The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-04
H0BSON'S DARING FEAT
STORY OF THE MERRIMAC VENTURE
AS TOLD BY THE HERO HIMSELF.
American Braves Chung to a Raft All
Night with Their Noses and Mouths
Barely Out of the Water.
New York Special to St. Louis Globe-Dem-

in this city on one of his many flying visits
which he has made since his arrival from
Santiago, related TO a small party of friends
the details of his escape from the collier
Merrimac, and of his subsequent capture
by the Spaniards.
1T was dark when we started in toward
the strait said Lieutenant Hobson in Civ
ing his narrative, land it was darker when
we got the ship into position. We all knew
that we were taking desperate chances and
in order to be unincumbered when we got
into the water, we stripped down to our
underclothing. The ship gave heave when
the charges exploded, and as she sank with
a lurch at the bow, we got over the sides.
That we got into the water is nearly all we
know of what happened in that rather
brief period. Some sprang over the ships
sides, but more than one of us was thrown
over the rail by the shock and the lurching
of the ship.
1T was our plan to escape on a cata-
maran float, which lay on the roof of the
midship house. One of the greatest dangers
of the thing was that of being caught in the
suction made by the ship as she went down,
so we tied the float to the taffrail, giving
it slack line enough, as we thought, to let
it float loose after the ship had settled into
her resting place. / swan away from the
ship as soon as I struck the water, but
could feel the eddies drawing me backward
in spite of all could do. That did not last
very long, however, and as soon as l felt
the Juggling cease, l turned and struck for
the float, which l could see dimly bobbing
up and down over the sunken hull. The
Merrimacs masts were plainly visible and
l could see the heads of my seven men as
they followed my example and made for the
float also.
ENEMY WAS QUICK.
1--WE had expected, of course, that the
Spanards would investigate the wreck, but
we had no idea that they would be at it
as quickly as they were. Before we could
get to the float several rowboats and
launches came around the bluff from inside
the harbor. They had officers on board
and armed marines as well, and they
searched the passage, rowing backward and
forward until the next morning. 1t was
only by good luck that we got to the float at
all, for they were upon us so quickly that
we had barely concealed ourselves when a
boat with quite large party on board was
right beside us, unfortunately. we thought
then, but it turned out afterward that moth
ing more fortunate than that could have
happened to us.
1.-The rope with which we had secured the
float to the ship too short to allow it
to swing freely, and when we reached 1t we
found that one of the pontoons was en-
tlrely out OF the water ana the OlneT one
was submerged. Had the raft lain fiat on
the water we could not have got under it.,
and would have had to climb up on 1t, TO
be an excellent target for the first party OF
marines that arrived AS it was, we could
get under the raft and by putting our hands
through the creviceS between the stats
which formed it's deck we could hold our
heads out of water and still be unseen.
That is what we did, and all night long we
stayed there. with our noses and mouths
barely out of water.
M
affair alive but luckily the Spaliards did
not think of the apparently damaged nalf-
sunken raft floating about beside the wreck
They came to within a cables length of US
at intervals of only few minutes all night.
We could hear their words distinctly, ana
even in the darkness could distinguish an
occasional CLINT of light on the rifle barrels
of the marines and on the lace of the Off
GERS uniforms We were afraid to speak
above a whisper, and for a good wilhelm
fact, whenever they were near us-we
breathed as easily as we could. 1 ordered
my men not to speak unless to address me,
and with one exception they obeyed.
SUFFERING IN THE WATER.
"After we had been there an hour or two
the water, which we found rather warm at
first, began to get cold, and my fingers
ached where the wocd was pressing into
them. The clouds, which were running be-
fore a pretty stiff breeze when we went in,
blew over, and then by the starlight we
could see the boats when they came out of
the shadows of the cliffs on either side, and
even when we could not see them we knew
that they were still near, because we could
hear very plainly the splash of the oars and
the grinding of the oarlooks.
our teeth began to chatter before very
long, and l was in constant fear that the
SpaniardS would near us when they came
close: 1t was SO still then that the chatter
mer, but the Spaniards' ears were not
sharp enough to hear it. We would hear
sounds from the shore almost as distinctly
to the surface of the water, which is an
excellent conductor. and the voices of the
men in the boats sounded as clear as a
bell. My men tried to keep their teeth STILL
but 1T was hard work, and not attended
with any great success at the best
we all knew that we would be shot If
discovered by an ordinary seaman or a ma
rine, and ordered my men not to STIR as
the boats having officers on board kept we'll
in the distance. One of my men disobeyed
had to call him back. He obeyed at once,
but my voice seemed to create some COM
motion among the boats, and several of
disturbance in the water made by the man
swimming had disappeared. We thought it
was all up with us then, but the boats went
away in the shadows again.
There was much specializing among the
Spaniards as to what the ship was and
what we intended to do first. l could I'M
from what l heard that the officers had
taken in the situation at once, but were as
founded at the audacity of the thing. The
boats, l also learned, were from the fleet
and felt better. because had more faith
in Spanish sailor than had in the Span
iSh soldier.
THE CAPTURE.
when daylight came steam launch full
of officers and marines came out from be-
hind the Cliff that hid the fleet and harbor
and advanced towards us. All the men on
board were looking curiously in our direc-
ton. They did not see us. Knowing that
some one of rank must be on board I
waited until the launch was quite close and
hailed her. My voice produced the utmost
CONSERVATION on board. Every one sprang
up. the marines crowded to the bow, and
the launch's engines were reversed. She
nearly a quarter of mile away, where she
stayed. The marines stood ready to fire at
the word of command, when we clambered
out from under the float. There were ten
in minute had they not been restrained.
Il swan toward the launch, and then she
started toward me I called out in Spanish
rs there an officer on board?"
An officer answered in the affirmative,
and then l shouted in Spanish again, I
have seven men to surrender / continued
swimming, and when / reached the side of
the launch / was seized and pulled out of
the water
LAS looked up. when they were dragging
me into the launch / saw that 1t was Admit
raj Cervera himself who had hold of me.
He looked at me rather obviously al first.
because ] had been down in the engine
rooms Of the Merrimac. where / got covered
with oil, and that, with the SCOT and coal
dust, made my appearance most disreputa-
BILE I had put on my officers belt before
cin ho n