The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-07-12
RObSON BACK
ON HIS SHIP
ArdentIy Greeted by Its He
ro-worshipping Grew.
A FLASH OF ROMANCE
lie TELLS IN SIMPLE WORDS
HIS THRILLING STORY.
HIS TRIBUTE TO HIS DARING MEN
Lying on the Deck of the Doomed Merr,mac
Under a Tornado of Spanish Shot and
Shell Almost a Miracle.

vi santiago de Cuba. July l.-Ry the
Associated Press despatch boat Daunt-
less. VIA Port Antonio and Kingston.
July S-9:1o d. m.-The return of AS
sistant Naval Constructor Richmond
L. IIObson. of the Mcrrimac fame, to
his ship, the flagship New York. last
night, was marked by wild enthusiasm.
1t was dark when Il shout was passed
along the ship that Hobson was com
ing. On the s~uperstructure clambered
the crew. ten deep. and on the quarter
deck the officers clustered around the
s~ea-ladder and a 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 cheereG.
and then they broke out into Il wild yell
Which was repeated over and over again
until the men were hoarsc. Numbers Of
the crew rushed forward on the quarter
deck and Il great group of men struggled
around the tall figure of the man WHO
had dared so much.
Behind HObson came Col. John Jacob
Astor and the first thing UobSon tried
TO do was to Introduce him to the off
Gers. but Col. AStor got lost IN the
crowd. which surgcd around insisting
upon shaking Hobson's hand. The trans
ports blew their Whistles. Hobson sat
once more among his shipmates and told
the story Of his experience. his marvel
Gus escape and his imprisonment in
MORO Castle. watching the shells OK
plodc outside his cell.
L did not miss the entrance to the
harbor.' he said. "is Ensign Powell in
the launch supposed. / headed east I'M
Al ,+ 49, O,- ,-1 a.. 80
for il. 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
Nizcaya, lying inside the harbOr joining
in.
Troops from Santiago had rushed
down when the news Of the Merrimac'S
coming was telegraphcd. and soldiers
lined the foot of the cliffs. firing wildly
across and killing each other with the
cross fire. The Mcrrimac's steering
gear broke as she got tc Estrella point,
only three Of the torpedOeS on her side
exploded when | touched the button. \
huge submarine torpedo caught her full
amidship hurting the water high in the
air and tearing Il great rent in the
McrrimacS side. Her stern ran upon
Estrella point. Chiefly owing to the
work lone by the mine she began to
sink slowly. At that time she was
across the channel, but before she set
tied the tide drifted her around. We
were all aft, lying on the deck. Shells
and bullets whistled around us. Six inch
shells from the Nizcaya came tearing
into the Mcrrimac. crashing into wood
and iron and passing clear through.
while the %plunging shots from the fort
broke through her decks.
Not Il man must move | said, land
it was only owing to the splendid disci-
pine of the men that we We're not all
killed. as the shells raincd over us and
minutes became hours Of suspense. The
mems mouths grew parched. 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 whether the next
shell! Would not come our way, would
say: 'IIadn'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 shooting.
and | hoped that by daylight we might
be recognized and saved. The grand
old Merrimac kept mixing. | wanted to
go forward and see the damage lone
there where nearly all the fire was dl-
IccIeh. nut one man sui init | 1 lbSt
it would draw the fire on the rest. SO /
lay motionlcss. 1t was splendid, the
way these men behaved. The fire of the
soldiers. the batteries and the Nizcaya
was awful. When the water came up
on the Merrimac's decks. the catamaran
Heated amid the wrcckage, but was
still made fast to the boom. and we
caught hold Of the edge and chung on.
our heads being above water.
"One man thought we were safer
right there: it was quite light the firing
he'd ceased except that directed 1T 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 Span
iards saw us and half Il dozen marines
jumped up and pointed their rifles at
our heads.
is there any officer in that boat TO
receive Il surrender of prisoners of war;:
| shouted. and an old man leaned out
under the awning and waved his hand.
1t was Admiral Cervera. The marines
lowered their rifles. and we were helped
into the launch.
Then we were put in cells III Moro
Castle. 1t was Il grand sight a few
DAYS later to see the COMMANDMENT the
shells striking and bursting around FL
MORO. Then we were taken into San
tiago. | had the court martial room III
the barracks. My men were kept prison
ers in the hospital. From my window |
| could see the army moving. and 1t was
terrible to see those poor lads moving
| across the open. and being shot down by
the Spaniards in the rifle pits in front
of me. Yesterday the Spaniards became
| as polite rs could be. | knew something
was coming and then | was exchanged"
Hobson was oyerjoyed at getting
back. He looked we'll. though some
what worn. On the whole the Spaniards
treated him better than might have been