The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-09
Steering Gear of the Collier Broke
and the Tide Drifted Her out of
Position in the Channel.
MOMENTS OF GREAT PERIL
SHOWERS OF SHOT AND SHELL FROM
WAR SHIPS AND FORTS.
Great Rent Torn I'm the Vessels Side
by n Submarine Mine--The Sur
render to Admiral Cervera.
Copyright, 1898. by the Associated Press,

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Copyright, 1898. by the Associated Press.)
OFF SANTIAGO DE CUBA, July T. by
the Associated Press dispatch boat Daunt-
less, via Port Antonio and Kingston July
8, S:l' a. m.-The return of Assistant Naval
Constructor Richmond p. Hobson, of Mer-
rimac fame, to his ship, the flagship New
York, last night, was marked by wild en-
thusiasm. 1t was dark when a shout was
passed along the ship that Hobson was COM
ing. On the superstructure clambered the
crew, ten deep. and on the quarter deck the
officers clustered around the sea ladder and
hundred hands were stretched out to grasp
Hobsons. 1t was not until he was safe once
more on deck that the crew of the New
York cheered, and then they broke out into
wild yell, which went up over and over
again until the men were hoarse. Numbers
of the crew rushed forward on the quarter
deck and a great group of men struggled
around the tall figure of the man who had
dared so much
Behind Hobson came Col. John Jacob
Astor, and the first thing Hobson tried to
do was to introduce him to the officers, but
Colonel Astor got lost in the crowd which
surged around insisting upon shaking Hob
sons hand. The transports blew their
whistles. Hobson sat once more among his
messmates and told the story of his ex-
perience, his marvellous escape and his inn
prisonment in MORO Castle, watching the
shells explode outside his cell under MUIR
derous fire. II did not miss the entrance
to the harbor," he said ''as Ensign Powell
in the launch supposed. l headed east until
1 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 the hills the Vizcaya lying in
side the harbor, joining in Troops from
Santiago had rushed down when the news
of the Merrimac's coming was telegraphed
and soldiers lined the foot of the cliffs. fir
ing wildly across and killing each other
with the cross-fire The Merrimac's steer
ing gear broke as she got to Estrella Point.
Only three of the torpedoes on her side ex-
ploded when 1 touched the button. huge
submarine mine caught her full amdships.
hurting the water high in the air and tear
ing a great rent in the Merrimac's side.
Her stern ran upon Estrella Point Chiefly
owing to the work done by the mine she be-
gan to sink slowly. At that time she was
across the channel. but before she settled
the tide drifted her around We were all
aft 1 being on deck. Shells and bullets
whistled around. 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 through her decks.
Not a man must move,'' / said, land 1t
was only owing to the splendid discipline of
the men that all of us were not killed, as
the shells rained over and minutes be-
came hours of suspense. The mems mouths
grew parched, but we must lie there till
daylight / told them. Now and again one
the other of the men lying with his face
glued to the deck and wondering whether
the next shell would not come our way,
would say: Hadn't we better drop off now,
sir? but l said wait till daylight 1t would
have been impossible to get the catamaran
anywhere but to the shore where the sol
diers stood shooting and hoped that by
daylight might be recognized and saved.
The grand old Merrimac kept sinking.
wanted to go forward and see the damage
done there where nearly all the fire di-
rected, but one man said that if l rose it
would draw all the fire on the rest. So |
lay moticnlesS. 1t was splendid the way
these men behaved The fire of the soldiers,
the batteries and the Vizcaya was awful.
When the water came up on the Merrimac's
decks the catamaran hoated amid the
wreckage, but was still made fast to the
boom and we caught hold of the edge and
chung on, our heads being above water.
One man thought were safer right there:
1t was quite light, the firing had ceased ex-
cept that on the New York launch and I
feared Ensign Powell and his men had been
killed.
"A Spanish launch came toward the. Mer-
Just as she came close the Spaniards saw
us, and half dozen marines jumped up and
pointed their rifles at our heads. Is there
any officer in that boat to receive a sur
render 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 Moro Castle.
1T was a grand sight, few days later,
to see the bombardment. the shells striking
and bursting around FL Moro. Then we
were taken into Santiago. / had the court
martial room in the barracks. My men were
kept prisoners in the hospital. From my
window | could see the army moving and
1t was terrible to see those poor lads NOV
ing across the open and being shot down
by the Spaniards in the rifle pits in front of
me. Yesterday the Spaniards became as po-
lite as could be. j knew something was
coming and then was exchanged"
Hobson 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 Santiago,
was fireess in his efforts to secure COM
fort for Hobson and his men. The young
hero knew nothing about the destruction OF
Cervera's fleet until he reached the army
lines. He could not understand his promised
exceptional promotion, but overjOyed
to learn the news that his bravery had been
recognized by the people. He is the same
simple, unaffected. enthusiastic HobsOn,
more anxious TO talk about the effect of ex-
ploding shells and army movements than
came with him received a ringing reception.
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