Scarcely had the small craft been sighted before a puff of smoke issued from a battery on the western arm of the harbour, and a shot plunged far over the launch. Then for fifteen minutes the big guns ashore kept up an irregular fire on the little craft. As the shells fell without hitting the object for which they were intended, the men on board the _New York_ jeered at the Spanish marksmanship, and cheered their shipmates. At 6.15 the launch came alongside the flag-ship, but she did not have on board any of the _Merrimac’s_ crew. Cadet Powell reported that he had been unable to see any of the men. It was learned that the cadet had gone directly under the batteries, and only returned when he found his efforts were useless. He also reported that he had clearly seen the _Merrimac’s_ masts sticking up just where Hobson hoped to sink her, north of the Estrella battery, and well past the guns of Morro Castle. Cadet Powell thus related the last interview he had with the officer whom it seemed certain had voluntarily gone to his death: “Lieutenant Hobson took a short sleep for a few hours, which was often interrupted. At a quarter before two he came on deck and made a final inspection, giving his last instructions. Then we had a little lunch. Hobson was as cool as a cucumber. At about half past two I took the men who were not going on the trip into the launch, and started for the _Texas_, the nearest ship, but had to go back for one of the assistant engineers, whom Hobson finally compelled to leave. I shook hands with Hobson last of all. He said: “‘Powell, watch the boat’s crew when we pull out of the harbour. We will be cracks, pulling thirty strokes to the minute.’ “After leaving the _Texas_ I saw the _Merrimac_ steaming slowly in. “It was only fairly dark then, and the shore was quite visible. We followed about three-quarters of a mile astern. The _Merrimac_ stood about a mile to the westward of the harbour, and seemed a bit mixed, turning completely around, and finally heading to the east, she ran down and then turned in. We were then chasing him because I thought Hobson had lost his bearings. “When Hobson was about two hundred yards from the harbour the first gun was fired, from the eastern bluff. We were then about half a mile offshore, and nearing the batteries. The firing increased rapidly. We steamed in slowly, and lost sight of the _Merrimac_ in the smoke which the wind carried offshore. It hung heavily. Before Hobson could have blown up the _Merrimac_ the western battery picked us up and commenced firing. They shot wild, however, and we ran in still farther to the shore until the gunners lost sight of us. Then we heard the explosion of the torpedoes on the _Merrimac_.