Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1898-07-14
H00BSON TELLS HIS STORY
All About tho Sinking Of tho Merrl-
mac-lIis Thrilling Experiences.

follows:
81 did not miss tho entrance to the
harbor," he began, cas- 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 tho harbor
and then the other from those big
guns on the hill-thc Vizcaya, lying
inside the harbor, joining in.
"Troops from Santiago had rushed
down when the news of the Merri-
macs coming was telegraphed and SOL
dicrs lined the foot of the cliffs, fir
ing wildly across and killing each
other with the cross-frc. The Merri-
macs steering gear broke as sho got
to Estrella Point. Only three of the
torpcdocs on her side exploded when
l touched tho button. A huge sub
marine mine caught her full amid
ships, hurling the water high in the
air and tearing great rent in the
Mcrrimac's side.
"Her stern ran upon Estrclla Point.
Chiefly owing to the work done by
tho mine, she began to sink slowly.
At that time she was across the
channel, but before she settled the
tide driftcd her around. We were
all att, lying on the deck. Shells
and bullets whistlcd around us. Six
inch shells from the Vizcaya came
tearing into the Mcrrimac, crashing
into wood and iron and passing clear
through, while tho plunging shots
from the fort broke through her
decks.
"Not a man must movc," l said,
"and it was only owing to the splcn-
did discipline of tho men that We
were not all killed as the shells
raiued over us and minutes became
hours Of suspense. The mems
mouths grew parchcd, but we must
lie there Till daylight, I 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: 1Iadn't we better drop
off now, sir?' but | said wait till
daylight
'It would have been impossible to
get the catamaran anywhere but to
the shore where the soldiers stood
shooting, and | hoped that by day
light We might be recognized and
saved. wanted to SO forward and
see the damage done there, where
nearly all the fire was directed, but
one man said if | rose it would draw
all the fire on the rest. SO | lay
motionlcss. 1t was splendid the way
these men behaved. The fire of the
soldiers, the batteries and the Viz
caya was awful. When the water
came up on the Mcrrimac's decks,
the catamaran floatcd amid the
wrcckagc, but was still made fast to
the boom, and we caught hold of the
edge and clung on, our heads being
above water.
Zone man thought we were safer
right there ; it was quite light, tho
firing had ceased except that directed
at the Now York launch, and feared
Ensign Powell and his men had been
killed.
"A Spanish launch came toward
the Mcrrimac. We agreed to cap
turc 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.
els there any officer in that boat
to receive a surrender of prisoners Of
WARP" | shouted. An old man
leaned out under the awning and
waved his hand. 1t was Admiral
Ccrvcra. The marines lowered
their rifles, and we were helped into
the launch. Then we were put in
cells in MORO Castle.
cit was grand sight few days
later to see the bombardmcnt, the
shells striking and bursting around
lei Moro. Then we were taken into
Santiago. | had the courtmartial
room in the barracks. My men were
kept prisoners in the hospital. From
my window | could sec the amy
moving and it was terrible to see
those poor lads across the open and
being shot down by the Spaniards
in Che rifle pits in front of me. Yes
tcrday the Spaniards became as
polite as could be. | knew some
thing was coming, and then was
exchanged"
llobson was ovcrjoycd at getting
back. lie looked well, though some
what worn. On the whole, the Span
lards treated him better than might
nave been expected.
MIR. RamSdcn, the British consul
ut Santiago, was tirclcss in his efforts
to secure comfort for IIobson and lis
men. The young hero knew moth
ing about the destruction Of Ger
vcra's fleet u"til he reached the
army lines. lie could not un-
derStand his promised cxccp-
honal promotion, but was over
l"ycd TO learn that his bravery had
bc"n recognized by the people. lie
Is the same simple, unaffected, cnthu-
siastlc llobson, more anxions to talk
about the effect Of exploding shells
and army movements than about his
own brave deed.