Fergus County argus., 1898-06-22
TURNS DOWN A cYNIc.
Capt. niIler, of the Merrimac. Rebukes an
Empty Soul for SneerinR at Lieut..
fiobson.

| hey ebUs June June OI LleuU.
Hobson's greatest admirers and
stanchest friends in the navy is Capt.
Miller, late commander of the Merri-
mac.
An incident which brought to light
Capt. Miller's devotion and loyalty
to his heroic friend occurred last
night on the porch of the Key West
hotel. A small group was assembled
in front of the hotel entrance, dis
cussing the purpose of the sinking of
| the Merrimac. There was not a sim
gle naval officer in the group, al
though quite q number were on the
veranda. The conversation turned
after while into more analytic
channel and one of the speakers re-
marked that, in his opinion, all hero
ism was tinged with selfishness and
that all deeds of bravery were
prompted by egotism and the NOR
bid craving for notoriety, fame or
self-glorification.
Capt. Miller, who had hitherto
been listening unnoticed to the con-
versationalists, hearing the different
garbled reports of an action, the de-
tails OF which he knew SO well, sprang
to his feet and addressed himself to
the youthful cynic who had under
Hobson's act.
May [ ask who you are, SIR"
asked Capt. Miller, in a courteous and
dignified manner, but in a voice quiv-
ering with suppressed anger and emo
ton. He waited for the answer aud
then replied: 81 am Capt. Miller, cap
tain of the Merrimac. / overheard
your remark, and wish to tell you
that have known Lieut.. Hobson for
years. l was his professor at the
naval academy and have ever since
been close to him. Eager and anx-
ious as l was to be allowed the priv
ilege OF taking the Merrimac into the
Santiago channel, l felt a certain
pride i'm Admiral SIMPSONS selection
of Mr.. Hobson. / knew him to be a
man, fearless and brave, devoted to
his duty and his country. There is
not one particle of selfishness in Mr..
Hobson's makeup, assure you, and
on the night he sank the Merrimac
he went forth to meet almost certain
death without one thought of self.
Sir, beg you to contradict the state
ment you just made. Won't you
please contradict"
Capt. Miller's words were listened
to in silence, and grateful reparatiOn
was expected for the thoughtless and
hasty expression that has called forth
this just, but polite, rebuke.
Far from it, however, the icono-
elastic and argumentative young
man stood his ground and refused to
allow Capt. Miller's opinion to over
rule his own right to free thought
and it's expression. For fully fifteen
minutes Capt. Miller condescended to
argue with his opponent and repeat
edly invited him to take a correct
and lofty view of heroism, but to no
avail.
The evidence on both sides was in
and the young man proceeded to the
summing up of his case with what he
considered a telling and crushing
blow.
"You don't mean to tell me, cap
tain," he said, "that n man with
home ties or engaged affections, and
ordered to carry out a desperate
plan in which sure death is his only
material reward, and that man does
not finch, but obeys his orders, that
his real motives for SO doing and the
only voice that prompts him to do
what you call his duty is not the
voice of selfishness, the ambition and
the vainglory of having his name go
down to history as a hero and mar
tyr, do you?'
"Sir," answered Capt. Miller, bow
ing, II have no desire to waste my
time answering questions made by a
man of your convictions. 1 beg these
gentlemen's pardon for having in
truded, but as a representative of the
United States navy, and a friend of
Mr.. Hobson, / would advise you to
walk down to the dock and drown
yourself. l can now realize why you
do not understand what heroism
means. Good night"
! Capt. Miller walked away and
called for the key to his room, Won
dering if the young man would have
the heroism to carry out the watery
plan OF self-destruction he had de-
scribed, but it is safe to say his cour-
age failed him. as he has been seen
alive and dry since daybreak.