The record-union., 1898-07-09

from one side of the harbor and then
the other from those big guns on the
hills, the Vizcaya, lying inside the har-
Dor, 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. firing wildly
across and killing each other with their
cross fire.
The Merrimacs steering gear broke
| as she got to Estrella Point. Only three
of the torpedoes on her side exploded
when / touched the button. A huge
submarine mine caught her full amid
ships, hurting water high in the air
and tearing a great rent in the Merri-
macs side.
Her stern ran upon Estrella Point
Chiefly owing to the work done by the
mine, she began to sink slowly AT
that time she was across the channel,
| but before she settled the tide drifted
her around.
I'VE We're all left lying on the deck.
Shells and bullets whistled around us.
The 6-inch shells from the vizcaya
came tearing into the Merrimac, crash
ing into wood and iron, and passing
clear through. while the plunging shots
from the forts broke through her
| decks.
Not a man must move I said. and
1t was only owing to the splendid disci-
pline of the men that all Of US We're not
killed, as the shells sailed over US and
minutes became hours of suspense. The
mems mouths grew parched, but we
must lie there till daylight, I told them
Now and again one or 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 jump off now,
SIR? But / said: Wait till daylight
| 1t would have been impossible to get
/ the cafamaran 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
wanted to go forward and see the dam
age done there, where nearly all the
| fire was directed, but one man said that
| II l rose 1T would draw the fire on the
| rest. So / lay motionless.
| 1t was splendid the way the men
behaved. The fire of the soldiers, the
batteries and the Vizcaya was awful
/ When the water came up on the Mer-
| rimac's decks the catamaran fioated
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; it was quite light, the
| firing had ceased, except that on the
New York's launch, and I feared En-
sign Powell and his men had been
killed. A Spanish launch came toward
the Merrimac. We agreed to capture
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.
Is there an officer in that boat to
| receive surrender of prisoners of
war; / shouted. An old man leaned
over 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 We're put in cells in Moro
Castle Afterward we were taken into
| Santiago. had the court martial room
in the barracks My men We're kept
! prisoners in the hospital. From my
I window / could see the army moving
across the open and being shot down
by the Spaniards in the rifle pits in
front of me- The Spaniards became
as polite as could be. I knew some
thing was coming, and then / was ex-
| changed"
Mr.. Ramsden, the British Consul at
| Santiago, was tireless in his efforts
to secure comfort for Hobson and his
men. Lieutenant Hobson could not
| understand his promised exceptional
promotion, but was 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 exploding shells and army
moves than about his own brave deed.
The men who come with him received
| a ringing reception. All are doing well.