Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-07-13
ESTABLISHED 1855.
aMistellaneuus 8eadiag.
HOBSON TELLS HIS STORY.
All the Facts About the Sinking Of
the Merrimac.
CAPTURED BY CERVERA IN PERSON.

Shot and Shell-There Was No Oppor-
tunity to Escape-Treated Well by the
Spanish Admiral.
The return of Assistant Naval Con-
structor Richmond P. Hobson, of Mer-
rimac fame, to his ship, the flagship
New York, last Wednesday night, was
marked by wild enthusiasm. 1t was
dark when a shout was passed along
the ship that Hobson was coming. On
the superstructure clambered the crew,
ten deep, and on the quarterback the
officers clustered around the sea ladder,
and hundred hands were stretched
out to grasp Hobson's. 1t was not
until he Was safe once more on deck
that the crew of the New York cheer
ed, 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; out Colonel Astor got
lost in the crowd, which surged around,
insisting upon shaking Hobson's hand.
The transports blew their whistles.
Hobson sat once more among his
messmates aud 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.
II 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 Merrimac's
coming was telegraphed and soldiers
lined the foot of the cliffs, firing wild
wildly across and killing each other
with their cross-fre. The Merrimac's
steering gear broke as she got to Es-
trella Point. Only three Of the tor
pedoes on her side exploded when I
touched the button. A huge submar-
inc mine caught her full amidships,
hurting her the water high in the air
and tearing great rent in the Merri-
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 whis-
tied around US. Six-iuch shells from
the Vizcaya came tearing into the
Merrimac, crashing into wood and
iron and passing clear through, while
the plunging shots from the forts broke
through her decks.
"Not man must move," I said,
"aud it was only owing to the splendid
discipline of the men that we were not
all killed as the shells rained over US
and minutes became hours of suspense.
The mems mouths grew parched, but
we must lie there till daylight, 1 told
them. Now and again one or the
other of the men, lying with his face
glued to the deck and wondering
whether the next shell would not
come our way, would say: hadn't
we better drop off now, sir ?" but l
said "wait till daylight"
ut would have been impossible to
get the catamaran anywhere but to the
shore where the soldiers stood shoot
ing, and I hoped that by daylight we
might be recognized and saved. The
grand old Merrimac kept sinking. I
wanted to 60 forward and see the dam
age done there, where nearly all the
fire was directed, but one man said if
1 rose it would draw all the fire on the
rest. So 1 lay motionless. 1t was
splendid the way these men behaved.
The fire of the soldiers, the batteries
and the Vizcaya was awful. When
the water came up on the Merrimac's
decks, the catamaran foated amid the
wreckage, 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 fir
ing 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
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 their
rifles at our heads.
"Is there any officer in that boat to
received surrender of prisoners of
war? ?" 1 shouted. An old man leaned
out under the awning and waved his
hand. 1t was Admiral Cevera. The
marines lowered their rifles, and we
were helped into the launch. Then
we were put in cells in Moro castle.
"It was a grand sight a few days
-.1 a. bo ri tho