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| Lt. Richmond P. Hobson. |
Cortland Semi-Weekly Standard, Tuesday, July 12, 1898.
HOBSON’S STORY.
How the Merrimac Was Destroyed—Prisoners Well Treated.
NEW YORK, July 8.—A dispatch to The Herald from off Santiago, Cuba, says: Your correspondent saw Mr. Hobson after he had made his report to Admiral Sampson and he consented to give The Herald a fuller interview about his experiences. He spoke in glowing terms of the courage and bravery of his crew.
“We have been thirty-three days in a Spanish prison,” said Mr. Hobson, “and the more I think about it the more marvelous it seems that we are alive. It was about 3 o’clock in the morning when the Merrimac entered the narrow channel and steamed in under the guns of Morro castle. The stillness of death prevailed. It was so dark that we could scarcely see the headland. We had planned to drop our starboard anchor at a certain point to the right of the channel, reverse our engines and then swing the Merrimac around, sinking her directly across the channel.
“This plan was adhered to, but circumstances rendered its execution impossible. When the Merrimac poked her nose into the channel our troubles commenced. The deadly silence was broken by the wash of a small boat approaching us from the shore. I made her out to be a picket boat.
“She ran close up under the stern of the Merrimac and fired several shots from what seemed to be three-pounder guns. The Merrimac’s rudder was carried away by this fire. That is why the collier was not sunk across the channel.
“We did not discover the loss of the rudder until Murphy cast anchor. We then found that the Merrimac would not answer to the helm and were compelled to make the best of the situation.
“The run up the channel was very exciting. The picket boat had given the alarm, and in a moment the guns of the Vizcaya, the Almirante Oquendo and of the shore batteries were turned upon us.
“Submarine mines and torpedoes also were exploded all about us, adding to the excitement. The mines did no damage, although we could hear rumbling and could feel the ship tremble.
“We were running without lights and only the darkness saved us from utter destruction. When the ship was in the desired position and we found that the rudder was gone. I called the men on deck. While they were launching the catamaran I touched off the explosives. At the same moment two torpedoes, fired by the Reina Mercedes, struck the Merrimac amidships. I cannot say whether our own explosives or the Spanish torpedoes did the work, but the Merrimac was lifted out of the water and almost rent asunder.
“As she settled down we scrambled overboard and cut away the catamaran. A great cheer went up from the forts and warships as the hull of the collier foundered, the Spaniards thinking that the Merrimac was an American warship.
“We attempted to get out of the harbor in the catamaran, but a strong tide was running and daylight found us still struggling in the water. Then for the first time the Spaniards saw us and a boat from the Reina Mercedes picked us up. It then was shortly after 5 o’clock in the morning and we had been in the water more than an hour. We were taken abroad the Reina Mercedes and later were sent to Morro castle. In Morro we were confined in cells in the inner side of the fortress and were there the first day the fleet bombarded Morro. I could only hear the whistling of the shells and the noise they made when they struck, but I judged from the conversation of the guards that the shells did considerable damage.
“After the bombardment Mr. Ramsden, the British consul protested, and we were removed to the hospital. There I was separated from the other men in our crew and could see them only by special permission. Montague and Kelley fell ill two weeks ago, suffering from malaria, and I was permitted to visit them twice.
“Mr. Ramsden was very kind to us and demanded that Montague and Kelly be removed to better quarters in the hospital. This was done.
“As for myself there is little to say. The Spanish were not disposed to do much for the comfort of any of the prisoners at first, but after our army had taken some of their men as prisoners, our treatment was better. Food is scarce in the city, and I was told that we fared better than the Spanish officers.”
John Brooks’ Horse Preferred it to Grain—Was Left in the Barn.
