The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1898-08-05
TALK WITH LIEUT.. HODSON.
Discourses Freely of All Matters
Except His Part in the
Merrimac Expedition.
RAISING TIE SPANISH WAR SHIPS,
His Account OF the Daring Adventure in
Santiago Bay Differs from that Here
tofore Pubiished-One Hour In the
Water Before Being Rescued by Ad.
miral Cervera.


Water Before Being Rescued by Ad.
miral Cervera.
ATLANTA, Ga, Aug. 2.-Mr Hobson
granted an interview to a representa-
tive of the press yesterday, and in or
der to talk without interruption he
had to repair to his room. The lieu.
tenant was very free in speaking of
the raising of the Colon and the
Maria Teresa, but was quite reticent
in speaking of his part in the sinking
of the Merrimac. He said that he
anticipated no very great trouble in
raisingthe Cristobal Colon, yet admit
ted that it would be a great engineer
ing feat if accomplished. and that four
weeks was as short time as he could
hope to accomplish the work in after
once started. He said:
How He Proposes to Raise the Spanish
War Ships.
I'VE shall first place great chains
around the vessels and attach them to
our pontons, which will sink to a
level with the water. BY pumping the
water thereafter from the pontons
the ship will be raised. To aid in this.
and to prevent the sunken vessel from
turning bottom side up during the
process OF raising, it is intended to
store tons of airbags on the side we
wish to come up first. This
will give buoyancy and materially
aid in the raising, and after
we have the ship under control
y
out certain compartme in it which
will further tighten the burden. To
accomplish this work will take num-
Der of men, who will go from the New
York for the purpose. The divers have
already gone ahead. They can begin
their work without my presence. The
air bags and pontoons have not yet
been shipped, but will be very soon
and must reach the vessel by the
time of their arrival off Santiago"
Cervera Helped Him from the Water.
When asked if it was true that Ger
vera was the one who pulled him out
of the water after the sinking of the
Merrimac he said:
"Yes, it is true. The admiral is q
fine man, and shall certainly visit
him before going back to Santiago.
"When the MerrImac Sank
we all went down with it. Suspended
on the boat was the Catamran light,
and when the Merrimac went down
part of this foated, although it
was badly wrecked by the explosion.
1t was the biggest piece of debris in
sight, and we all swan for it. We all
reached 1T and got a hold around 1t.
Here we stayed for an hour in the wa
ter with our heads ducked under the
lighter to keep from being shot. At the
conclusion of this time l noticed a
little launch coming toward US. See
ing an officer on board, and feeling that
he would prevent violence being done
US, hailed the launch, and it came to
us. Cervera personally gave me lift
and helped me into the boat, for it was
his launch / had hailed. The other
men were taken care of. Viewer then
taken to MORO castle
Were you made comfortable while
In the hands of the Spaniards?" he was
asked
II have not made my official report"
he replied, ''and can not therefore go
into details, but l can tell you some-
thing in general way.
Locked Up In MORO Castle.
I'VE were first locked in cell in
Moro castle. where we stayed for four
days. We were, of course, uncomforta-
Die there, as there was no provision
for comfort. | was isolated from
my men all during our confinement,
but suppose they Jared the same as |.
During our stay in the castle it was
bombarded, but it was at no time
principal target. This was fortunate
for us, as the place is medieval, and
would not stand much.
AT the end of the fourth day we
were
Transferred to the Santiago Prison.
Here we were much more comforta-
bic, having beds, but were still under
lock and key. And l will say for Ger
vera that he protested against our be-
ing taken to the castle at all. He
could not help it, however, as he was
not in supreme command. Lieut.-Gen.
Linares was in command, and matters
hdu 10 oe adjusted as he SAID.
Their Stay I'm Prison.
During our stay in prison several
things were sent us, and we were not
entirely overlooked. We had occasion
to be grateful to Fred w. Ramsey, the
British consul, who showed US many
courtesies which much lghtened our
confinement.
I'VE were all very restless and
chating to get away, and naturally so.
We We're given no information, and
knew nothing of what was going on.
1t was not until we were exchanged
that we learned that our exchange had
been refused when first asked"
The lieutenant speaks some Spanish.
and it proved very valuable to him dur