New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-09
HOBSON AGAIN ON HIS SHIP.
MERRTNAC HEROES WELCOMED
MEN WHO SUNK THE COLLIER IN SAN
TIAGO CHANNEL ARE GREETED
WITH SHOUTS OF JOY.


sistant Naval Constructor Richmond P. Hob
son. Of Merrmac fame. to his ship. the flagship
New York. last night was marked by wild en-
thusiasrn. It was dark when a shout was
passed along the ship that Hobson coming.
On the superstructure ciambered the crew. zen
deep, and on the quarterback the officers cius-
tered around the ladder, and a hundred
hands We're stretched out to grasp Lieutenant
Hobsons Il was not until he was safe once
deck that the crew Of the New-fork
cheered and then they broke out into wild
yell which went up over and over again until
the men were hoarse
Behind Hobson came Colonel John JACOB As
tor and the first thing Hobson tried TO do was
to introduce him to the officers. but Colonel AS
tor got lost In the crowd which surged around
insisting upon shaking Hobson's hand the
transports blow their whistles.
Hobson sat once more among his messnates
and told the story Of his experiences, his marvel
lous escape and his Imprisonment in MORO
Castle. Santiago, watching the shells explode
outside his cell under a murderous fire.
FLASHING OF BIG GUNS
IT did not miss the entrance to the harbor
he said "as Ensign Powell in the launch. sup
posed. l headed east until got my bearings.
the firing. It was grand. flashing out first from
one side Of the harbor and then from the other
from those big guns on the hills-the Nkcaya'
lying inside the harhor. Joining in.
"Troops from Santiago had rushed down when
the news Of the Merrimacs coming was. tele-
graphed and soldiers lined the foot OF the
cliffs. firing wildly across and killing each other
with the cross-hre The Merrimacs steering
gear broke as she got to Estrella Point. Only
three Of the torpedoes en- her side eXpiooed
when touched the button. huge submarine
mine caught her full amidships hurting the
water high in the air and tearing great reii'
In the Merrimac's side
Her stern ran upon Estrella Point. Chiefly
owing to the work done by the mine. she began
10 sink slowly. At that time she was across
the channel but before she settled the tide
drifted her around We were all aft, lying on
the deck Shells and bullets whistled around
Sx-inch shells from the Vizcaya came tearing
into the Merrimac. crashing into wood and iron
and passing clea- through. while the pungng
shots from the fort broke through her decks.
mot man must move said; and 1t was
only owing to the splendid discipline Of the men
that we ali were not 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 I told them Now ana
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 or now, sir! bul
said Wait till daylight
FIERCE FIRE FROM THE BATTERIES.
"It would have been impossible to get the
catamaran anywhere but on 10 the shore. where
the soldiers stood shooting. and hoped that by
daylight we might be 'ecognized ana saved.
The grand old Merrimac kept sinking wanted
TO go forward and see the damage done there'
where nearly all the fire was directed. One
man said that IL rose It would draw all the
fire on the rest. SO 1 lay motionless. 1t was
sn,endid the way those men behaved.
1.-The fire of the soldiers the batteries aud
tho vizcava was awful When the water came
I'D to the Merrimac's decks. the catamaran
Aoated amid the wreckage. but she was stu
made fast TO the BOOM and we caught hold OF
tho edges and clung on, our heads only pens
above water.
"Ora man Thought we were safer right there.
T, vas quite light. The firing had ceased except
that on the New-York launch. and feared En-
.,or powe,, and his men had been killed.
"a snanish launch came toward the Merrf-
r,oc We agreed to capture her and rum Just
=. sbe came close the Spaniards saw us, and
haIf a dozen marines jumped up and pointed
their rifles at our heads. which were sticking out
OF the water.
"Is there any officer In that boat to receive
q surrender Of prisoners OF war;? shouted. An
old man leaned out under the awning and waved
his hand II was Admiral Cervera. The ma
r,nes lowered their rifles and were helped
into the launch.
"Then we were put In cells in Morro Castle.
II was a grand sight few days later to see
the bombardment the shells striking and burst
ing around Ell Morro Then we were taken into
Santiago. had the court-mart!al room in the
barracks. My men were kept prisoners in the
hospital
From my window I could see the army
moving. and It was terrible to those poor
lads moving across the open and being shot
down by the Spaniards In the rfe-pits In front
Of me. Yesterday the Spaniards became as po-
lite as could be. I knew something was com
ing: and then was exchanged"
Hobson was overjoyed at getting back He
looked we'll. though somewhat worn On the
whole. the Spaniards treated him better than
might have been expected. Mr. Ramsden. the
British Consul at Santiago. treless In his
efforts to secure comfort for Hobson and his
men,
THE rRISTOBAL COLON.
of Santiago de Cuba. July Z. by The Associ-
"a praa, niSpotch Roat Daupflaaa VII port