Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-07-14
HObSOn Tells About the
Sinking of the
MerrimaC.
Went UnsCathed Through
VeritabIe Rain of
Shells.
Admiral Cervera Himself
Pulled Heroes From
the Water.
Copyrighted by Associated Press.

Off Santiago de Cuba, Thursday, by
Associated Press Boat Dauntless, via
Port Antonio, July 9.-The return of
Assistant Naval Constructor Richard
P. Hobson, of Merrimac fame, to his
ship, the flagship New York, last night,
was marked with wild enthusiasm. 1t
was dark when a shout was passed
along the ship that Hobson was COM
ing. On the superstructure the crew
clambered, ten deep, and on the quar-
ter deck the officers clustered around
the ladder and hundreds of hands
were stretched out to grasp Hobson's.
1t was not until he was safe on deck
that the crew of the New York
cheered, then 1t broke out into a wild
yell which went up over aud over
again until the men were hoarse.
A number of the crew were on the
quarter deck and the men struggled
around the tall figure of the man who
had dared so much.
Hobson sat among his messmates
and told the story of his experience,
and of his escape and imprisonment in
,, Moro castle and of watching the
shells explode outside his cell under
the murderous fire.
Il did not miss the entrance to the
harbor, he said, ''as Ensign Powell in
the launch supposed. l headed east
until 1 got 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
harbor joining in. The troops from
Santiago had rushed down when they
saw the Merrimac coming and the
soldiers lined the foot of the cliffs
firing wildly across and killing each
other with a crosS-fire. The Merri-
macs steering gear broke as she got
to Estrella point. Only three torpe-
| does ON her side exploded when !
touched the button. A huge sub
marine mine caught her full amid
ship, hurting the water high in the
air and tearing a great rent in the
Merrimac's side. Her stern ran upon
Estrella point, chiefly owing to the
work done by the mine and 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 bull
let's whistled around. Six-incb
shells from the Vizcaya came tearing
into MORO, crashing into wood and
iron and passing clear through, while
plunging shots from the fort broke
through our decks. Not a man must
move, | said, and it was only owing
to the splendid discipline of the men
that all CT us were not killed as the
shells rained over us and minutes be-
came hours OF suspense. When the
water came upon the Merrimac's deck
catamaran fioated amid the wreck
age, but was still made fast to the
boom and we caught hold of the edge
and chung on, our heads being above
wafer. One man thought that we
were safer right there. 1t was quite
light. The firing had ceased except
that on the New York launch and l
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 Spaniards saw
Us and half dozen marines jumped
up and pointed rifles at our heads.
is there any officer in that boat to
receive surrendered prisoners of war;
/ shouted. An old man leaned out I'M
der an awning and waved his hand.
1t was Cervera. The marines lowered
! 11s,, ~ 4
the launch. Then we were put into
cells in Moro castle and later taken
to Santiago"
The young hero could not under
stand his promised exceptional promo
ton, but was oVerjoyed to learn that
the people. The crew, who came with
him, received ringing reception. ALI
are doing well.
Havana in a Bad Way.
Kingston, July 9.-The British
cruiser Talbot, which left Havana
Tuesday, arrived at Port Royal Fri
day with 20 passengers, among them
Sir Alexander GolIan. British consul
general at Havana. and Higgins, of
the British consulate there, both on
leave Of absence. Mr.. Jerome was left
in charge of the British affairs in Ha-
vana. Higgins said: The city of
Havana is quiet and there are no new
complications. The well-to-do inhab-
itants are subsisting tolerably, but
the poor are dying of starvation in
he streets. There is no -four
n Havana and no meat, while hams
Ire scarce"