The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-07-12

partment this morning recelVeu 'he
following from General ShafteT, an
nouncing the exchange Of Lieutenant
Hobson and his men:
playa del Este, July Z,
Fifth Army Corps Headquarters,
Cuba, July 6, 1898.
ssecretary of War, Washington, DC:
Lieutenant Hobson and all Of his
men have just been received safely
in exchange for Spanish officer and
prisoners taken by the United States.
All in good health, except two sea-
men, convaIescing from remittent fe-
yer. SHAFTER,
Major General Commanding"
Copyright by Associated Press.)
Off Juragua, July 6, Evening, by the
Associated Press Dispatch Boat Wan
da, to Port Antonio, Jamaica, July 7,
via Kingston, Jamaica, July z, 1880 a.
m.-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
Santiago de Cuba on June 30th last
and SUI her there, were
by the Spanish military authorities to-
day In exchange Tor prisoners Cdpluf-
ed by the American forces.
Hobson and his men were escorted
through the American lines by Cap
tain 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 tent guys and other camp para
phernalia in their eagerneSs to see the
returning heroes, and sent up cheer
after cheer for the men who had pass
ed 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
there in advance of his companions,
was taken on board the New York i'm
mediately. The fagship's decks were
lined with officers and men, and as
Hobson clambered up her side and
stepped on board his vessel the har-
Dor rang with the shouts and cheers
of his comrades, which were re-echoed
by the crews Of a dozen transports
lying near by.
Hobson had little to say in regard
to his experience, except that he and
his companions had been we'll treat
ed by the Spaniards and that they
were all in excellent health.
AT THE MEETING PLACE.
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 the Span
ish lines, two-thirds Of a mile beyond
the entertainments occupied by Colonel
Woods pIIUh-riHarc npar General
Wheeler's headquarters n in the
centre of the American line. The
American prisoners left the Reina
Mercedes hospital, on the outskirts of
Santiago, where they had been con-
fined, at PAS o'clock his afternoon, in
charge of Major Irles, a Spanish staff
officer, who speaks English perfectly.
The prisoners were ~Onducted to the
meeting place on foot, but were not
blindfolded.
THE SPANISH PRISONERS.
Colonel John Jacob Astor and Lieu
tenant Miloy, accompanied by Inter-
prefer Maestro, were in charge of the
Spanish prisoners. These consisted Of
Lieutenant Amelio Volez and Aurelius,
a German belonging to the Twenty
ninth regular infantry, who were ap-
tured at FL Caney on Friday last, n
Lieutenant Adolfo Aries, of the First
provisional regiment, of Barcelona,
one of the most aristocratic military
organizations of the Spanish army, n
fourteen non-commissioned officers n
privates.
Lieutenant Aries and a number of
the men were wounded in the fight at
Ell Caney. The Spanish prisoners were
taken through the American lines
mounted and blindfolded.
The meeting between Colonel Aston
and Major Irles was extremely cour-
hint xynrr- ~rNn
tempt was mad by either of them to
discuss anything but the matter in
hand.
THE EXCHANGE.
Major Irles was given his choice of
the three Spanish l~ieutenants in ex-
change for Hobson and was also in
formed that he could nave all Of the
fourteen men in exchange for the
American sailors. The Spanish officer
selected Lieutenant Aries and the
other two Spanish officers were on
Quoted back to Juragua.
1t was then not later than 4 o'clock
n just as everything was finished
and the two parties were separating,
Major -Irles turned and said cour-
teously enough, but in a tone which
indicated considerable defiance. and
gave his hearers the impression that
he desired hostilities to be renewed
at once: "Our understanding is. gen.
tlemen, that this truce comes to an
end at 5 O'clock"
Colonel Astor looked at his watch.
bowed to the Spanish officer, without
making a reply, and then started back
slowly to the American lines, with
Hobson and his companions follow
ing.
The meeting of the two parties and
h exchange Of prisoners had taken
place in full view Of both the Ameri-
can and the Spanish soldiers who were
e~ntrenched near the meeting place and
me keenest interest was taken in the
episode.
ENTHUSIASTIC nv
THE TROOPS.
AS Hobson and the men of the Nor
rimac approached the first line of
entrenchmenfe occupiad ~, ~.