Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-07-14
HOBSON TELLS His STORY.
Mcrrimac sunk Tide swung the ship
Iartly out the Passage.

vi iounlldBO uc CuDu, july by tnf
Associated Press despatch boat Daunt
less, via Port Antonio, Jamaica. July s
and Kingston Jamaica, July S--g15 a. m
The return of Assistant Naval Construc.
tor Richmond +. Hobson, of Merrima,
fame, to his ship. the flagship New York
last night, was marked by wild enthusi.
assn. 1t was dark when q shout was pass
Cd along the ship that Hobson was com
ing On the superstructure clambered the
crew, ten deep, and on the quarter deck
the officers clustered around the sea lad.
der and a hundred hands were stretched
out to grasp lIobsOn's. 1t was not unit
he was safe once more on deck that the
crew OF the New York chcered. and thou
they broke out into u wild burst of yelling
which went up over and over again until
the men were hoarse. Numbers of ths
crew rushed forward on the quarter decli
and u great group of men struggi ed
around the tall figure of the man who
lad dared so much.
Behind Ilobson came Col John Jacol
Aston, and the first thing Hobson tried to
DO was to introduce him to the officers
but Col AstOr got lost in the crowd which
surged around. insisting upon shaking
Hobsons hand. The transports blew THEFT
whistles.
Hobson sat once more among his mess
mates and told the story of his expert
ences, his marvellous escape and his i'm
prisonment in Moro Castle. Santiago
watching the shells explode outside his
cell under a murderous fire.
Il did not miss tho entrance to the
harbor," he said las Ensign Powell III
the launch supposed. ! headed east unit
got my bearings and sthcn made for II
straight in. Then came the firing. 1t was
grand flashing out first from one side OF
the harbor and then from 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 Merrimlcs coming
was telcRraphod. and soldiers lined tho
foot of the cliffs. firing wildly across and
killing each other with the cross fire. Tn,
Mcrrimacs stearing gear broke as she got
to Estrclla Point Only three of the tor
pcdos on her side exploded when | touch
cd the button. a huge submarine mine
caught her amidships, hurting the water
high in the air and tearing "a great rent
in tho Merrmac's Side.
"ilcr stern ran upon Estrclla Point
Chiefly owing to the work done by the
mine she began to sink slowly. At that
tine she "as across the channel but be-
fore she settled the tide dliftcd her
around. We were all aft lying on the
deck. Shells and bullets whistled around
Six inch shells from the Nizcaya came
tearing into the Mcrrimac. crashing into
wood and non ana passing clear through
while the plungiGg shots from thc fort
broke through her decks.
Not a man must move | said, and
it was only owing TO the splendid disci-
plino of the men that we all were not
Killed, as the shells raincd over us and
minutes nco"mc hours Of suspense. The
mems mouths grew parched but we must
lie there till daylight, | told them. Now
and again, one or other of the men, lying
with his face glued to the deck and won
dcrinS whether the next shell would not
come our way, would say, Hadn't we bet
ter drop off now, sir? But | said Wait
till daylight
1T would have been impossible to get
the catamGran anywhere but on to tho
shore, where the soldiers stood shooting
and | hoped that by daylight we might
be recognized and saved. The grand old
Merrimac kept sinking. | wanted to NC
forward and sec the damage done there
whore nearly all the ire was directed
one man said that If ! rose II would draw
all the fire Oh the rest. SO | lay notion
less. 1t was splendid the way those men
behaved. The fire of the soldiers, thu
batteries and the Nizcaya was awful
When the water came up on the Mcrri-
macs decks the catamaran noated amid
the wreckdgc. but she was still made fast
to the boom and we caught hold of the
edges and chung on, our heads only being
above water
"Onc man thought we were safer right
there it was quite light he firing had
ceased except that on the New 70. !
launch and ! feared Ensign oven and
his men had been killed.
"A Spanish launch came toward the
Merrmnc. We agreed to capture her and
run. Just as she came close the Spuniarls
saw us and half dozen marines jumped
4 IT. Al
sticking out of the water is there any
officer in that boat to receive a SURF andei
of prisoners OF war; | shouted. An old
man leaned out under the awning and
waved mis- hand. 1t was Admiral Gerry, ~
The marines lowered their rifles and We
were helped into the launch
- lien we were put In cells in Moro
Castle. 1t was q grand sight "A few days
later to see the bombardinent, the shell,
striking and bursting around III MORO
Then We were taken into Santiago. / nae
the court martial room in the barracks
My men were kept prisoners in the hosp!
tai From my window could see the ar.
my moving and 1t was terrible to see thos,
poor lads moving across the open and be.
ing shot down by the Spnniards in IN,
rife pits in front of me. Yesterday III,
Spaniards became as polite as could be
| knew something was coming and then
was exchanged"
Hohson was overioyed at getting back
He looked well. though somewhat worn
On the whole the Spanards treated hin
better than might have been expected
Mr.. Ramsden, the British consul at San
tiago, was treless in his efforts to Sc.
cure comfort for Hobson and his men
The young hero knew nothing about tho
destruction of Cervcra's feet until ht
reached the army lines. He was overjoycf
to learn the news that his bravery hat
been recognized by the people He is the
same simple. unaffected. enthusiastic
Hobson, more anxious to talk about tbs
effect of exploding shells and army move,
ments than about his own brave deed
The men who came with him received O
ringing reception. All are doing we'll