Evening journal., 1898-07-08

zone or the MerllndC pIlSoutIpl
in Morro Castle, after which they were
removed to the Reina Mercedes. which
was used as a hospital ship.
I'VE have been 80 days In a Spanish
prison." said Hobson to a reporter who
had asked him to describe the sinking
Of the Merrimac, land the more 1 think
about il the more marvellous ii seems
that we are alive.
1T was about 3 o'clock in the morn
ing when the Merrimac entered the mar
row channel and steamed in under the
guns Of Moro Castle, The stiffness OF
death prevailed. 1t was so dark that
we could scarcely see the headland. We
had planned to drop our starboard an
chor at a certain point to- the right OF
the channel, reverse our engines and
then swing the Merrimac around, sink
ing her directly across the channel.
This plan was adhered to, but cir
cumstances rendered its execution i'm
possible. When the Merrimac poked heI
nose into the channel our troubles COM
menced The deadly silence was broken
by the wash of small boat approach
ing US from the shore. made her out
to be a picket boat.
"She ran close up under the stern OF
I the Merrimac and fired several shots
from what seemed to be 3 pounder guns
The Merrimac's rudder was carried
away by this fire. That is why the col.
lier was not sunk across the channel
I'VE did not discover the loss OF the
rudder until Murphy cast anchor W'
then found that the 4lrrrmae would moi
answer to the helm and sferffompeileC
TO make the best df the eitu9eon.
"The run up the channel was very ex
citing. The picket boat had given th'
alarm. and in moment the guns Of thu
Vizcaya, the Almirante Oquendo and o.
the shore batteries were turned upon us
eSubmarine mines and torpedoes Rls'
were exploded all about us, adding e
the excitement. The mines did no dam
age, although we could hear rumblini
and could feel the ship tremble.
I'VE were running without lights, ant
only the darkness saved us from ute
destruction. When the ship was in tn
desired position and we found that tn
rudder was gone called the men oi
4 deck. While they were launching tn
! catamaran 1 touched off the explosives.
AT the same moment two torpedoe
| fired by the Reina Mercedes struck tn
/ MeTTlIndc dlnluHHlIH. 4 AhllipN
whether our own explosives on tn
Spanish torpedoes did the work, but tn
Merrimac was lifted out OF the waite
and almost rent asunder. tf-4
LAS she settled down we scramble
overheard and cut away the catamarar
A great cheer went up from the fort
and warships as the hull of the collie
foundered, the Spaniards thinking tina
the Merrimac was an American wal
ship.
I'VE attempted to get out Of the har
Dor in the catamaran. but n strong It'd
was running, and daylight found US sti
/ struggling in the water. Then for tn
first time the Spaniards saw US, and
boat from the Reina Mercedes pickle
Il us up. II was then shortly after
n o'clock in the morning, and@we had bee
in the water more than an hour. "
4 were taken aboard the Reina Merceds
and later were sent 20 MORO Castle.
I'm MORO we were confined in cells
the inner side Of the fort and Mere thei
the first day the fleet bombarded Morr
1 could only hear the whistling OF Il
shells and the noise they made whe
they struck, but judged from the COZ
versation Of the guards that the shell
did considerable damage.
"After this bombardment Mr.. Ram