The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-07-12
HEROES OF
MERRIMHC F'REE
Lieutenant Hobson and His Brave Co1npan-
ions Have Been Exchanged-1he heir Wild
ly Enthusiastic Reception by Dor
Boys IN Bloc.
THEY HAD BEEN WELL TREATED
THEY HAD BEEN WELL TREATED
Every Step of their Journey Was Marked by the Widest
Demonstrations on the Part of the American Soldiers
They Were Literally Dragged Over the En-
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES that Sounded
Like an indian War Dance.
Like an Indian War Dance.

eel through the me OF SoIdlclS Oh MS
way to General Whcelcr'> headquarters
lie saw it was the uniform Of the
United States army. and he cared not
for the color of its Wcarcrs. graSping
the hands of the cbony-hucd troopers Of
the Ninth and Tenth cavalry, and eN
pressing his thanks for patriotic welcome
with as much heartincSs as he displayed
toward the men Of his own race. lie
and all Of his men We're overcome 10y
the reception accorded them. and tears
rolled down their checks as the soldiers
crowded around them.
rs Iiobsun and his party approached
Captain Grimes battery, the men cried
out on every side TO have Il salute fired
in their honor. IIohSon protested against
i this and shoHtcd to the artillery men.
, who had also caught the Infection. not
+, to fire their guns. Some Of the most en-
thusiastic of the men appealed to Col.
John .AStor. and The latter entered into
the spirit of opposition, and said the mcn
needn't obey iIobson's orders, az
he was only a lieutenant. hut the officers
of the battery prevented the men from
firing the Guns.
Assistant Naval Constructor IIobSon
finally reached General Whcclcr's head
quarters. where the veterans cavalry
men and others officers gave him Il warn
welcome. BY this time Captain Chad
wick. of the New York. and the naval
escort from the flagship. had reached
iloISCn and his men, and they were the
first persons, with whom the rescued
prisoners had amy previous acquaintance
whom they had met since they entered
! Santiago harbor on their perilous mis-
sion. Captain Chadwick and all others
took each man by the hand and extend
cd the hcartiest greeting.
The escort had brought Il change of
clothing, including new uniforms for
liohson and his men. and the latter were
given 4 short respite, while they changed
their apparel. IIoIson was also given Il
horse to ride over the trail to Juragua.
! and his men We're placed in an army
ambulance.
Before leaving for the scacoast. Hob
son was taken to Gcneral Shaftcr's
Headquarters and warmly greeted by the
commanding general.
The correspondents of the Associated
Press asked UolSon for an interview
and statement as to his experiences on
the memorable night when he took the
collier Morrimac into Santiago harbor.
lie declined to say anything with re
gard to the Merrimac, on the ground
chat he intended to submit Il complete re
I'it - All VI b9iJiilIiNbl vi lIt StlpJttt,
and that it would be outside the line of
his duty to say anything about the sink
in@ of the ship until after he had made
such Il report, OF ut least had an oppor
tunity To consult the admiral.
lie could not be induced to say any
thing on this subject: but with regard
to his experiences as a prisoner Of war
in Santiago, ne said:
During the first four days we were
prisoners Of war we were confined III
! MORO Castle. and | can assure YOU
thoSc were extremely uncomfortable and
diSa%recabic days. The Spaniards did
not c~&"ctly iIItreat Us, but it took them
some time % recover from the shock
caused by what most Of them considered
cur Yankee impudcncc in trying TO block
heir harbor.
AS Il rule the officers and men who
came into contact with lis were grulf in
pccch and Sullcn i'll manner. There
yer" many threatening Chances shot in
our direction. For .Admira Ccrvera |
have nothing but the highest admira
ton.
Ills act in informing Admiral Samp-
ION of our safety. | regard as that Of Il
%lnd-hoartcd generous man and cliyal-
DIS officer. | expressed to him my sin
>"rc thanks and the thanks of my men
/ Tor taking this means of relieving the
anxiety of our shipmatcS and our
riendS AT home. He repeatedly spoke
10 nae of his admiration of what he call
rd one Of the most daring acts III naval
HISTORY. though | am sure we were not
entitled t. the commcndation we re-
t"ITcd, for there were hundreds Of other
men who would have been glad to under
iake the same thing.
NhIlc we were in MORO Castle. we
were naval prisoners, but at the end of
our &aES. "" were transferred to the
jurisdiction Of the army. and were re-
HleErd to tn" Roina Mercedes hospital.
on tn" outskirts OF Santiago, where we
remained until today. We knew but
itt!e OF what was going on in the city.
though Of course we could always tell
"iith our tieet was hombarding the shore
i'lttcFIcs. and We could easily DISTINGUISH
me tefflflc explosions caused by the
fcSuyluS throwing dynamite shells.
several times at night we were also fully
%Warc that the land batteries were firht-
ing outside the city. Last Friday and
Saturday it would bc difficult to eyplain
how anxious we were for news of tho
success Of our side during the engage
ment. h little information the Span
iards would give did not relieve us.
We knew nothing about the d~estruc-
lion of Admiral Ceryera's fleet until told
by our own people to-day. OF course
our confinement became very irksomc.
and | cannot tell You how great was the
relief we felt to be free again. | cannot
express by gratitude to our soldiers who
@lye us such a welcome when we came
! llto the lines. MI Of rs are in excellent
ncalth, and glad 10 90 back to our posts
again and see the war through to the
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