The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-07-08

WY bhe men they need not obey HobSon' S
u VI as he was only lieutenant. But
I n,en ot 4a Of the battery prevented the
E lIen from firing the guns, as the
opa 4a ar might have mistaken the re-
post n-i ior me opening of an attack.
a sSlsGant Naval Constructor Hobson
hnalIy reached General Wheeler's head
quarters Where the veteran cavalryman
anu oVher oIlcers gave him q warm well
come. by this time Captain Chadwick
Of the New York, and the naval escort
from the flagship had reached Hobson
and his men; and they were the first per-
sons with whom the rescued prisoners
had any previous acquaintance whom
they had met since they entered Santiago
harbor ON their perilous mission. Can't
Chadwick and all the Others took each
man by the hand and extended the
heartiest greetings
The escort had brought a change of
clothing, including new uniforms for
Hobson and his men and the latter were
given a short respite while they changed
their apparel. Hobson was also given a
horse to ride over the trail to Jaruauay
and his men were placed in an army
ambulance
Before leaving for the sea coast Hobson
was taken to General Skaters head
quarters and warmly greeted by the com
manding general.
The correspondent of the Associated
L lSSS dShou I1OtJSOu lux al interview and
statement as to his experiences on the
memorable night when he took tho col
ller Merrimac into Santiago harbor. He
declined to say anything with regard to
the Merrimac on the ground that he in
tended to submit a complete report to
Admiral Sampson on the subject and that
it would be outside the line of his duty
to say anything about the sinking of the
Alerrimao until after he had made such
report or at least had an opportunity to
consult the admiral. He could not be in
duced to say anything on the subject, but
with regard to his experiences as q pris-
oner 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 uncomfortable and dis
agreeable days. The Spaniards did not
exactly ill-treat us, but it took them some
time to recover from the shocks caused
by what most of them considered our
Yankee impudence in trying to block
their harbor.
GAS rule the officers and men who
came into contact with US were gruff in
speech and sullen in manner. There were
many threatening glancen in our direc-
tion. For Admiral Cervera have moth
ing but the highest admiration and per-
sonal regard.
4" His act in informing Admiral Samp-
son of our safety, l regard as that of a
kind-hearted, generous man and chiVal-
rous officer. expressed to him my sin
cere 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 history,
though l am sure we were not entitled to
Jne commentator we received, for there
were hundreds of other men Oh the 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 re-
moved to the Reina Mercedes hospital
on the outskirts of Santiago, where we
remained until today. We knew but
little of what was going on in the city,
though OF course we could always tell
when our fleet was bombarding the shore
batteries and We could easily distinguish
the terrific explosions caused by the We
suvius throwing dynamite shells. Sew
eral times at night we were fully aware
that the land batteries were fighting out
side the city. Last Friday and Saturday
it would be difficult to explain h6tT anx-
ious we were for news of the success of
our side during the engagements. The
little information the Spaniards would
give us COuIu IJOU D0 TGll6u uEOD.
lone thing found out in the hospital
was that a large number of Spanish Off
GERS were wounded i'll last Fridays fight,
for many were brought to the hospital to
be treated. Numbers Of badly aimed bull
let's came into the hospital windows on
Friday, but I do not believe anyone was
injured by them. Our quarters were very
clean and comfortable and the food was
fairly good. In fact have no reason to
complain of our treatment as prisoners of
war. The prejudice which the Spaniards
showed against lis during the first few
days soon wore away. We conducted our
selves properly and simply forced them to
treat us we'll.
we knew nothing about the destr NC
tion of Admiral Cervera's feet until told
by our own people today. OF course
our confinement became very irksome and
I cannot tell you how great was the relief
we felt to be free again. l cannot express
my gratitude so our soldiers who gave
US such welcome when we came into
the lines. All of us are in excellent
health and glad to. go back to our boats
again and see the war through to the
end"
Hobson proved himself to be as good a
horseman as he is sailor. The IL miles
gallop from the front to Jerugua was
made very quickly, though owing to the
delay in leaving Gen. Skaters head
quarters, it was dusk before he arrived on
the beach and took the boat to go on the
flagship.