]
Admiral Cervera sent a boat out with the news that the men had been
captured, and to make arrangements for their exchange. Lieutenant
Hobson's exploit has received universal praise from all parts of the
world; he will unquestionably be promoted and receive special
distinction from the Government.
One of the young officers on the _New York_, Cadet Powell, also
displayed great bravery. He was detailed to command the _New York's_
steam launch, which accompanied the _Merrimac_ to pick up Hobson and his
men if they succeeded in escaping from the harbor; he was the last man
to see them. Speaking of the start, he said: "Hobson was as cool as a
cucumber; when I shook hands with him, he said: 'Powell, watch the
boat's crew when we pull out of the harbor. We will be cracks, rowing
thirty strokes to the minute.' We followed about three-quarters of a
mile astern of the _Merrimac_. When about two hundred yards from the
harbor the first gun was fired from the eastern bluff; we were then
about a half mile from shore. The firing increased very rapidly, and we
lost sight of the _Merrimac_ in the smoke which the wind carried off
shore. The western battery finally was used and began firing. They shot
wildly, and we did not see where the shots struck. We then ran in
closer to the shore. Then we heard the explosion of the torpedoes on the
_Merrimac_. Until daylight we waited, just outside the breakers, about
half a mile from Morro Castle, keeping a sharp lookout for a boat or
swimmers.
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