The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-07-13
H0BSON'S STORY
Of the Sinking of the Steamer
Merrimac.
HIS THRILLING EXPERIENCES.
Splendid Discipline of His Men. His
Marvellous Escape and Surrender to
Cervera. Imprisonment in Moro
Castle.

Cervera. Imprisonment in Moro
Castle.
\ dispatch says the return of Assist
ant Naval Constructor Richmond P.
Hobson. Of Mcrrimac fame, to his ship.
the flagship New York, Friday night,
off Santiago harbor, was marked by wild
enthusiasm. II was dark when shout
was passed along the ship that Hobsou
was coming. On the superstructure
clambered the crew, ten deep, and on
the quarterback the officers clustered
around the sea ladder. and hundred
hands We're stretched out to grasp Hob
sons. 1t was not until he was safe
once more on deck that the crew of the
New York cheered, and then they
broke out into a wild yell, which was
repeated over and over again until the
men were hoarse. Numbers of the men
rushed on the quarterback and great
group OF men struggled around the tall
figure Of the man who had dared so
much.
Behind Hobson came Colonel John
Jacob Astor, and the first thing Hob
son tried to do was to introduce him to
the officers. but Col. Astor got lost in
the crowd, which surged around, insist
ing upon shaking Hobson's hand The
transports blew their whistles. Hobson
sat once more among his messmates and
told the story of his experience, his
marvellous escape and his imprisonment
in Moro Castle, watching the shells
explode outside his cell.
HoBsoN's STORY.
Il did not miss the entrance to the
harbor,' he said, as Ensign Powell,
in the launch supposed. Iheaded east
until | got my bearings and then made
for it, straight in. Then came the fir
ing. 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
harbor, joining in.
Troops from Santiago had rushed
down when the news of the Merri-
macs coming was telegraphed and
soldiers lined the foot of the cliffs, ir-
ing wildly across and killing each
other with the cross-ire. The Merri
macs steering gear broke as she got
to Estrella Point Only three Of the
torpedoes on her side exploded when
| touched the button. a huge sub
marine mine caught her full amid
ships, hurting the water high in the air
and tearing great rent in the Merrl-.
macs side.
Her stern ran upon 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. Six-inch shells from the
Vizcaya came tearing into the Merri-
mac, crashing into wood and iron and
passing clear through, while the plung-
ing 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 were not
all killed as the shells rained over lis
and minutes became hours Of sus-
pense. The mems mouths grew parch-
ed, 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 ngwheth-
er the next she'll would not come our
way, would say: Hadn't we better
| drop off now. sir" but | said wait till
daylight.
1t would have been impossible to
get the catamaran anywhere but to the
shore where the soldiers stood shoot
ing, and hoped that by daylight we
might be recognized and saved. The
grand old Merrimac kept sinking. |
wanted to go forward and see the dam
age done there, where nearly all the
fire was directed, but one man said if |
rose it would draw all the fire on the
rest. SO | lay motionless. 1t was
splendid the way these men behaved.
The fire Of the soldiers, the batteries
and the Eizcaya was awful. When the
water came up on the Merrimacs IS decks,
the catamaran foated amid the wreck
age. but was still made fast to the
boom, and we caught hold Of the edge
and clung on. our heads being above
water.
,One man thought we were safer
right there: it was quite light, the firing
had ceased except that directed at the
New York launch. and | feared Ensign
Powell and his men had been killed. A
Spanish launch came toward the Merri-
mac. We agreed to capture her and
run. Just as she came close the Span
irds saw us. and half dozen marines
jumped up and pointed theirrlhes at our
heads.
Is there any officer in that boat to
receive asurrcndcrof prisoners Of war;"
| shouted. An old man leaned out
under the awning and waved his hand.
1t was Admiral Ccrvcra The marines
lowered their rifles, and VIC were helped
into the launch. Then we were put in
cells in Moro Castle
1t was a grand sight few days la
ter to sec the bombardmcnt, the shells
striking aud bursting around Fl MORO:
Then we were taken into Santiago. |
had the courtmartial room in the bar
racks Ny laen were kept prisoners IN
the hospital From my window | could
see the army moving. and twas terri
bic to see those poor lads across the
open and being shot down by the Span
iards in the rife pits in front Of me.
Thursday the Sp&niaras became as po-
lite as could be- | knew something
was coming, and then was exchanged.
Mr.. SneIgrove Declines.
o-ro