The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-07
Heroes of the Merrimac Incl.
dent at Santiago
Are Turned Over to Gen. Shaft
er by Spaniards,
IN EQUAL EXCHANGE
For Spanish Prisoners Held by
Our Army.
Americans Manifest Great En-
thusiasm Over the Event.

Copyright, 1898, by Associated Press)
Off Juragua, July 6. via Kingston,
July 7-Assistant Naval Constructor
Richmond P. Hobson, of the flagship
New York, and the seven seamen who,
with him sailed the collier Merrimac
into the channel of the harbor of San
tiago de Cuba on June 3 last and sunk
her there, were surrendered by the
Spanish military authorities today in
exchange for prisoners captured by the
American forces.
Hobson and his men were escorted
through the American lines by Captain
Chadwick of the New York who was
awaiting them. Every step of their
journey was marked by the widest
demonstrations on the part of the
American soldiers who threw aside all
semblance of order, scrambled out of
the entertainments, knocked over the
guys and other camp paraphernalia in
their eagerness to see the returning
heroes, and sent 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. Hobson who reached here
in advance of his companions, was
taken on board the New York immed-
lately. The fagship's decks were lined
with officers and men and as HobsOn
cIambered up her side and stepped on
board his vessel, the harbor rang with
the shouts and cheers of his comrades,
which were re-echoed by the crews of
a dozen transports lying nearby.
Hobson had little to say in regard to
his experiences except that he and his
companions had been well treated by
the Spaniards and that they were all
In excellent health.
Details of the Exchange.
The Spanish authorities consented
this morning to exchange Hobson and
his men and a truce was established
for the purpose. The place selected for
the exchange was under a tree between
the American and Spanish lines, two
thirds of mile beyond the entrench-
nlGlLS OCCup1GQ ny OOl WOOQ > 4OuS44
riders near Gen. Wheeler's headquart-
ers and in the center of the American
line. The American prisoners left the
Reina Mercedes hospital on the out
skirts of Santiago de Cuba, where they
had been confined.
At PAS p. M. in charge of Major Irles,
Spanish staff officer, who speaks Eng
lish perfectly, the prisoners were con-
Quoted to the meeting place on foot but
were not blindfolded. Col. John Jacob
AstOr and Lieut.. MnOy, accompanied by
Interpreter Mawet were in charge of
the Spanish prisoners. These consisted
of Lieut. ArneliO-VOlez and Aurelius, a
German belonging to the Twenty ninth
regular infantry, who were captured at
Ell Caney on Friday last and Lieut..
Adolph Aries, of the First provisional
regiment of Barcelona, one of the most
aristocratic military organizations Of
the Spanish army and IA non-commis-
stoned officers and privates.
Lieut.. Aries and a number of the
men were wounded in the fight at FL
Caney. The Spanish prisoners were ta-
ken through the American lines, mount
ed and blindfolded. The meeting be
tween Col. Astor and Major IrIes was
extremely courteous but very formal
and no attempt was made by either of
them to discuss anything but the mat
ter in hand.
Major Irles was given his choice of