The Red Cloud chief., 1898-07-15
1T. HOBSON TELLS HIS STORY.
A roken Rudder Made the Msrrimac's
sinking . Failure

New ToRx, July "a dispatch 20
the New York Herald from of Santi-
ago says: Your correspondent saw Mr..
Hobson after he had made his report
TO Admiral Sampson. He spoke in
glowing terms Of the courage and
bravery of his crew.
1--WE have been thirty-three days in
q Spanish prison." said Mr.. Hobson,
land the more l think about IL the
more marvellous IL seems that we are
alive.
ut was about 3 o'clock in the MORN
ing when the Merrimac entered the
narrow channel and steamed In under
the guns of MORO castle. The still
ness of death prevailed. IL was so
dark that we could scarcely see the
kesdland. We had planned to drop
to the right of the channel. reverse
u engines and then swing the Mer-
rimac around, sinking her directly
across the channel.
"This plan was adhered TO, but cir
cumstances rendered its execution i'm
possible. When the Mcrrimac poked
her nose into the channel our troubles
commenced. The deadly silence was
broken by the wash Of a small boat ap-
preaching us from the shore. l made
her out TO be q picket boat.
'She ran close up under the stern OF
the Merrimac and fred several shots
from what seemed to be 3-pound guns.
The Merrimac's rudder was carried
away by this fire. That Is why the
collier was not sunk across the chan
nel.
I'VE did not discover the loss of the
rudder until Murphy cast anchor. We
then found that the Merrimac would
not answer to the helm and were com
PEELED to make the best Of the situa-
ton.
The run up the channel was very
exciting. The picket boat had given
the alarm and in a moment the guns
of the Vizcaya, the Almirante Oquen-
do and the shore batteries were turned
upon Is.
Submarine mines and torpedoes
were also exploded all about us, adding
to the excitement. The mines did no
damage, although we could hear rum
blings and could feel the ship tremble.
I'VE wcre running without lights
and only the darkness saved us from
utter destruction. When the ship was
In the desired position. and we found
that the rudder was gone, l called the
men on deck. While they were launch
ing the catamaran l touched of the
explosives.
STRUCK BY TWO TORPEDOES.
AT the same moment two ~tOrpedoes,
fired by the Reina Mercedes, struck
the Merrimac amidships. l cannot
say whether our own explosives or the
Spanish. torpedocs did the work, but
the Merrinac was lifted out of the
wather and almost rent asunder.
..As she settled down we scrambled
overheard and cut away the catamaran,
a great cheer went up from the forts
and war ships as the hull of the col
lier f~oundered, the S~paniards thinking
the Merrimac was an American war
ship.
1--WE attempted to get out of tn,
harbor on the %catamaran, but a strong
tide was running, and daylight fount
us still struggling in the water. Then
for the first time the Spaniards saw
us. and n boat from the Reins Mer
cedcs picked us up.
1T was then shortly, after 5 o'clocl
in the morning and we had been in tn
water more than an hour. We wer
taken aboard the Reina Mercedes ant
later were sent TO MORO castle.
During the first four days W. wer
prisoners of wal we were confined il
MORO castle, aud l can assure 20
those were extremely uncomfortabl
and disagrecable days. The Spaniard
did not exactly i'll treat us, but J. too
them some time to from tn
shock caused by what most of theI
considered our Yankee impudence /
trying to block their harbor.
LAS a rule the officers and men VIII
came into contact with us were grui
In speech and sullen in manner Fo
Admiral Cervera l have nothing bu
the highest admiration.
His act of informing Admiral Sam
son Of our safety l regard that Of
kind hearted, generous man and
chivalrous officer. expressed to hi
sincere thanks, and the thanks of IN
men for taking this means of relievin
the anxiety Of our shipmates and OF
friends ut home. He repeatedly spok
to ne of his admiration of what ]
called one of the most daring acts |
naval history, though l am sure "
were not entitled TO the ~commendatio
we received, for there were hundred
of other men on our ships who woul
have been glad to undertake to do IL
! same thing.
I'VE knew nothing about the destru
ton az Admiral Ccrvcra's fleet unit
told by our own people to-day.
course II confinement became veI
e irksome and | cannot tell you no
4. great was the relief we felt to be FRI
. again. cannot express my gratitu'
to our soldiers who gave MS such
welcome when we came into the line
All ~ ne ARC in axsellant health M