The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-09
WILD ENTHUSIASM
Greeted Lieutenant Hobson When He Re-
turned to the New York.

Greeteu Lieutenant HObsOn when He Re-
turned to the New York.
Copyright 1898 by Associated Press.
of Santiago, July 8, by the associated
press dispatch boat Dauntless. via Port
Antonio and Kingston. July s, 9:12 a.
m.-The return of Assistant Naval Con-
structor Hobson to his ship, the flag
ship New York, last night, was marked
by wild enthusiasm. When Hobson sat
once more among his messmates he told
the story of his experience, his marvel
Gus escape and his Imprisonment in
MORO castle.
81 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 II, straight in. Then came the firing.
1t was grand, flashing out first from one
side of the harbor and then the other.
from the big guns on the hills, the Viz
caya, lying inside the harbor. join
ing 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
crossfire. The Merrimac's steering gear
broke as she got 10 Estrella point. Only
three of the torpedoes on her side ex-
ploded when / touched the button. A
huge submarine mine caught her full
amidships, hurting water high in the
air and tearing a great rent in the Mer-
rimac's side. Her stern ran up on
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
a H. IL sIT.1 a ~
| six-inch shells from the ViZcaya came
tearing into the Merrfmac, crashing
into wood and iron and passing clear
| through, while the plunging shots from
the forts broke through her decks.
"'Not a man must move / said. and
IL was only owing to the splendid discl-
| pline OF the men that all Of US were 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. / 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 come our way, would say:
Hadn't we better drop off now, sir
But said: Wait till daylight
1T would have been impossible 20
| get the catamaran 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
| ago done there. where nearly all the
| fire was directed. bu. one man said
that il l rose IL would draw the fire on
the rest. SO / lay motionless. 1t was
| splendid the way those men behaved.
The fire of the soldiers. the batteries
and the Vizcaya was awful. When the
water came up on the Merrimacs decks
| the catamaran fioated amid the wreck
age. 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; II was quite light, the FIR
ing had ceased, except that on the New
| York's launch. and I 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
/ Spaniards saw US. and half a dozen
/ marines jumped up and pointed their
rifles at our heads. is there any officer
/ in that boat to receive a surrender Of
/ prisoners OF war; | shouted. An old
! man leaned over under the awning and