HOW THE AIERRIMAC WAS SUNK  287



damage was done, and thE bombardment ended in a
stand-off between the two sides.
  The American officer had no desire to pass
through such a cannonade again, and he wrote
to the Spanish governor to ask that his crew and
himself be transferred to safer quarters. Next day
an officer arrived with orders to take all the pris-
oners to the city of Santiago.  So after a four
days' stay in Morro Castle the little party set out on
an inland march, guarded by some thirty Spanish
soldiers.  It was not far to Santiago, and there
the Americans were housed in the regular army
barracks. These quarters were much better than
those in the fortress, and the British Consul secued
many comforts and delicacies for the Americans.
  The men of the Mc1rehinznac stayed in Santiago
during the siege of tha- city.  On July 5th ar-
rangements were made to exchange Hobson and
his men. In the afternoon they were blindfolded
and guided out of the city. Half a mile or more
beyond the entrenchments they were told that they
might remove the handkerchiefs, and found them-
selves facing their own troops on a distant ridge.
Soon they were being welcomed by their own men,
who told them of the recent victories won by
fleet and army. Not long afterward they reached
their ships, and were received on board the Neze
York by the officers and men who had watched
them set out on their dangerous mission on that
moonlight night of June 3d.  They gave a royal