New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-08
HOBSON EXCHANGED.
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panions forced their way through the lines Oh
white and colored soldiers
Hobson as far possible. grasped each Manu-
extended toward him. and neither he nor Ms
men made any protest against the uncomior''
able crowding and jostling which they had to
undergo -
NO RACE PREJUDICE.
II the Young officer whose home is in Ala
hama has any race prejudice. he certainly for-
got all about it as he passed through the lines OF
soldiers on his va, to General Wheelers heao-
quarters Ee saw II the Uniform OF the
United Statea Army. and he cared not Tor Inc
color OF the wearers graspng the hands OF the
ebon- hued troopers Of the 9th and 10Th Cavalry
and expressing his thanks for their patriotic
welcome with a. much heartiness as ne AIS
played toward men Of his own race. lie ana all
Of his men completely overcome by the
reception accorded them, and tears rolled down
their cheeks es TIE soldiers crowded around
them.
As Hobson ard his party approached Captain
Grimes's battery the men cried out on every
side to have n salute fired in their honor. Hob
son protested against this Immediately, and
shouted to the artillerymen who had also
caught the infection. not to fire their guns.
Some OF the more enthusiastic of the men ap-
peal to Colonel John Jacob Astor. and he entered
into the spirit Of the occasion. ard told the
men they need not obey Hohson's orders as he
was only a lieutenant But the officers Of the
battery prevented the men from firing the guns
as the Spanlards might have mistaken the re-
ports for the opening 81 an attack, and II the
latter had responded the American soldiers
were In no position. in their state NJ disorder
and enthusiasm. to repel an assault.
AT wHEEI.ER's HEADQUARTERS.
Hob.on finally reached General Wheelers
headquarters. where the veteran cavalryman
and other officers gave him warm welcome
BY this time Captain Chadwick Of the New
York and The naval escort from the hagship
had reached Hobson and his men. and they
were the first persons with whom the rescued
prisoners had any previous acquaintance whofn
they had met since they entered santiago mar
Dor on their perilous mission captain Cnau-
wick and all the others took each man by the
hand and extended the heartcst greeting
The escort had brought a change Of clothing.
including new uniforms for Hobson ana MS
men. and the latter had n short respite "hi'e
they changed their apparel Hopson also re-
o.,,.od . horde IN ride over the trail 10 Juragua.
and bis men were placed In an army amou-
lance.
BEFORE starting for the seacoast Hobson was
,,,., % General Skaters headquarters and
warmly greeted Ivy the commanding general
uobson was asked for an interview and state
ment as 10 his experiences on the h'sh' WIZ"
he took the collier Merrimac into Sahlidso H"'
bor He declined TO say anything WIN tesd'"
- .,o usrrir,ac on the ground that he intended
- suhn,it Z complete report to Admiral Samp-
sor and that u would be outside the line OF MS
duty to say anything about the sinking OF '"e
Merrimac until after he had made such a re-
mort or at least had had an opportunity 10 con-
suit the Admiral
EXPERIENCES AS PRISONER
With regard to his experiences as a prisoner
OF war In Santiago he said:
During the first four days we were prisoners
q, war we were confined in MORO Castle, ana
I can assure YOU those were extremely uhcom-
Portable and dsagreeabe days. The Spanlards
did not exactly ill-treat us. but 1t took them
some time to recover from the shock caused by
what most Of them considered our Yankee I'M
audience In trying TO block their harbor.
"As a rule. the officers and men VINO came
into contact with us were grun In speech and
sullen In manner There were many threatening
c,arces shot in our direction. For Admiral
l
ton and personal regard. His act in informing
Admiral Sampson 81 our safety regard as
tina, Of kind hearted. generous man ana
c,iva,-ous officer | expressed TO him my sim
cara thanks and the thanks OF my men for
taking this means Of relieving the anxiety or
our eliminates and our friends at home he
ronea.ed,v spoke to me OF his admiration or
what he called one Of the most daring acts III
naval history, though l am sure we were not
entitled 10 the commentator we received. Tor
there were hundreds OF other men on our sh'ps
rho would have been glad TO undertake 10 90
the same thing.
.yvbue we were In Moro Castle we were
naval prisoners hut AT the end or -FOUR DAYS we
wore transferred to the jurisdiction OF 'he army
and were removed TO the Reina Mercedes HOS
nita, on the outskirts OF Santiago where we
remained until to-day. We knew bur little or
what was going on in the city. though, OF course
we could always tell when our fleet was pom-
harding the shore batteries. and we coulo easily
| d,stinsush the terrific explosions caused ny the
vesuvlus throwing dynamite shells several
| times at night were also fuliy aware that
tho land batteries were fighting OUTSIDE the CITY
Last Friday and Saturday II would be diricuit
| 60 ovrloIn how anxious we were for news OF the
success OF our side during the engagements.
The little information the Spaniards would give
us could not be relied upon.
NO REASON FOR COMPLAINT.
"One thing that | found out In the hospital
wa. that n large number OF Spanish officers
were wounded In last Fridays fight. for many
were brought to the hospital to he treated.
Number. OF badly aimed bullets came into the
hospital on Friday but do not believe any one
r.s ipiured nv them Our quarters there were
clean and comfortable and the food was fa,riy
| good In fact have no reason to complain OF
| our treatment rs prisoners Of war. The preJu-
dice when the Spanards showed against us dur
| ing the first few days soon wore away. We con-
| -. ....sAl,..s pronarlv and slmnly forced