The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-07-20
Sinking Of the Merrimac.

SANTIAGO DE CUBA, July S.-The
return of Assistant Naval Constructor
Richmond P. Hobson, of Merrimac
fame, to his ship, the flag ship New
York, last night was marked by wild
enthusiasm. 1t was dark when a
shout was passed along the ship that
Hobson was coming. On the super
structure clambered the crew, ten
deep, and on the quarter deck the Off
GERS clustered around the sea ladder
and hundred hands we're stretched
out to grasp Hobson's. 1t was not
until he was safe once more on deck
that the crew of the New York cheer
ed and then they broke out into wild
yell, which went up over and over
again until the men we're hoarse.
Numbers of the crew rushed forward
on the quarter deck and great group
of men struggled around the tall figure
of the man who had dared so much.
Behind Hobson came Col John Ja-
cob Astor, and the first thing Hobson
tried to do was tointroduce him to the
officers, but Col. Astor got lost in the
crowd which surged around, insisting
on shaking Hobson's hands. The
transports blew their Whistles. Hob
son sat once more among his mess
mates and told the story of his expe-
rience, his marvellous escape and his
Imprisonment in Moro Castle, watch
ing the shells as they exploded outside
his cell.
sI did not miss the entrance to the
harbor," he said, "as Ensign Powell
in the LAUNCH supposed. [ heeded
east until I got my bearings and then
made for it straight in. Then came
the firing. 1t was grand, flashing first
from one side Of the harbor and then
the other from those big guns on the
hill. the Vizcaya, lying inside the
harbor, joiningin.
Troops from Santiago had rushed
down when the news of the Merrimac S
coming was telegraphed. and soldiers
lined the foot of che cliffs, firing wild
ly across and killing each other with
the cross fire. The Merrimac' steer
ing gear broke as she got to Estrella
Point. Only three of the torpedoes
on her side exploded when I touched
the button. A huge submarine mine
caught her full amidships, hurting the
water high in the air and tearing, q
great rent in one of the Merrimac's
sides.
Her stern ran upon Estrella Point,
and chiefly owing to the work done by
the mine she began to sink slowly.
At that time she was across the chan
mel, but before she settled the tide
drifted 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 Merrimac, crashing into wood and
iron and passing clear through, while
the plunging shots from the fort broke
5 through her decks.
Not man must move, [ said, and
it was only owing to the splendid dis
cipine Of the men that we were not
all killed as the shells rained over us
and minutes became hours of sus-
pense. The mems mouths grew
parched, but we must lie there till
daylight, I told them. Now and again
one or another Of the men lying with
his face glued to the deck and won,
dering whether the next shell would
not come our way, would say: sHadn't
we better drop off now, sir?' but I said
wait till daylight.
1t would have been impossible to
get the catamaran anywhere but to the
shore where the soldiers stood shoot
ing, and hoped that by daylight we
might be recognized and saved. The
grand old Merrimac kept sinking. I
wanted to go forward and see the dam
age done there where nearly all the fire
was directed, but one man said that if
i rose it would draw all the fire on the
rest, so / lay motionless. 1t was
splendid the way these men behaved.
The fire of the soldiers, the batteries
and the Vizcaya was awful. When
the water came upon the Merrimac's
decks the catamaran foated amid the
wreckage, but was still made fast to
the boom and we caught hold of the
edge and clung on, our heads being
above water. One man thought We
were safer right there, as it was light,
the firing had ceased, except that di-
rected at the New York's launch, and
] fehred Ensign Powell and his men
had been killed.
ga Spanish launch came toward the
Merrimac. We agreed to capture her
and run. Justas she came close the
Spaniards saw US and half dozen ma
rines jumped up and pointed their ri
fes at our heads.
ssIs there any officer in that boat to
receive surrender of prisoners of war?
I shouted. An old man leaned out
under the awning and waved his hand.
1t was Admiral Cervera. The marines
lowered their rifles and we were helped
into the launch.
Then we were put in cells in Nor
70 Castle. 1t was grand sight few
days later to see the bombardment,
the shells striking and bursting around
Ell Moro. Then we were taken into
Santiago. [ had the Court-martial
room in the barracks. My men were
kept prisoners in the hospital. From
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