The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-09
HObSON BACK
ON HIS SHIP
Ardent|y Greeted by Its He
ro-worshipping Crew.
A FLASH OF ROMANCE
HE TELLS. IN SIMPLE WORDS
HIS THRILLING STORY.
HIS TRIBUTE TO HIS DARING MEN
Lying on the Deck Of the Doomed Merrma,
Under Tornado of Spanish Shot End
SheIl.Amest Miracle.

Copyright 1898 by Associated Press.l
Off Santiago de Cuba, July by the
Associated Press despatch boat Daunt-
less, via Port Antonio and Kingston.
July S-9:15 d. m.-The return of AS
sistant Naval Constructor Richmond
u. Hobson. of the Merrimac fame, to
his ship, the flagship New York, last
night, was marked by wild enthusiasm.
1t was dark when Il 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 Hobson's. 1t was
not until he was safe once more on deck
that the crew of the New York chccred.
and then they broke out into a wild yell
which was repea ted 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 50 much.
Behind Hobson came Col. John Jacob
Astor and the first thing Hobson tried
to do was to introduce him to the off
GERS, but Col. Astor got lost in the
crowd, which surged around insisting
upon shaking Hobson's hand. The -,4.ons-
ports blew their whistles. EIobson sat
once. more among his shipmates and told
the story of his experience. his marvel
ous escape and his Imprisonment in
Morro Castle, watching the shells eX-
plode outside his cell.
Il did not miss the entrance to the
harbor' he said, 'as Ensign Powell in
the launch supposed. | headed east un-
til l 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 on the hills. the
Nizcaya, lying inside the harbor joining
in.
Troops from Santiago had rushed
down when the news of the Merrimac's
coming was telegraphcd. and soldiers
lined the foot of the cliffs, firing wildly
across and killing each other with the
cross fire. The Merrimac's steering
gear broke as she got to Estrella point,
only three of the torpedoes on her side
exploded when | touched the button. n
huge submarine torpedo caught her full
amidship huring the water high i'll the
air and tearing Il great rent in the
Merrmac's 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 set
tied the tide drifted her around. We
were all aft, lying on the deck. Shells
and bullets whistled around us. Six inch
shells from the Nizcaya 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 Il man must move" | said, "and
it was only owing to the splendid disci-
pline of the men that we were not all
killed. as the shells rained over us and
minutes became hours of suspense. The
mems mouths grew parched, but we
must lie there till daylight, | 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 drop off now
sir" but | said, "wait till daylight"
1T would have been impossible TO get
the Catamaran anywhere but to the
shore where the soldiers stood shooting.
and | hoped that by daylight we 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 was di
rected. but one man said that if / rose
it would draw 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 wafer 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 clung on,
our heads being above water.
zone man thought we were safer
right there; it was quite light the firing
he'd ceased except that directed at the
New York launch. and ] feared Ensign
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 Span
iards saw us and half IL dozen marines
jumped up and pointed their rifles at
our heads.
is there any officer in that boat to
receive surrender of prisoners of war!
shouted. and an old man leaned ont |
under the awning and waved his hand. |
1t was Admiral Ccrvera. The marines
lowered their rifles, and we were helped
into the launch
Then we were put i'll cells in Morrol