Surely enough, the seemingly deserted collier was seen heading straight for Morro Castle. A few moments later, however, she was recalled by Admiral Sampson, who thought it sure death for Hobson to venture in at that hour. The _Merrimac_ did not return at once. Word came back: “Lieutenant Hobson asks permission to continue on his course. He thinks he can make it.” The admiral sent Hobson a message to the effect that the _Merrimac_ must return at once, and in due course of time the doomed collier slowly steamed back, her commander evidently disappointed with the order. All day Thursday the collier lay near the flag-ship, and more elaborate preparations were made to carry out the mission of the _Merrimac_ successfully. During these preparations Hobson was cool and confident, supervising personally every little detail. When, finally, he went on board the _Merrimac_ Thursday night, he had been without sleep since Wednesday morning. His uniform was begrimed, his hands were black, and he looked like a man who had been hard at work in and about an engine-room for a long time. As he said good-bye, the lieutenant remarked that his only regret was that all of the _New York’s_ volunteers could not go with him. _June 3._ The hazardous voyage was begun at three o’clock Friday morning. The _Merrimac_ was lying to the westward. Under cover of the clouds over the moon, she stole in toward the coast and made her way to the eastward, followed by a steam launch from the _New York_, with the following crew on board: Naval Cadet J. W. Powell, of Oswego, N. Y.; P. K. Peterson, coxswain; H. Handford, apprentice of the first class; J. Mullings, coal passer; G. L. Russell, machinist of the second class. In the launch were bandages and appliances for the wounded. From the crowded decks of the _New York_ nothing could be seen of the _Merrimac_ after she got under the shadow of the hills. For half an hour officers and men strained their eyes peering into the gloom, when, suddenly, the flash of a gun streamed out from Morro Castle, and then all on board the _New York_ knew the _Merrimac_ was nearing her end. The guns from the Spanish battery opposite Morro Castle answered quickly with more flashes, and for about twenty minutes tongues of fire seemed to leap across the harbour entrance. The flag-ship was too far away to hear the reports, and when the firing ceased it was judged that Hobson had blown up the _Merrimac_. [Illustration: U. S. S. NEW YORK.] During an hour the anxious watchers waited for daylight. Rear-Admiral Sampson and Captain Chadwick were on the bridge of the _New York_ during the entire time. At five o’clock thin streams of smoke were seen against the western shore, quite close to the Spanish batteries, and strong glasses made out the launch of the _New York_ returning to the flag-ship.