Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-08
HOBSON EXCHANGED.
AND THE OTHER MERRrMAc
HEROES AGAIN FREE.
vOST ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION.
.,ion from the Rough Riders and
o,her American Troops-spanish
lieutenant and Fourteen Men
Given for Them.

MAT WANDA, 10 PORT ANIONlO,
,n,AICA. July 9TH, via KINGSTON. JA-
,,IcA. July 1880 4. M-Assistant-
y.vsl.CQnstructor Richmond p. Hobson,
=, the flagship New York. and the seven
,,.,pen. who. with him. sailed the collier
,,,-rmac into the channel OF the harbor
- santiago de Cuba on June Sd last. and
INK her there. were surrendered by the
s,selsh military authorities to-day, in
,,esanse for prisoners captured by the
American forces.
Robson and his men were escorted
.sr,grh the American lines by Captain
cs,dWick. OF the New York. who was
,.sHinr them. Every step OF their Jour
nov was marked by the widest demon
CREATIONS on the part OF the American
,,8lers. who threw aside all semblance
-, srter. scrambled out OF the entrench-
-,s,ts. Knocked over the tent-guys and
cher camp paraphernalia in their eager
Ass 20 see the returning heroes. and sent
=, cheer after cheer for the men who
,,s passcd safely through the jaws of
5,atb 10 serve their country.
r1s same scenes OF enthusiasm were
,..sated upon the arrival Of the men at
.,s hospital station, and at our base at
1ragua. Hobson, who reached there in
s8yapce Of his companions, was taken
q, hoard the New York Immediately
Tho farship's decks were lined with Off
GERS and men, and as Hobson clambered
r, her side and stepped on board his
vessel. the harbor rang with the shouts
and cheers Of his comrades, which were
rs.eshoed by the crews OF a dozen trans
roris lying near by.
ALL IN EXCELLENT HEALTH.
Uobson had little to say in regard to
,fs experiences. except that he and his
companions had been we'll treated by the
erar.ards. and that they were all in ex-
rsleut health.
The Spanish authorities consented this
morning to exchange Hobson and his
men. and a truce was established for that
purpose.
The place selected for the exchange
was under a tree between the American
and spanish lines. two-thirds of mile
beyond the entertainments occupied by
Colonel Woods Rough Riders, near Cen
oral Wheeler's headquarters, and in the
centre Of tho American line.
The American prisoners left the Reina
Mercedes Hospital, on the outskirts Of
Santiago. where they had been confined,
AZ 2:l5 o'clock this afternoon, in charge of
Major Irles. a Spanish staff officer who
spegks English! perfectly. The prisoners
were conducted ,to the meeting-place on
foot, but were not blindfolded.
TEE SPANISH PRISONERS.
Colonel John Jacob Astor and Lieuten-
ant Arloy, accompanied by Interpreter
Maestro. were I'm charge Of the Spanish
prisoners. These consisted of Lieuten-
ants AmcIio Volez and Aurelius Ger
man Belonging to the Twcnty-ninth Reg
uiar Infantry who were captured at III
Caney on Friday last. and Lieutenant
Adolfo Aries. Of the First Provisional |
Regiment Of Barcelona, one Of the most !
arlstocrauc military organizations of the |
Spanish army, and fourteen non-commis-
stoned officers and priy2ies.
Lieutenant Aries and number Of the |
mon were wounded in the fight at lei |
Cancy The Spanish prisoners were taken |
through the American lines mounted, and |
blindfol3cd.
The meeting between Colonel Astor and |
Major Tres was extremely courteous, but
very formal and no attempt was made |
by either Of them to discuss anything but |
the matter i'm end.
Maj0. Irics was given his choice Of the
hree Spanish ueutenants in exchange for
II0ison, and was also informed that he
,jull have ALI q the fourteen men in ex-
'hargs for the American sailors. The
spanish officer selected Lieutenant Aries,
md the other two Spanish officers were
back 20 Juragua.
SPANISH OFFICER DEFIANT.
1t was then not later than o'clock and
ust as everything was finished. and the
wo parties We're separating. Major Irles
uned, and said, courteously enough, but
b a tone which indicated considerable de-
lance, and gave his hearers the impress
lon that he desired hostilities 10 be re-
ewcd at once: "Our understanding IS,
5nuemen, that this truce comes to an
ld al O'clock"
Colonel Astor looked at his watch,
owed 20 the Spanish officer without
iaklng a reply, and then started back
owly 10 The American lines, with Hob
20 and his companions following.
TIE meeting Of the two parties and the
lchange OF prisoners had taken place in
10 view of both the American and Span
n soldiers who were entrenched near the
eeung-plaee, and the keenest interest
as taken in the episode.
THE HOBSoN PARTY.
Tho men whose return to their COM
,des has been secured by the negotia-
1ns detailed above are:
RICHMOND p. HOBSON, lieutenant,
S. y.
OSBORNE DEIGNAN, coxswain.
GEORGE L. PHILLIPS. machinist.
JOHN KELLY, water-tender.
GEORGE CIGARETTE, gunners-mate.
DANIEL MONTAGUE, seaman.
J c. MURPHY. coxswain.
RANDOLPH CI>AUSEN coxswain.
OVATION FROM ROUGH RIDERS.
A. Hobson and the men of the Merrimac
the first line Of entrench-
ants occupied by the Rough Riders, low
1rmurs ran from one end Of the line
cowboys and eastern athletes 10 the
her. and by the time the returning
r,y reached them every man was on