The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-07-22
HOBSON is HERE.
The Merrimac Hero on His
Way to Washington
The Spanish Wrecks.


NEW YORK, July p, 1S9S.-Naval Con-
structor Hobson of Merrimac fame,
reached port this morning on the Z. 5.
cruiser St. Paul Hobsom left the St.
Paul to TompKinsville and took the Staten
Island ferryboat for New York, where he
arrived at 9:45 this morning He was ac-
companied by two men, who carried sew
eral hand bags, and the party at once
took carriages, and 1t is presumed pro-
ceeded at once to Washington by way Of
the Pennsylvania Railroad. 1t is possible
that Hobson is the bearer of Sanpaon's
report of the naval engagement OIL San
tiago.
When Hobson left the ferryboat at the
foot of Whitehall street it took but a few
crowd soon gathered and cheered the
young hero of Santiago Bay.
Lieutenant Hobson started for Washing
ton on the train which left the Pennsyl-
vaina Railroad station in Jersey City at
1924 this morning.
Mr. Hobson drove from the Staten Is
land ferry to the Courtlandt street ferry
in a cab. He had hardly stepped out of
it when the Negro porter who seized on
his portmanteau found out who he was.
Then he ran up to him, and, with his
free hand outstretched, he said
I'D like to shake your hand, sir.
Hobson shook his hand good naturally.
Lieut.. Hobson didn't care to talk very
much on the way to his train, but he
said a few things. He settled the question
as to the order in which the Spanish ships
came out of the harbor ON that Sunday
| morning
First came the Maria Teresa" he said,
then the Oquenda then the Colon, and
then the vizeaya. The torpedo boat de-
stroyers came out last of all.
.sOfs course I did not see the battle" he
continued, because was then in prison
| in Santiago but / knew pretty well what
was going on at the time.
.Did you know beforehand that the
ships were going to try to get out of the
harbor and past our vessels?" he was
asked
well, he replied, they didn't let me
| have any too much idea of what was go
| ing to happen In fact, they kept all the
news that they could from me, but of
| course we heard some few things, and
| there may have been an idea among us
| that something desperate was about to
| happen
How were you treated while you were
| in prison?r he was then asked.
Admiral Cervera could not have been
nicer to me if had been his own dear
| friend He is fine old gentleman, and
| hope to be able to see MIN Whlle am
here. l have heard that he Is at the
| Naval Academy, and | would ike 10 see
| him very much, indeed
Lieut.. Hebson was then asked about his
| adventure with the Merrimac In the mar
| Dor at Santiago.
II have not vet made my report on that
| 70 headeuarters," he said, land so, OF
| course. I cannot talk about what | DID
at present But you nave neaId me story OF,
| .yet down to it, The details have been
! sent to you very fully 1 have not even
| had time to make my report as yet, put
/ hone TO be able to find time 10 GO SO Whhe
/ / am in Washington
Refore the ferryboat landed on this
| side there was a crowd around the young
/ centre of a scene similar 70 tha- Waich
| was enacted upon his arrival at the Bat
| terry. -.
| nbiect In going TO Washington Was TO
| urge that more haste be made III the el-
! fort to save the Crstobal Colon and the
| Maria Teresa He said he did ROT think
! thar much could be done with the Viz
/ seava and the Oquendo, which seem 70 be
| hopelessly shattered. but that the Colon
! and Teresa were still In fairly good e9Ii-
! dition and could be saved If the Govern
1nent would go about the matter with
| haste Both OF those warships, ne "a
| were resting easily when ne lett SAN
| tiago on last Sunday. but he was AFRAID
| that before the wreckers could get to
| work some storm might arise a1d make
| ne task Of raising the ships hopeless
Lieut.. H0bson is very slight in build
| ana is about 5 feet 10 inches tall. His
/ eyes are brown and well set IN his head
| When he talks he has the habit of squint-
| ing his eyes and looking at one as II
! from distance. His clothes showed the