The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1898-07-15

George f. Phillips, machinist; john
Kelly. water tender: George Chareste,
gunner's mate; Daniel Montague,
seaman; J. c. McMurphy, coxswain,
and Randolph Clausen, coxswain.
The correspondent of the Associated
press asked HObson for an interview
and statement as to his experiences on
the memorable night when he took
the collier Merrimac into Santiago
harbOr. de declined to say anything
with regard to the Merrimac on the
ground that he intended TO submit
complete report to Admiral Sampson
on the subject and that 1t would be
outside the line Of his duty to say any
thing until after he had made such
report or at least had an opportunity
to consult the admiral With regard
! to his experiences as a prisoner OF war
| in Santiago he said:
During the first four days we were prisoners
OF war we were confined in MORO castle, and
| I can assure you those we're extremely unCOm-
I Portable and disaCreeabIe days The Sp1niards
did not exactly ill-treat US. but Il took them
! some time TO recover from the shock caused
( BY what most Of them considered our Yankee
| fmpudence in tying to block their harbOr IS
q rule the officers and men who came into con-
/ tact with US were E-un in speech and sullen In
manner. There were many threatening
glauCes shot in our direction For Admiral
Cervera I have nothing but the high
est admiration His act IN informing Adj
miraI Sampson Of our safety regard as that
Of kInd-hearted generous man and chtYal-
rous oficer. I expressed TO him my sincere
thanks and the thanks Of my men for taking
this means OF relieving the anxiety Of our ship
mates and our friends At home He repeatedly
spoke 70 me OF his admiration OF what 10
called one Of the most daring acts in naval his
tory, though I an sure We were not entitled 20
rHr~T~ u-n r-um
hundreds Of other men on our ships who would
have been glad 20 undertake 70 DO the same
/ thing
While We we're IN Moro castle We were naval
prisoners. but at the end Of four days We we're
transferred 10 the Jurisdiction Of the army and
were removed 10 the Reina Mercedes hospital
on the outskirts q Santiago. where We re-
NAMED until to-day. We knew but Little OF
what was going on II the city. though Of course
We could always tell when our feet was Don-
harding the shore batteries and we could easily
distinguish the terrific explosions caused By the
Vesuvius throwing dynamite shells Several
times at night VIC were also fully aware thss
the land batteries were fighting outside tbs
city. I have no reason % complain Of our
Treatment as prisoners OF war me pfe1u-
dice which the Spa1iards showed against
Us during the first few days sOO1 wore away
We conducted ourselves properly and simply
forced them 20 treat Us veil We knew notn-
ing about the destruction Of Admiral CerFeTa's
squadron until told b our own people today
some and cannot tell ron how great was the
relief We felt 70 be free again / cannot ex-
press ny gratitude 20 our soldiers who gave US
such welcome when We came into the lines
All OF Us are in excellent health aud glad 20
get back 10 our posts again and see the way
through 20 the end
Hobson and his men were escorted
through the American lines by Capt
Chadwick, Of the New York, who was
waiting them Every step Of their
journey was marked By the widest
demonstrations on the part Of the
American soldiers The same scenes
Of enthusiasm were repeated upon the
arrival Of the men at the hospital sta
ton and az our base at Juragua Hob
son, who reached there IN advance Of
his companions, was taken On board
the New York Immediately. The
fagship's decks were lined with
officers and men. and as HObson
3 clsmbered up her side and stepped on
board his vessel, the hsrbor rang with
the shouts and cheers Of his comrades.