John Brooks, the [Cortland] milkman, is to-day mourning the loss of a valuable horse which has served him faithfully for ten years. The animal was 13 years old. Saturday afternoon Reed Lucas, who works for Mr. Brooks, finished putting paris green on the potatoes. He had about a pint of the poison left and he placed it in a measure on a barrel over behind a wagon and covered it up with a blanket. Sunday morning he had occasion to use that wagon and took it away forgetting that its removal left the poison in an accessible place. While he was gone the horse wandered into the barn from the pasture where he had been feeding and began looking around for grain. He passed an open barrel of oats and succeeded in getting the blanket off the paris green and when discovered had eaten nearly all of it up. Nothing could be done to save his life and he died very soon. The horse was a spotted animal and was the surviving one of a pair that ran away last winter, his mate being killed as a result of the runaway.
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.
The Men Behind the Guns.
The superiority of the American gunner was as marked at Santiago as at Manila. The Spaniards have courage and a never-surrender spirit, but they can’t shoot straight on the water.
At Santiago they had not the excuse of Manila, hulks for ships and inferior guns. Cervera’s ships were of recent build. They were the best of the Spanish navy, and as good as any of their class afloat. They were heavily armored. Their guns were of heavy caliber and of high power. The accounts of the running battle agree that the Spanish guns were industriously served, yet if a shot or shell hit an American ship the fact is not mentioned. The one man killed and two wounded on the Brooklyn were hit by pieces of a shell that exploded in air.
On the other hand, each of the Spanish vessels was hit repeatedly. Each was disabled, knocked out, riddled by the well-aimed missiles from the American ships. The contest was unequal to be sure, but that was no excuse for the failure of every gunner on the six ships to hit anything but the ocean. Montojo’s men did better. They hit several of Dewey’s vessels. “The men behind the guns,” on sea and land, constitute the great strength of the navy and army of the United States.
At Santiago too, the surprise feature was reversed. The Americans were not expecting the enemy to come out; but they were ready at all times for the work they were afloat to do.
◘ “The colored troops fought nobly” is a legacy of the War of the Rebellion. One recalls it on reading how superbly the black soldiers of the Tenth cavalry regiment of this state have been acquitting themselves. By the side of the intrepid Rough Riders we are told they followed their leader up the terrible hill from whose crest the desperate Spaniards poured down a deadly fire of shell and musketry. They never faltered. The rents in their ranks were filled as soon as made. Firing as they marched, their aim was splendid, their coolness was superb and their courage aroused the admiration of their comrades. Their advance was greeted with wild cheers from the white regiments, and with an answering shout they pressed onward over the trenches they had taken close in pursuit of the retreating enemy.
Such incidents demonstrate that there is no justice in perpetrating what is known as “the color line.” It will be remembered that the other day Senator Tillman of South Carolina came out squarely in favor of a white man’s government and gave black men everywhere to understand that their true place was always in the ranks of the governed, never among the leaders, or the governors. The senator certainly cannot prove this position by a reference to the Tenth cavalry.
Hawaii is Ours.
At last! Obstruction to the acquisition of the Hawaiian islands was worn out yesterday. The senate was permitted to vote on the Newlands resolutions and by a two-thirds majority, 42 to 21, they were adopted, without amendment. The resolutions recite the terms of the treaty of annexation. They make the Pacific islands United States territory in the manner that Texas was acquired. The wishes of the American people, which Grover Cleveland balked in 1893, are at last respected. President McKinley completed a broad and patriotic act of statesmanship last night by giving it his approval.
The history of the movement to make Hawaii United States territory is too familiar to need recital here. In its support the best minds in naval and military circles and in state craft have enlisted. The advantages of the islands to the commercial development of the Pacific states, their importance to the nation when the Nicaragua canal shall have been constructed, their strategical value in war, have been set forth in convincing manner. The present war has demonstrated the necessity of their possession to the United States and has nerved the friends of annexation to exhaust opposition to the consummation of the nation’s will.
As with every progressive movement in the United States this one has been opposed by the Democratic party. Individual Democrats have honored themselves by breaking from their party and bravely aiding in bringing about the end at last attained.
