The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1898-07-13

1opSou 8 S9sW SSaSs@3o s sS'
Hobson, the Merrimac Hero, and HI
Men Back In Our Lines.
The Details of the Exchange, Which
Was Effected by Col. Astor-Ou1
Soldiers and Sailors Are Wild
With Joy-A Readable Story.
Compiled from Reports.
The brave Hobson and his gallant
crew have been exchanged for Span
ish prisoners of equal rank and thu
following are the details Of the ex
change:
Kingston, ia, July 7 a. m.-Assis
tant Naval Constructor Richmond 2
Hobson of the flagship New York
and seven seamen, who, with him
sailed the collier Merrimac into bel
there, were surrendered by the Span
ish military authorities today in ex
change for prisoners captured by the
American forces.
DELIGHT OF THE SOLDIERS
Hobson and his men were escorted
through the American lines by Capt
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, scram.
bled out of the intrenchments,
knocking over tent guys and other
camp paraphernalia in their eager
ness 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.
HE is ON THE NEW YORK NOW.
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 there in advance of his
companions, was taken on board the
New York Immediately. The flag
ships decks were lined with officers
and men and as Hobson clambered
up her side and stepped on board his
vessel the harbor rang with shouts
and cheers of his comrades, which
were echoed by the crews of a
dozen transports lying near by.
EXCHANGED UNDER 4 TREE.
The Spanish authorities consented
this morning to exchange Hobson
and his men, and truce was estab,
lished for that purpose. The place
selected for the exchange was under
a tree between the American and
Spanish lines, two-thirds of a mile
beyond the entertainments occupied
by Col. Woods Rough Riders, near
Gen. Wheeler's headquarters, in the
centre of the American line.
SPANISH OFFICER SPOKE ENGLISH.
The American prisoners left the
Reina Mercedes hospital on the out
skirts of Santiago, where they lad
been confined, at 2:45 this afternoon,
in charge of Maj. Irles, Spanish
staff officer, who speaks English per
fectly. The prisoners were conduct
ed to the meeting place on foot, but
were not blindfolded. Col. John
Jacob Astor and Lieut.. Mallory, ac
companied by Interpreter Maestro:
were in charge of the Spanish pris
oners.
THOSE WHO WERE EXCHANGED.
These consisted of Lieuts. Amelic
Volez and Aurelius, a German be
longing to the 2Sth regular infantry
who were captured at Ell Caney OIL
Friday last, and Lieut.. Adolio Arie:
of the 1st provisional regiment O.
Barcelona, one of the most aristo
cratic military organizations of The
Spanish army, and II non-commis
stoned officers and privates.
Lieut.. Aries and number of th'
men were wounded in the fight at +
Caney. The Spanish prisoners were
taken through the American line
mounted and blindfolded.
COURTEOUS But FORMAL.
The meeting between Col. Asto
and Maj Irles was extremely courte
Gus, but very formal, and no attemp
was made by either of them to dis
cuss anything but the matter il
hand.
Maj. Irles was gives his choice @
three Spanish lieutenants in eS
change for Hobsou and was also in
formed that lie could have all of tn
IA men in exchange fer the Amer