Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-07-09
HossoH's STORY.
Continued from page ~

Her stern ran upon Estrella Points
Chiefly owing to the work done by the
mine she began to slowly sink. AL
that time she was across the channel
but before she settled the tide drifted
her around. We were all aft, lying on
The decks. Shells and bullets whistled
around. Six-inch shells from the
Vizcaya came tearing into the Merit
mac. crashing into wood and iron,
passing clear through, while the
plunging shots from the fort broke
through her decks.
".Not a man must move sail. and it
was only owing to the splendid discipline
of the men that we all were not Killed as
the shells rained over and minutes pc
came hours of suspense. The mems
mouths became parched, but we must lie
there till daylight. | told them. Now ana
again. one or the other of the men, lying
with his face glued to the deck ana won
dering whether the next shell would not
come our way. would say, Hadn't we'bet-
ter drop off now, sr?' but said, Wait
till daylight.
at would have been impossible to get
the catamaran anywhere but onto the
shore. whore the soldiers stood shooting.
and | hoped that by daylight we might
be recognized and saved The grand old
Merrmac kept sinking. j wanted TO so
forward ana see the damage done there
where nearly all the fire was directed
One man said that If | rose it would draw
all the fire on the rest, so l lay motion
less.
at was splendid the way these men be-
havde. The fire Of the soldiers, the bat
teres and the ViZcaya was awful. When
the water came upon the Merrimac's deck
the catamaran noated amid the wreckage.
but she was still made fast to the boom
and we caught hold OF the edges and
chung on, our heads on.y being above
water.
lone man thought we were safer right
thore; it was quite light: the firing had
ceased except that ON the New York
launched ana | feared Ensign Powell
and his men had been killed.
A Spanish launch came toward thu
Aierrimac. We agreed to capture her
ami run. Just as She came close the
Spaniards saw us and half dozen ma
rncs jumped up and pointed their
rifles at our heads. sticking out OF the
water.
lis there any officer IN that beat 70
receive a surrender Of prisoners OF
war / shouted An old man leaned
out under the awning and waved his
a Mn
marines lowered their rifles and We
were helped into the launch
Then We were put IN cells IN MORO
Castle 1t was a grand slght few
days later 10 see the bombardmcnt. the
shells striking and bursting around
FL MORO. Then we were taken into
Santiago. | had the court martial
room IN the barracks. Ny men were
kept prisoners In the hospital From
my window ] could see ihe army mov-
ing and II was terrible - see these
poor lads moving across the open ana
being shot DOWN by the Spaniards in
the rifle pits in front of US.
1.-The Spaniards became as polite as
could be. yesterday. knew something
was coming. and then | was exchanged"
IIohson was overjoyed at getting back.
He looked well. though somewhat worn.
On the whole. the Spaniards treated him
better than might have been expected.
Mr.. Ramsden. the British consul at SAN
tiago. was tirelcss in his efforts to secure
comfort for Hobson and his men.
The Young hero knew nothing about the
destruction of cerveras fleet until he
reached the army lines. He could not