New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-08
HOBSON EXCHANGED.
WILD GREETING BY THEAKMY

I WILD GREETING BY THEAkMY
A SPANISH LIEUTENANT AND FOURTEEN
MEN FOR HIM AND HIS SEVEN
of Juragua. July $, Evening. by The Asso-
cated Press Dispatch boat Wanda to Port An
tonic, Jamaica, July = : a. m. via Kingston
Jamaica. July T. T:30 a. m.-Assistant Naval
Constructor Richmond P HobsOn. Of the flag
ship New-York. and the seven seamen who
composed the crew of the collier Merrimac which
was sunk by Lieutenant Hobson in the chan
mel Of the harbor of Santiago de cuba on June
3 last. were surrendered by the Spanish mill
tary authorities to-day in exchange for pr!s-
oners captured by the American forces.
Lieutenant Hobson and his men were escorted
through the American lines by Captain Chad
wick. Of the New-York. who awaiting them
Every step OF their Journey marked by the
widest demonstrate MS on the part Il the Am RI
soldiers who threw aside all semblance OF
order. scrambled out Of the ntrenchments
knocked over tent guys and other camp para
pherna.ia in their eagerness to see the return
ing heroes and set up cheer after cheer for
the men who had passed safely through the
jaws Of death to serve their country.
The same scenes Of enthusiasm were repeated
upon the arrival of the men at the hospital
station and at our base at Juragua. Lieutenant
Hobson. who reached there in advance OF his
companions. was taken on board the New-York
Immediately. The nagsh!p's decks were lined
with officers and men and as Lieutenant Hob
son clambered up her side and stepped on board
his vessel the >harbor rang with the shouts
and cheers Of his comrades. which were echoed
by the crews OF dozen transports lying near by.
Lieutenant HobsOn had little say In regard
to his experiences. except that he and his COM
panions had been we'll treated by the Span
iards and that they were all in excellent
health
THE SCENE OF THE TRANSFER.
The Spanish authorities consented this morn
Ing 10 exchange Lieutenant Hobson and his
men. and a truce vas established for that pur-
pose. The place selected for the exchange was
under tree between the American and Span
ish lines. two-thirds Of a mile beyond the in
trenchments occupied by Colonel Woods Rough
Riders near General Wheeers headquarters,
and in the centre Of the American line.
/ The American prisoners left the Reina Mer-
cedes Hospital. on the outskirts OF Santiago,
where they had been confined. at 2:4o o'clock
this afternoon In charge Of Major Ires Span
ish staff officer who speaks English perfectly.
The prisoners we're conducted TO the meeting
place or foot but were not bndfoded Colonel
John Jacob Astor and Lieutenant Miley, accom-
panied by Interpreter Maestro. were In charge
of the Spanish prisoners These consisted or
/ Lieutenants A,reliO Nolez and Aurelius, Ger
man. belonging to the 29th Regular Infantry
who were captured at FL Caney on Friday last
and Lieutenant Adolfo Aries. Of the LIST Pro-
vsional Regiment Of Barcelona. one Of the most
aristocratc military organizations Of the span
sh Army ard fourteen non-commissioned OFF,
T a
Der Of the men wounded in the fight at I'll
Caney. The Spanish prisoners were taken
through the American lines mounted and blind
folded
The meeting between Colonel Astor and Major
Irles was extremely courteous. but very formal,
and no attempt was made 10y either Of them 10
discuss anything but the matter In hand. To
Major Irles was given his choice OF three span
!sh leutenants In exchange for Hobson. and ne
was also Informed that he could have all or the
fourteen men in exchange FOR the American
sailors TIE Spanish officers selected Lieutenant
Aries. and the other Spanish officers were
conducted back to Juragua.
II was then not later than o'clock. ana just
as everything finished and the two parties
wore eenarating Major Irles turned and said
courteously enough. but in tone which indi'
Gated considerable defiance. and gave his hear
be renewed at once
our understanding Is. gentlemen that ths
truce comes to an end at o'clock
Colonel Astor looked at his watch bowed TO
the Spanish officer without making reply. and
then started back slowly TO the American lines.
with Hobson and his companions following
The meeting OF the two parties and the ex-
change Of prisoners had taken place IN full VIE"
Of both the American and Spanish soldiers VINO
were entrenched near the meeting-place. and the
keenest interest was taken in the episode.
CHEERS FROM THE ARMY.
As Hobron and the men Of the Merrimac ap-
preached the A. ct line OF intrenchments occu-
pied by the Rough Riders, low murmurs ran
from one end Of the line Of cowboys and East
orr, athletes to the other and by the time the
r,turnirr party reached them every man was on
his feet refusing to be restrained by the admo-
nitons OF the officers cheering wildly and rush" :.
ing over every obstacle that chanced to be In
their way in their efforts TO reach Hobson and
his party and grasp them by the hands. The
released prisoners were soon surrounded and
compelled to stop and receive the greetings con-
cratulations and vigorous, heartfelt handshak-
ing Of rnen they had never seen before. Sun ,
burned cavalrymen who had spent their lives
In the saddle the plains Of Arizona. New
Mexico on other western states or territories,
ana who did not know the difference between
a ships maintop and her pilge keel. threw their
arms around the sailor boys and literally
dragged them over the intrenchments. all the
time sending out yell. tnat under other circum-
stances would have struck terror to hearts even
as gallant as those OF the Merrimac heroes.
The list New-York Volunteers near the
Rough Riders. was the next regiment to fall
upon Hobson and his men. and almost imme-
dately the 9th and 10th Cavalry. both colored
regiments. Joined in the general enthusiasm. and
cheer after cheer Hobson and his COM
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