The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-07-09

fire.
81 did not miss the entrance to the har-
bor," he said. "as Ensign Powell in the
launch supposed. I headed east until I
got my bearings and then made for it
straight in. Then came the firing. It
was grand, flashing out first from one
side of the harbor and then from the
other, from those guns ON the hills, the
Vizcaya lying inside the harbor, joining
in.
Troops from Santiago had rushed
down when the news of the Merrimac's
coming was telegraphed and soldiers lined
the foot of the cliffs, firing wildly across
and killing each other with the cross fire.
The Merrimac's steering gear broke as
she got to Estrella Point. Only three of
the torpedoes on her side exploded when I
touched the button. A sub marine mine
caught her full amidships, hurting the
water high in the air, and tearing
great rent in the Merrimac's side.
Her stern ran upon Estrslla Point
Chiefly owing to the work done by the
mine she began to sink slowly. At that
time she was across the channel, but be-
fore she settled the tide drifted her
around. We were all aft, lying on the
deck. Shells and bullets whlstled around.
Six inch shells from the Vizcaya came
tearing into the Merrinao, crashing into
the wood and iron, passing clear through,
while the plunging shots from the fort
broke through her decks.
Not man must move said, and it
was only owing to the splendid discipline
of the men that we all ware not killed as
the shells rained over US and minutes be-
came hours of suspense. The mems
mouths became parched, but we must lie
there till daylight told them. Now and
again, one or the other Of the men, lying
with his face glued to the deck and
wondering whether the next shell would
not me our way, would say: Hadn't
we better drop off no W, sir?' But 1 said,
Wait till daylight
sit would have been impossible to get
the catamaran anywhere but to the
shore, where the soldiers stood shoe ting,
and hoped that by daylight we might be
recognized and saved. The grand old
Merrimac kept sinking. I wanted to go
forward and see the damage done there,
where nearly all the fire was directed.
One man said that if rose it would draw
all the fire on the rest. So lay motion.
less. 1t was splendid the way those men
behaved. The fire of the soldiers, the
batteries and the Vizcaya was awful
When the water came up on the Merri
macs deck the catamaran fioated amid
the wreckage, but she was still made fast
to the boom and we caught hold of the
edges and clung on, our heads only being
above water.
Zone man thought we were safer right
there; it was quite light; the firing had
ceased except that on the New York
launch and 1 feared Ensign Powell and
his men had been killed.
"a Spanish launch came toward the
Merrimac. We agreed to capture her and
run. just as she came close the Span
iards saw us and half dozen marines
jumped up pointed their rifles at our
heads sticking out of the water, Is there
any OLuC6r III bndU DOdU W IoCoIFo d sur
render of prisoners Of war; shouted.
An old man leaned out under the awning
and waved his hand. 1t WAS Admiral
Ceryera. The marines lowered the rifles
and we were helped into the launch
"Then we were put in cells in MORO
Castle. 1t was grand sight few days
latter to see the bombardment, the shells
striking and bursting around Ell Morro.
Then we were taken into Santiago. 7
had the court martial room in the bar-
racks. My men were kept prisoners in the
hospital. From my window could see
the army moving and it was terrible to
see those poor lads moving across the
open and being shot down by the Span.
iards in rifle pits in front of u.s."
Yesterday the Spaniards became as
polite as could be, knew something was
coming and then was exchanged"
Hobson was overjoyed at getting back.
He looked well, though somewhat worn.