Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-07-14
RICHMOND T. H0BSON.

George \. Phillips, machinist; John
Kelly, water tender: George Charette,
II gunner's mate; Daniel Montague,
seaman; ]. c. McMurphy, coxswain,
and Randolph Clausen, coxswain.
The correspondent Of the Associated
press asked Hobson for an interview
and statement as to his experiences on
the memorable night when he took
the collier Merrimac into Santiago
harbor He declined to say anything
with regard to the Merrimac on the
ground that he intended to submit a
complete report to Admiral Sampson
on the subject, and that it would be
outside the line OF his duty to say any
thing until after he had made such
report or at least had an opportunity
to consult the admiral. With regard
TO his experiences as prisoner Of war
In Santiago he said
During the first four days we were prisoners
Of war we were confined In Moro castle, and
] can assure you those were extremely uncom-
Portable md dlsagreeable days The Spaniards
did not exactly ill-treat u.s. but 1t took them
some time TO recover from the shock caused
by what most OF them considered our Yankee
impudence In trying to block their harbor As
q rule, the officers and men who came into con-
tact with us were gruff In speech and sullen In
Thnrn thrautnui I'M
gances shot In our direction For Admiral
Cervera ] have nothing but the high
est admiration. His act In informing ADJ
mral Sampson Of our safety regard as that
OF q klnd-hearted generous man and chival-
rous oillcer | expressed to him my sincere
thanks and the thanks Of my men for taking
this means of relieving the anxiety of our ship
mates and our friends at home He repeatedly
spoke to me Of his admiration Of what he
called one Of the most daring acts In naval his
tory, though am sure we were not entitled to
the commendaton we received, for there were
hundreds OF other men on our ships who would
have been glad to undertake to do the same
thing
While we were In Moro castle we were naval
prisoners, but at the end Of four days we were
transferred to the jurisdiction Of the army and
were removed to the Relna Mercedes hospital
on the outskirts of Santiago, where we re-
manned until to-day We knew but little of
what was going on in the city, though of course
we could always tell when our fleet was bonn
harding the shore batteries and we could easily
distinguish the terrific explosions caused by the
NeSuvlus throwing dynamite shells Several
times at night we were also fully aware that
the land batteries were fighting outside the
city, have no reason TO complain OF our
treatment as prisoners Of war The preju-
dice which the Spaniards showed against
us during the first few days soon wore away
We conducted ourselves properly and simply
forced them to trent us well We knew moth
Ing about the destruction of Admiral Cervera's
squadron until told by our own people to-day
or course our confinement became very irk-
some and cannot tell you how great was the
relief we felt to be free again | cannot ex-
press my gratitude to our soldiers who gave us
such welcome when we came into the lines,
All OF us are In excellent health and glad to
get back to our posts again and see the war
through to the end.
Hobson and his men were escorted
through the American lines by Capt.
Chadwick, of the New York, who was
waiting them. Every step OF their
journey was marked by the widest
demonstrations on the part of the
American soldiers. The same scenes
OF enthusiasm were repeated upon the
arrival of the men at the hospital sta
ton and at our base at Juragua. Hob.
son, who reached there in advance of
his companions, was taken on board
the New York Immediately. The
tagships decks were lined with
officers and men, and as Hobson
clambered up her side and stepped on
board his vessel, the harbor rang with
the shouts and cheers of his comrades,
which were re-echoed by the crews of
dozen transports ly ing near by.