The Portland daily press., 1898-06-07
HODSON NOT SCRATCHED.
More News From the Heroes Of tht
MerrimaC.

Copyright 1885, the Associated Press. }
With the feet, off Santiago de Cuba, une
3--6 p. M, via Kingston, JAM. June D
delayed in transmission ALL the mem
bers of the Merrimac expedition are safe.
Two are slightly wounded, but Lieut..
Hobson escaped without scratch Tkis
almost incredibly good news was brought
out this afternoon to Rear Admiral
Cervera's chief of staff, under flag Of
truce.
"Admirai Ceryera," said Capt. Buste-
memo Oviedo, is so touched by the
bravery of your men that he felt it only
right you should know that they are
alive. They are prisoners Of war and are
being we'll treated"
Tremendous enthusiasm reigns over
the complete success of the expedition.
During the day, the Merrimac was
plainly seen lying athwart the channel.
Sho could hardly have been placed bet
ter had she been sunk in the day light
and with no accompaniment of firing.
1t was an anxious day on all the ships
By noon officers and men feared the
Merrlmac's heroes had died in their noble
work; but at O'Clock this afternoon, a
llttls black tug, flying a white flag, was
seen coming out from the saffron hills
| of the harbor. Slowly she moved toward
the New York, the flagship. Assistant
Chief of Staff Staunton boarded the
| Vixen, flying flag of true, and met the
Spanish tug, which proved to be the
1 vi ILL 4
| his desire to see Admiral Sampson person.
ally, and he was taken on board the flag.
ship. The enthusiasm as the news spread
from signals from the Vixen was so in.
tense that the appearance of the Spanish
captain over the side OF the New York
hardly excited the surprise that might
have been expected. Admiral Samp son
greeted Capt. 0viedo most cordially,
| Thanked Admiral Ceryera for his gallant
courtesy and made the preliminary ar.
rangements for the exchange of Lieut..
| Hobson and his seven heroes.
However, las they have naturally learned
much about the Notifications. it is ha1d y
likely thsy will be exchanged for some
time. After friendly chat in the cabin,
Admiral Sampson sat on deck with
Capt. Oviedo and pointed out his ships
Nd errimao heroes were put aboard the
Colon, and Capt. Oviedo went back in
his little black tug under the flag of truce,
never used perhaps to more chiyalrous
purpose.
| The names of the two wounded men
| were not ascertained. One has a slight
wound in the cheek and the other is in
the hip. After blowing up the Merrimac,
Lieut.. Hobson and his party swan ashore
and were captured.
HOBSON A MAN OF NERVE.
San francisco, Cal, June GA naval
officer who was classmate of Lieut.
Hobson, the hero of Santiago, spoke of
the young officer as follows:
When Hobson was in his first class year
an order was issued that cadets II au-
thority should be as careful in reporting
their own classmates as in the perform
ance of any other duty. Hobson was lead
er of q section and reported some of the
members for some breach Of discipline
Thereupon the class put Hobson in
Coventry ''-that is, he was ostracized,
none of his class speaking to him or hav-
ing anything to do with him.
Hobson then buckled right down to his
books and by the end of his second class
year was at the head of his class. Then
they decided to revise their Judgment,
but Hobson said: "No, gentlemen, you
have got on without me three years, and
I'll manage to worry along without you
y
~ For four years this young man had no
social associates among any Of the cadets
at the academy. He never spoke to a
cadet without addressing him as 'Mis-
ter, and insisted on the same treatment.
In his first class year he was four
striper, or the cadet in command of the
battalion and never before had there been
a better drilled or more efficient lot of
cadets.
| he WASH small man physically and the
resort to personal violence to ''get even"
was denied those under him, as cadet
| sense of honor would not permit appeal
to arms where the chances were SO I'M
even. The officers, of course, knew OF
Hobson's courage, and this, with the
staff, probably had much to do with his
| choice for work he so brayely accom-.
| plished
PROMOTION COMING FOR HOBSON.
Washington, June 6.-The promotion
in store for Lieut.. Hobson, the hero OF
Santiago, is under consideration by the
| navy department.
Acting Secretary Allen and Commodore
Hichborn, chief of the bureau OF naval
construction, talked it over in general
way today, but no conclusions were
| reached
The department is DESTROYS of know
Ing what would be most acceptable to
Hobson himself and when this Is learned
a recommendation will be made to Con-
gress which that body will doubtless carry
| into effect without delay.
| The present indications are that Hob
son will be taken out of the staff and be
| made a line officer, as that ensures not
only an increase of pay, but an opportu-
nifty to rise to the more conspicuous pos1t-
| ion of Admiral
| At present Hobson is an assistant con.