The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-08-17
@attbmam 4 guurnal.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST II, 1898.
HObsOn In New York.

The protection of soldiers and sailors
families. Three thousand people gave
the hero of the Merrimac, and with him
all the men who have shown their gal
lantry in the war, the strongest, warm.
est kind of reception, and paid them
their generous tributes-whether they
were for US or against us. With big,
hearty cheers a great American audi
eI5ce greeted the name of CerVera, the
man who put up the strongest fight
that has been made on the sea against
the United States in this war. When
the meeting was raped to order and
Lieut. Hobson was called forward to
preside the demonstration was one of
those many have seen and felt, but
none has been able adequately to por-
tray. The lieutenant showed that he
is man with the gift of speech as we'll
as a man of deeds. He narrated Incl.
dents Of impetuous daring that had
come under his observation to illustrate
the chivalrc characteristics of "a sailor,
the bluejacket, Jackey," as the popular
word for them goes. Referring to the
Merrimac incident Lieutenant Hobson
said:
"This was my introduction, to Jackey the
sailor, and recently, my friends, have had
occasion to see Jackey where his endurance,
his bravery, and his loyalty were sorely
tried. (Cheers), feel that certain features
of the recent incident in which Jack played
his part, and played it well, should be re-
ferred to in public manner. / feel it my
duty to refer to it here. 1t is known to
everybody that when the call was made for
volunteers to 90 in on the Merrimac, men
fell over one another in their haste to be &C
cepted. On the New York alone 140 men
volunteered before the order could be passed
that no more volunteers were needed
When few out OF this number had been
assigned to stations on the Merrimac, all, in
obedience to orders, lay fiat on their faces
Two were stationed by the anchor gear
others by the torpedoes arranged along the
side, two in the engine room. twas agreed
by each one that he should not even look
over his shoulder, no matter what happened
to the ship, to any of his companions or to
himself. II wounded he should place him
self In sitting or kneeling posture, or
whatever posture was necessary, SO that
when the time for his duty came he could
do it to the best advantage. And 80 they
lay, each man at his post, and under what
difficulties you may understand when
tell you that, out of seven torpedoes placed
along the side, five had been shot away by
the enemy's fire before the order was given
for the merrimacs crew to gather at the
rendezvous on the quarter deck. Projec-
tiles were coming more as a continuous
stream than az separate shots. But, through
the whole storm, Jackey lay there ready to
do his duty as he had been instructed to do
it, There was not only the plunging fire
from the forts on both sides, but terrific
horizontal fire from the fleet in the harbor,
it seemed as if the next projectile would
wipe all the sailors out of life at once. Ii
ever feeling of each man for himself a
feeling Of get away from this get out OF
this any way, anyhow was to be justified
it was justified then. Not man so much
as turned his head"
"Then, later, when we were on the cata-
maran and the enemy'5 picket boats came
crawling up out of the darkness with their
lanterns, the impulse was just as strong to
slip off the raft and swim for the shore or
for the entrance of the harbor The simple
order was given, No man move until fur
Their ORDERS And not man moved or
stirred for nearly an hour.
ION that same afternoon, by the kindness
Of the gallant commander-in-chief of the
the Spanish forces, Admiral Cervera''-
There were one or two Kisses in the fal
corner of the gallery, and then cheering be
gan and spread all over the house. II
rolled up and down, and the flags anC
handkerchefs came out, and the man who
had been calling for cheers for Jackey asked
for three cheers for Admiral Cervera. They
came with a roaring American good will
Mr.. Hobson joining in them as he had il
that for the sailors. when the party wal
in prison. and through the kindness of thu
admiral the mems clothing was permitted
to be brought to them from the fleet, one o
the men, as spokesman for the rest was al
lowed to come over to my cell with pack
age for me. He said: we would do it owe
again tonight, SIR [Cheers.
THE next day, when it seemed uncertain
whether or not remnant of the Inquistioi
was to be revived, when the enemy did no
know whether it was his fault or ours that
ship had been sunk, and rather inclined t
the belief that he had sunk an American
battleship and that we were the only surv
vors out of several hundred, the men wer
taken before the Spanish authorities an
serious and impertinent questions put t
them. Remember, they did not know whs
it might cost them to refuse to answer
Spanish soldiers of the guard standing b,
fore them, making significant gestures wit
their hands thus; Mr.. Hobson passed hi
hand edgewise across his throat our Sci
men laughed in their faces. [Cheersl The
Spanish major questioned Charette, b.
cause he spoke French, and asked him tn
question:
"What was your object in coming
here2' and 80 long az | live shall nevt
forget the way Charette threw back h
shoulders, proudly lifted his head and lool