. Tell the Merrimac
to return immediately
Smoke quickly poured from the
Porter's smokestacks, and the dark
little craft darted toward the shore.
By that time darkness had gone,
and, quickly as the fast torpedo boat
tore through the water it seemed as
if she would never head off the Merri-
mae.