Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1898-07-14
HOBS0N TELLS HIS STORY
All About tho Sinking Of Tho Merrl-
mac-IIis Thrilling Experiences.

follows:
81 did not miss tho entrance to the
harbor," he began, Gas Ensign Powell
in the launch supposed. l headed
cast 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 the harbor
and then the other from those big
guns on the hill-tho Vizcaya, lying
inside the harbor, joining in.
"Troops from Santiago had rushed
down when tho news Of the Merri-
macs coming was telcgraphed 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 she got
to Estrella Point. Only three of the
torpcdocs on her side exploded when
| touched tho button. A huge sub
marine mine caught her full amid
ships, hurting the water high in the
air and tearing great rent in the
Merrimac's side.
"IIcr 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 aft, lying on the deck. Shells
and bullets whistled around us. Six
inch shells from the Vizcaya came
tearing into the Mcrrimac, crashing
into wood and iron and passing clear
through, while the plunging shots
from the fort broke through her
decks.
"Not man must movc," l said,
"and it was only owing to the splen-
did discipline of tho men that we
were not all killed as the shells
rained over us and minutes became
hours Of suspense. The mems
mouths grew parchcd, but we must
lie there till daylight, l told them.
Now and again one or the other of
tho men, lying with his face glued to
the deck and wondering whether the
next shell would not come our way,
would say: IIadn't we better drop
off now, sir p but | said swait till
daylight
"lL would have been impossible to
get the catamaran anywhere but to
the shore where the soldiers stood
shooting, ami | hoped that by day
light we might be recognized and
saved. | wanted to 60 forward and
see the damage done there, where
nearly all the fire was directed, but
ono man said if | rose it would draw
all the fire on the rest. SO | Law
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 tloatcd amid the
wrccitagc, but was still made fast to
the boom, and we caught hold of the
cd"e and clung on, onr heads being
above water.
zone man thought we were safer
right there it was quite light, the
firing had ceased except that directed
at the New York launch, and feared
Ensign Powell and his men had been
killed.
"a Spanish launch came toward
the Mcrrimac. We agreed to cap
ture her and run. Just as she came
close the Spaniards saw us, and half
a 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.
at was a grand sight few days
later To see the bombardmcnt, the
shells striking and bursting around
El 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 the 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 over joycd at getting
back. lie looked well, though some
what worn. On the whole, the Span
lards treated him better than might
have been expected.
MIR. Hamsdcn, the British consul
ut Santiago, was tirclcss in his efforts
to secure comfort for IIobson and his
men. The young hero knew moth
ing about the destruction Of Ger
vcra's fleet until he reached the
army lines. lie could not un-
dcrSland his promised cxccp-
u"nal promotion, but was oyor-
loycd TO learn that his bravery had
bcrn recognized hy the people. He
Is the same simple, unaffected, cnthu-
slaSllc ilobson, more anxious to talk
about the effect of exploding shells
ana army movements than about his
own brave deed