The Boys of '98 Part 21

"Notwithstanding every effort the hour of four o'clock arrived, and the preparation was scarcely completed. After a careful inspection of the final preparations, I was forced to relinquish the plan for that morning, as dawn was breaking. Mr. Hobson begged to try it at all hazards.

"This morning proved more propitious, as a prompt start could be made.

Nothing could have been more gallantly executed.

"We waited impatiently after the firing by the Spaniards had ceased. When they did not reappear from the harbour at six o'clock, I feared that they had all perished. A steam launch, which had been sent in charge of Naval Cadet Powell to rescue the men, appeared at this time, coming out under a persistent fire of the batteries, but brought none of the crew.

"A careful inspection of the harbour from this ship showed that the vessel _Merrimac_ had been sunk in the channel.

"This afternoon the chief of staff of Admiral Cervera came out under a flag of truce, with a letter from the admiral, extolling the bravery of the crew in an unusual manner.

"I cannot myself too earnestly express my appreciation of the conduct of Mr. Hobson and his gallant crew. I venture to say that a more brave or daring thing has not been done since Cushing blew up the _Albemarle_.

"Referring to the inspiring letter which you addressed to the officers at the beginning of the war, I am sure you will offer a suitable professional reward to Mr. Hobson and his companions. I must add that Commander J. M.

Miller relinquished his command with the very greatest reluctance, believing he should retain his command under all circ.u.mstances.

[Ill.u.s.tration: HOBSON AND HIS MEN ON THE RAFT.]

"He was, however, finally convinced that the attempt of another person to carry out the mult.i.tude of details which had been in preparation by Mr.

Hobson might endanger its proper execution. I therefore took the liberty to relieve him, for this reason only.

"There were hundreds of volunteers who were anxious to partic.i.p.ate. There were a hundred and fifty men from the _Iowa_, nearly as many from this ship, and large numbers from all the other ships, officers and men alike.

"W. T. SAMPSON."

Not until the sixth of July were Hobson and his brave comrades exchanged, and then to his messmates the gallant lieutenant told the story of his perilous voyage on that morning of June 4th:

"I did not miss the entrance to the harbour," he said, "as Cadet Powell in the launch supposed. I headed east until I got my bearings, and then made for it straight in. Then came the firing. It was grand, flashing out first from one side of the harbour and then from the other, from those big guns on the hill, the _Vizcaya_, lying inside the harbour, 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 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 I touched the b.u.t.ton. A huge submarine mine caught her full amidships, hurling the water high in the air, and tearing a great rent in her 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. We were all aft, lying on the deck. Sh.e.l.ls and bullets whistled around. Six-inch sh.e.l.ls from the _Vizcaya_ came tearing into the _Merrimac_, crashing into wood and iron, and pa.s.sing clear through, while the plunging shots from the forts broke through her deck.

"'Not a man must move,' I said, and it was only owing to the splendid discipline of the men that we all were not killed, as the sh.e.l.ls rained over us, and the minutes became hours of suspense. The men's mouths became 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 sh.e.l.l might not come our way, would say, 'Hadn't we better drop off now, sir?' But I said, 'Wait till daylight.'

"It would have been impossible to get the catamaran anywhere but on to the sh.o.r.e, where the soldiers stood shooting, and I hoped that by daylight we might be recognised and saved.

"The grand old _Merrimac_ kept sinking. I wanted to go forward and see the damage done there, where nearly all the fire was directed. One man said that if I rose it would draw all the fire on the rest. So I lay motionless. It was splendid the way these men behaved.

[Ill.u.s.tration: ADMIRAL CERVERA.]

"The fire of the soldiers, the batteries and the _Vizcaya_ was awful. When the water came up on the _Merrimac's_ deck the catamaran floated amid the wreckage, but she was still made fast to the boom, and we caught hold of the edges and clung on, our heads only 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 Cadet 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 sticking out of the water.

"'Is there any officer in that boat to receive a surrender of prisoners of war?' I shouted.

"An old man leaned out under the awning and waved his hand. It was Admiral Cervera. The marines lowered their rifles and we were helped into the launch.

"Then we were put in cells in Morro Castle. It was a grand sight a few days later to see the bombardment, the sh.e.l.ls striking and bursting around El Morro. Then we were taken into Santiago. I had the court martial 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 watch those poor lads coming across the opening and being shot down by the Spaniards in the rifle-pits in front of me.

"Yesterday the Spaniards became as polite as could be. I knew something was coming, and then I was exchanged."

[Ill.u.s.tration: QUEEN REGENT, MARIA CHRISTINA OF SPAIN.]

CHAPTER IX.

BY WIRE.

_May 30._ The auxiliary cruisers _Leyden_ and _Uncas_ made an attack on one of the outlying blockhouses at Cardenas, plying their 3-pounders until the Spaniards deserted their batteries.

_June 1._ The government of Paraguay represented to the American consul at Asuncion that the Spanish torpedo-boat _Temerario_ was disabled, and had been granted permission to remain at that port until the war between the United States and Spain had come to an end.

In Spain there are many differences of opinion regarding the conduct of the war, as evinced by a newspaper article to which was signed the name of Emilio Castelar, the distinguished republican statesman.

Senor Castelar attacked the queen regent, reproaching her with being a foreigner and unpopular, and with interfering unjustifiably in political affairs. He compared her position with that of Queen Marie Antoinette on the eve of the French revolution.

The matter came before the Senate; Duke de Roca demanded the prosecution of Castelar, and other Senators expressed in violent terms their indignation at Senor Castelar's conduct.

_June 2._ The British steamer _Restormel_, captured by the auxiliary cruiser _St. Paul_ off Santiago de Cuba, was released by the government.

It was shown that the _Restormel_ sailed previous to the declaration of war, there being no evidence that the steamer's owners were wilfully and knowingly guilty of aiding the enemy's fleet, and she was ordered released. The cargo was condemned.

The names of the captains and commanders of the ships in Admiral Dewey's squadron were sent to the Senate, by the President, for advancement because of their conspicuous conduct.

The House of Representatives pa.s.sed an urgency appropriation of nearly eighteen million dollars for war purposes.

From Captain Clark's report, the Navy Department made public the following extract relative to the extraordinary voyage of the _Oregon_:

"It is gratifying to call the department's attention to the spirit aboard this ship in both officers and men. This best can be described by referring to instances such as that of the engineer officers in voluntarily doubling their watches when high speed was to be made, to the attempt of men to return to the fire-room after being carried out of it insensible, and to the fact that most of the whole crew, who were working by watches by day and night at Sandy Point, preferred to leave their hammocks in the nettings until they could get the ship coaled and ready to sail from Sandy Point."

_June 3._ The collier _Merrimac_ was sunk in the channel of Santiago Harbour, as has already been told.