Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-07-09
HOBsON DESCRIBES HIS FEAT.
Tells of His Adventures After Going in 70
Sink the Merrimac.

Sink the Merrimac.
Off Santiago de Cuba, July Z, Dispatch
Boat Dauntless. via Kingston, July g.
Copyright, 1898. by Associated Press.
The return Of Lieutenant H6bson to
his ship. the New York, was marked by
wild enthusiasm. 1t was dark when
shout was passed along the ship that
Hobson was coming. On the superstruc-
ture clambored the crew, ten deep. and
on the quarterback the officers clustered
around the sea ladder and a hundred
hands were 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 yild yell which went up over and
over again until the men were hoarse.
Hobson sat once more among his
messmates and told the story of his ex-
perience, his marvellous escape and his
Imprisonment in Moro castle watching
the shells explode outside his cell under
murderous fire. Il did not miss the
entrance to the harbor," he said, ''as
Ensign Powell, in the launch, supposed.
l headed east until / 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 Merrinac's
steering gear broke as she got to Es-
trella Point.
Only three of the torpedoes on her
cd do Ia
ton. huge submarine mine caught
her full am:dships. hurting the water
high in the air and tearing a great rent
In the Merrimac's side. Her stern ran
upon Estrelia Point. Chiefly owing to
the work done by the mine she was
across the channel, but before she set
tied the tide drifted her around. We
were all aft, lying on the deck Shells
ard bullets whistled around. Six-inch
shells from the Vizcaya came tearing
into the Aerrimac. crashing into wood
and IRON and passing clear through,
while the plunging shots from the fort
broke through her decks.
Not a man must move said and
1t was only owing to the splendid dis
cipline of the men that all of us were
not killed, as the shells rained over US
and minutes became hours of suspense.
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 wa
might be recognized and saved When
the water came upon the Merrimac'3
decks the catamaran fioated 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. 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 a dozen
marines jumped up and pointed their
rifles at our heads.
=" Is there any officer in that boat to
receive a surrender of prisoners of
war" shouted. 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 in Moro castle. 1t was a grand
sight few days later to see the bonn
bardment, the shells striking and
bursting around FL Moro. Then we
were taken into Santiago. l had the
court martial room in the barracks. Ny
men We're kept prisoners in the hospital
From my window l could see the army
moving, and it was terrible to see those
poor lads, moving across the open and
being shot down by the Spanards in
the rife pits in front of me. Yesterday
the Spaniards became as polite as could
lA
then l was exchanged"
Hobson was everjoyed at getting
back. He locked well. though somewhat
worn. On the whole the Spaniards
treated him better than might have
been expected. Mr. Ramsden, the Brit
ish consul ct Santiago. was tireless in
his efforts to secure comforts for Hob
son and his men.