The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-07-13
HoBsoN ON THE MERRIMAc.
He Tells the Story of the Kerrimac's Fa-
nous Trip.

Kingston, July S. 9l5 p. m.-The return
Of Assistant Naval Constructor Richmond
P. Hobson, of Merrimac fame, TO his ship,
the flagship New York, last night was
marked by wild enthusiasm.
Hobson sat once more among his mess
mates and told the story ofhis experience,
his marvellous escape and his imprison-
ment in MORO Castle, watching the shells
explode outside his cell under murder
Gus fire.
i did not miss the entrance to the har-
bor," he said, las Ensign Powell in the
launch supposed. 1 headed east until 1
got my bearings, then ms de for it, straight
IN. Then came the firing. 1t was grand,
flashing out first from on side of the har-
Dor and then from the other, from those
big 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 soon lined the foot
OF the cliffs. firing wildly across and kill
ing each other with the crossfire. The
Merrimac's steering gear broke as she
got TO Estrella point Only three of the
torpeaoes ON her side exploded when 1
touched the button. A huge submarine
mine caught her fnli arnidship. hurting
the water high in the air and tearing a
gi eat rent in the Msarilnac's side.
Her stern ran UP Estrella point. Chief
iy owing TO the work done by the mine.
she began to sink slowly. At that time
she was across the channel, but before
she settled the tide drifted her around.
we were all aft. lying on the deck. Shells
and lullets whistled around. Six-iuch
shells from the Vizcsy va came tearing into
the Merrimac, crashing into wood and
iron and passing clear through. while the
plnnging 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 were not killed. az
the shells raire &c over us and minutes he
came hours OF suspense. The mems
mouths grew parched, bat we must lie
there tili daylight, / told them. Now s.nd
again one or the other of the men ly pg
with his face gtled to the deck and W n
dering whsther, the next shell would not
come our way, would say:
- Had not we better drop off now, SIR
And said: Wait till daylight,
II would have been impossible to get
the catams.rs anywhere bat to the shore
where the sc ldiers stood shooting, and L
hoped that ty dsyligh we might be rec
ognized and saved. The grand old Mer-
rimac kept sinking. l wanted to go for
ward and see the damage done there
where nessrly all thu fire was directed,
but one man said tina : if rose it would
ORA" all the fire on the rest. So lay
motIonless- 1t was 81 'lendid the way these
ine;S behaved. The fire of the soldiers.
the batteries and the Vizcaya was awful
" hen the water CAME upon the Merri-
macs decks the catss naran was cut loose
from the wrecllage, b at she was still made
iSst to the b"om and we caught mold of
the edge and elung on. our heads only be-
ing above water.
'H)ne man thought 'e were 3 Ifer right
there: IL was quite ligi 1t the firing had
ceAsed except that ut the New York's
launch and feared f 1sign Powell and
his ,nsn had been kiIle 4.
"A Spanish launch came toward the
Me'rnnac. We agreed to capture her and
run Just as she camet lose the Sp:yniards
saw as aud half dozes marines Jumped
up and pointed their ri fies at our heads.
Is there any officer in that boat TO receive
a surrender of prisoner of War; shout
ed. An old man leaned out under the
awning and waved his hand. 1t was Ad-
miral Cervera. The marines lowered
their rifles aud we wen helped into the
launch.
Then we were put in cells in MORO
Castle It was grand sight few days
later tn wee the bombz rdment of shells
striking md buTssing arc und FL Moro.
Then we were tasesn into Santiago. had
the eournnartial room III the barracks.
My Inen were kept prisa lers in the hos
pifal- From my w Ddow / could see the ar
nv moving and il was teri ible 70 see those
poor lads moving across u We eopen, and be-
ing shot down by the Sp sniards in the
rife pits in front o me. Yesterday the
SpsniaiNis became as polite as could lie.
knew somethin6 was con ung and then
was exchs1ged.,'