The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-09
HObSOn Tells How the Feat Was
Accomplished.
WAS SUNK ALL RIGHT
BUT THE TIDE SWUNG TIE COL
LIER AROUND.
Fearful Storm of Shells From the
Batteries and Warships-Wonder-
full Discipline of the Crew, Who
Lay On the Deck Until the Vesse.
Sunk-Rescued By Cervera.

(Corvright 1898. by the Associated PressD
Off Santiago. July s, by the Associ-
ated Press Dispatch Boat DauntlesS
(via Port Antonio and Kingston, ia
maica, July s, 9:15 a. m.)-The return
of Assistant Naval Constructor Hobson
to his ship, the flagship New York, last
night, was marked by wild enthusiasm.
Behind HobsOn came Colonel John ia
cob Aston. and the first thing Hobson
I tried to do was to introduce him to
the officers, but Colonel Astor got lost
! in the crowd which surged around, in
sisting upon shaking Hobson's hand.
/ The transports blew their whistles
When Hobson sat once more among
( his mesSmateS he told the story OF MS
experience his marvellous escape and
his Imprisonment in MORO Castle.
L did not miss the entrance TO the
harbOr," he said, ''as Ensign PoweIl,
in the launch, supposed. L headed east
until set my bearings, and then made
for it, straight in. Then came the
firing. 1t was grand, flashing out first
from one side of the harbOr and then
the other, from those big guns on the
hills, the Vizcaya, lying inside the har-
Dor. joining in.
Troops from Santiago had rushed
macs coming was telegraphed, and
soldiers lined the foot of the cliffs, fir
ing wildly across and killing eacn Oti4er
with their crOsS-fire The Merrimac'S
steering gear broke as she got to Es-
trella Point. Only three On the tOT-
pedoes on her side exploded when I
touched the button. \ huge Subma-
rine caught her full amidships. hurting
water high in the air and tearing a
great rent in the Merrimac'S side.
Her stern ran up on Estrella Point.
Chiefly 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 bullets whistled
around US. The six-inch sneits rro.L
the ViZcaya came tearing into the Mer-
rimac, crashing into wood and non
passing clear through, while the
plunging shots from the forts brol-e
through her decks.
Not man must move ! said. and
it was only owing to the splendid disci-
pline of the men that all of us were
not killed. as the shells sailed over US,
and minutes became hours of suspense.
The mems mouths grew Tarchs
we must lie there till daylight, L told
them. Now and again one o. the Ct4i14
of the men lying wits his face gU 1T
next shell would come our way. NO.
say, Hadn't we better drop off now,
sir% But I said, Wait TIL uaynght.
1T would have been impossible to
get the catamaran anywhere but to
the shore where the soldiers stood
shooting, and 1 hoped that by daylight
we might be recognized and saved.
The grand old Merrimac kept sinking.
wanted TO go forward and see the
damage done there, where nearly all
the fire was directed. but one man snId
that if 1 arose it would draw the fire
on the rest; so l lay mOuOnleSs. -
was splendid the way those men be-
haved. The fire of the soldiers. the
batteries and the ViZcaya was awful.
When the water came up on the Mer-
rimac's decks, the catamaran fiOated
amid the wreckage, but was still made
fast TO the boom, and we caught hold
IF the edge and chung on, our heads
being above water.
One man thought we were safer
light there. 1t was quite light the
1rIng had ceased, except that on the
New York launch. and I feared Ensign
Powell and his men had been killed.
A Spanish launch came toward the
Merrinac. We agreed to capture her
md run. Just as she came close the
Spaniards saw US. and half a dozen
marines jumped up and pointed their
lilies at our heads
rs there any officer in that boat
o receive a surrender of prisoners Of
var? I shouted. An old man leaned
'ver under the awning and waved his
land. 1t was Admiral Cervera- The
marines lowered their rifles and we
we're helped into the I-lnch.
Then we were put in cells in Moro
'astle. Afterward we were taken TO
1 had the court-martiaI
DOM in the barracks. Ny men were
,ept prisoners in the hospital From
ny window 1 could see the army NOV
1g across the open and being shot
own by the Spaniards in the rife pits
n front of me. The Spaniards became
s polite as could be. I knew some
hing was coming, and then 1 was ex-
hanged"
Mr.. Ramsden. the British consul at
was tireless in his efforts to
ecure comfort for Hobson and his
len Lieutenant Hobson could not
Understand his promised exceptional
romotion. but was overjoyed to learn
he news that his bravery had been
scognized by the people. He is the
anne simple, unaffected, enthusiastic
Iobson. more anxious TO talk about
ne effect of exploding shells and army
loves than about his own brave deed.
he men who came with him received
ringing reception All are doing well.