The San Francisco call., 1898-07-09
Copyrighted. 1898, by the Associated Press.

Copyrighted, 1S9S, by the Associated Press
 OFF SANTIAGO, July (by the As sociated Press Dispatch Boat Daunt- less, via Port Antonio and Kingston Jamaica, July S).-The return of As sistant Naval Constructor Hobson to his ship, the flagship New York, last night was ma-,-ed by will enthusiasm Behind Hobson came Colonel John Ja- cob Astor and the first thing Hobson tried to do was to introduce him to the officers, but Colonel Astor got lost in the crowd which surged around, in sisting upon shaking Hobson's hand The transports blew their whistles.
 When Hobson sat once more among his messmates he told the story of his experience, his marvellous escape and his imprisonment in Morro Castle.
 T did not miss the entrance to the harbor," he said, as Ensign Powell, on the launch, supposed. l headed east until I got my bearings and then made for it. straight in. Then came the firing. It 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 wildly across and killing each other with their crGss-fire The Merrimacs steering gear broke as she got to Estrella Point. Only three of the torpedoes on her side exploded when I touched the but caa1oT T1a her full amidships, hurling 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 sine 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 whistled around us. The six-inch 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 a man must move l said, and it was only owing to the splendid dis cipline of the men that all of us were not killed as the shells sailed over us and minutes became hours of suspense. The mems mouths grew parched. but we must lie there until daylight, l 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 get off now, sir?' But l said: Wait till day light.
 Tt 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. l wanted to go forward and see the dam age done there where nearly all the fire was directed, but one man said that if I arose it would draw the fire on the rest. So I lay motionless. It was splendid tke way those men behaved. The fire of the -oldiers, the batteries and the ViZcaya was awful
 When the water came up on the Merrimac's decks the catamaran float ed amid the wreckage, but was still
  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 had ceased, except that on the New York launch, and I feared Ensign Powell and his men had been killed. A Spanish launch came toward t 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 receive surrender of prisoners of war?' l shouted.
 An old man leaned over under the awning and waved his hand. It was Admiral Cervera. The marines low cred their rifles and we were helped into the launch.
 Then We were put into cells in Morro Castle. Afterward we were taken into Santiago. I had the court martial room in the barracks. My men were kept prisoners in the hospital. From my window could see the army moving across the open and being shot down by the Spaniards in the rifle pits in front of me. The Spaniards became as polite as could be. knew something was coming and then I was ex- changed"
 MT. Ramsden, the British Consul at Santiago, was tireless in his efforts to secure comfort for Hobson and his men. Lieutenant Hobson could not under stand his promised exceptional promo tion, but was overjoyed to learn the news that his bravery had been recog- niZed by the people. He is the same simple, unaffected, enthusiastic Hob- son, more anxious to talk about the ef- feet of exploding shells and army moves than about his own brave deed. The men who came with him received a