The flag which by Mr. Cleveland’s order “Paramount” Blount pulled down will be raised again soon in Honolulu, to float forever over the American territory of Hawaii!
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| Clara Barton. |
CUBAN RELIEF FUND.
Cortland Sends $265.34 for the Relief of Cuban Sufferers.
Dr. O. A. Houghton, pastor of the First M. E. church and chairman of the local Cuban relief committee has forwarded to Charles A. Schieren of New York, treasurer of the Central Cuban relief committee, a draft for $264.34, the net amount collected in Cortland for the Cuban relief fund as a result of a public meeting held in the Cortland Opera House on the evening of April 1, and the contributions received by various members of the committee since that time. Some weeks ago Dr. Houghton wrote to Stephen E. Barton of the American National Red Cross society and chairman of the Central Cuban relief committee in reference to the disposition of the funds which he had on hand and received the following reply:
THE CENTRAL CUBAN RELIEF COMMITTEE, 58 WILLIAM-ST., COR. PINE, NEW YORK, June 1, 1898.
Rev. O. A. Houghton, Pastor of the First M. E. church, Cortland, N. Y.
REVEREND AND DEAR SIR—In reference to the $300 which you have on hand, I beg to say that inasmuch as we are impatiently awaiting action by the military authorities, which will enable us to land our relief supplies and resume energetically the work of distribution and relief among the suffering people whom we may find remaining in Cuba, we think it would be well for you to remit the money to our treasurer, Mr. Chas. A. Schieren. To be sure, it has been a month since we were able to distribute any food and we have discontinued further solicitation, but we have now more than 1,000 tons upon the relief ship at Tampa awaiting the movement of the military forces, and we have a large quantity of supplies and a good sum of money in the funds here, all of which and much more will be needed.
Miss Barton and the Red Cross have charge of the expedition for relief and along with that will probably go the hospital relief work in aid of the army and navy departments. Your people might select which relief they would prefer to have the money applied to, whether provisions for the starving people or for hospital work in connection with the army and navy. If sent to Mr. Schieren it would be applied to the purpose which you designated.
Very truly yours,
Stephen Barton, Chairman.
The following is the report of the treasurer, showing the total amount collected and the expenses incurred in carrying on the local work. [Omitted by CC editor.]
In accordance with the above letter and report Dr. Houghton has forwarded to the treasurer of the Central Cuban relief committee a draft for $265.34.
BREVITIES.
—The park proved an attractive resort for many Saturday night. The Cortland City band gave a splendid concert, and there was free dancing in the large pavilion.
—Regular meeting of the W. C. T. U. on Tuesday, July 12, at 2:45. Consecration service will be led by Mrs. A. M. Waterbury. Business meeting and a program will follow.
—The lecture given by Prof. McEvoy of the Cortland Normal for the benefit of St. Anthony’s church, Friday evening, was well attended and very interesting.—Groton Journal.
—Mrs. M. Elizabeth Woodward, aged 67 years, died at 11 o’clock Thursday night at her residence 6 North Church-st. The funeral was held from the house Monday morning at 10 o'clock, and interment was made at Homer.
—Mrs. Almira S. Day died Saturday morning at 5 o’clock at the residence of her son, C. L. Day, near South Cortland, aged 70 years and 10 days. The funeral will be held Tuesday at 4 o’clock p. m., and the remains will be taken to Marathon on the 6:12 train for burial.
—Six people of one family in Sherburne have all died of trichinosis produced by eating raw pork. The family denied having done this when the case was first diagnosed, but one of them admitted it before he died. A piece of the meat put under the microscope was found to be swarming with trichinae.
—Dr. James M. Milne of the Oneonta Normal school, brought six diplomas to give to members of Company G, Thursday night. The six students were members of the Oneonta Separate company [state national guard] and went to the front with that company a month previous to graduation.—Binghamton Republican. The Oneonta company was a part of the First regiment, N. Y. Vols., that passed through Binghamton on its way to Manila Thursday night.
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