The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-07-15
AND COMRADES.
The Heroes of the Merrimac Once
More Tread the Decks of
American Men-of-War
THEIR EXCHANGE FINALLY CONCLUDED.
ment When They Appeared Among
Our Soldiers at Santiago and Jurugua
and ON Board ADMIRAL SIMPSONS Flag
ship, the New York.


and ON Board ADMIRAL SIMPSONS Flag
ship. the New York.
WASHINGTON, July THE war de-
partment has received official notilica-
ton from the field hat Lieut.. IIobson
and his men have been exchanged.
Gen. Shafter reports that IIobson and
the others are well except two, who
are Commissioning from an attack OF in
termittent fever. The exchange was
made on equal terms as to rank.
Enthusiastically Welcomed by Soldiers and
sailors.
OFF JURAGUA, July 8, via Kingston.
Jamaica, July s.-As Hobson and the
men of the Merrimac approached the
first line of intrenchments occupied by
The rough riders, low murmurs ran
from one end of the line of cow boys
and eastern athletes to the other. and
BY the time the returning party reached
them every man was on his feet. refus-
lng to be restrained by the admonish-
lng of the officers, cheering wildly and
rushing over every obstacle that
Glanced TO be in their way in their eff
forts TO reach Hobson and his party
and grasp them by the hand.
Heartfelt Congratulations.
The released prisoners were Don
surrounded and compelled to stop to
receive the greetings, congratulations
and vigorous. heartfelt handsha king
of men they had never seen before.
S~unbrowned cavalrymen. who had
spent their lives in the saddle on the
plains of Arizona, New Mexico or other
western states or territories, and who
do not know the difference between
a ships maintop bilge or keel, threw
their arms around the sailor boys and
literally dragged them over the in
trenchments, all the time sending out
yells that under other circumstances
would have struck terror to hearts
even as gallant as those of the Merri.
mac heroes.
a'Ahto vi IL N1El
ever resounded with shouts from an
Indian war dance that cqualled the
wild outbreak of American spirit that
occurred at this meeting of the sailors
who did their duty with every Spanish
gun in the harbor trained upon them
and the hardy men who, from the day
of their arrival on the island Of Cuba,
have fought their way over the bodies
of their own dead and wounded TO the
very gates of the city that they will
gladly storm again when ordered to do
~.
There was No Color Line.
The Seventy-first New York volun-
teers. c the Rough Riders. was the
next regiment to fall upon Hobson and
his men, and almost Immediately the
Ninth and Tenth cavalry. both colored
regiments. joined in the enthusiasm.
and cheer after cheer arose as Hobson
and his companions forced their way
through the lines Of white and colorcd
soldiers.
Hobson so far as possible, grasped
each hand extended toward him, and
htAtAiNi liz uOl MS iutn iudAlt any DfOs
test against the most uncomfortable
crowding and jostling they had to un.
dergo.
If the young officer. whose home is
in Alabama, has any race prejudice. he
certainly forgot all about il as he
passed through the lines of soldiers on
his way to Gen. Wheclcr's h~eadquar-
tiers. lie says IL was the uniform of the
United States. and he cared not for the
color Of its wearcrs. grasping the
hands of the ebony-hued troopers Of
the Ninth and L enth cavalry and ex-
pressing his thanks for the patriotic
welcome with as much heartiness as
he displayed toward men Of his own
race. He and all his men were com
pletely overcome by the reception ac-
corded them and tears rolled down
their checks as the soldiers crowded
around them.
His Growing Welcome
Came when he placed his foot on the
deck of the flagship New York and
was greeted by his comrades and per-
sonal friends. The entire crew mus
tered on the deck and gave him most
enthusiastic cheers. while his fellow
officers Gro wded around hirl. shaking
hands. offering congratulations and
plying him with "A hundred questions.
IL was not for some time after his ar
rival that he was able to see Admiral
sampson. as the latter had rome to the
front under cavalry escort TO hold a
consultation with Gen. Shaftcr.
The same scenes Of Rejoicing.
The seven men who were on the Mer-
riinac with Hobson did not reach the
deck of the New York until some time
after he did, but the same scenes of re-
joicing that attended his arrival were
repeated in their ease, and they were
carried off TO the forward part of the
ship as the heroes of the hour.
go