The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-06
HOBSON a HERO.
Concluded from First pa.e

let him go, but the latter thought he had
better not.
BRAVE MEN READY TO CRY.
When it was learned that only six men
and Lieutenant Hobson were to go there
was considerable disappointment on all
sides, and when the New York's contingent
went over the side late on Wednesday night
some of those who were left were almost
ready to sit down and cry. All Wednesday
night the crews worked aboard the Merri-
mac, which then lay close to the New York
The other ships as they passed the collier
before shutdown cheered her with the same
spirit that the British men-of-war's men
cheered the American sailors heroism at
Samoa. Lieutenant Hobson paid short
visit to the flagship shortly before midnight,
and then returned to the Merrimac on
board Of which craft he had peen all day
AS he started down the sea ladder there
were many hands stretched out to grasp
his and many quiet-spoken, earnest wishes
for his success, as it was thought then that
Hobson would take the Merrimac early yes
terday morning.
At o'clock the admiral and Flag Lieu
tenant Staunton got into the launch to make
an inspection of the Merrimac The work.
ing gangs were still Oh board of her, and
on board the New York the officers of the
flagship stood on the quarter deck their
glasses focused on the big black hull that
was to form an impossible obstacle for
SPANS best ships. The minutes slipped by
the crews had not completed their work on
the Merrimac, but at last a boatload of
men, black and tired out, came over to the
flagship. Last of all at 4:30 o'clock came
the admiral. He had been delayed by the
breakdown of the steam launch. Dawn was
breaking over Santiago de Cuba, and nearly
everybody thought it was too late for the
attempt to be made. Then somebody's said
He's going in" Surely enough the SEEM
ingly deserted collier was seen heading
straight for Moro Castle.
The torpedo boat Porter was lying near
the flagship, and at the admiral's order
Lieutenant Stanton snatched up the mega
phone and hailed the Porter, saying: "Por-
ter, there, tell the Merrimac to return i'm
| mediately' Smoke quickly poured from
the Porter's smokestackS and the dark lit
tie craft darted toward the shore. BY that
| time darkness had quite disappeared, and,
quickly, as the fast torpedo boat tore
through the water, it seemed if she could
never head off the Merrimac. AT last, when
within range of the guns of the Spaniards,
the Porter crossed the Merrimac's bows a
ers for they thought it sure death for Hob
son to venture in at that hour.
Some time after o'clock the Porter came
tearing back and the Merrimac, to every
ones surprise, kept her position. Admiral
Sampson Captain Chadwick and Lieutenant
Staunton could not understand until Lieut..
Fremont from the deck of the torpedo boat,
shouted: Lieutenant Hobson asks permits
sion to continue on his course He thinks
he can make it,
HOBSON HAD TO WAIT.
But in stern tones the admiral sent Hob
son message to the effect that the Merri-
mac 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 lieutenant commander of the
Porter Hobson's figure standing out wildly
on the lonely bridge of the Merrimac. All
day the collier lay near the flagship and
more elaborate preparations were made to
carry out the mission of the Merrimac sue
cessfully. During these preparations Hob
son was tireless, cool and confident, super
vising personally every little detail.
When finally Hobson went on board the
Merrimac last night he had been without
sleep since Wednesday morning. His uni
form was begrimed his hands were black
and he looked like a man who had been
hard at work in and about engine room
for long time. AS he said goodbye the
lieutenant remarked that his only regret
was that all of the New York's volunteers
could not go with him.
Rear Admiral Sampson, speaking of the
| expedition, said Il think he will have a
fair chance to get out. Yes, it is plucky,
very plucky.'
| When the Merrimac started yesterday
morning for the trip rom which she was
| recalled she had on board of her two men
who had no right to be theres 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 disobedience was of the
nature which produced Cushings and Far
raguts for the American navy. 1t was not
officially recognized. The spirit shown by
| the men and officers of the feet in connec-
tion with the Merrimac expedition Is really