The Indianapolis journal., 1898-07-08
felt handshaking of men they had never
seen before.
WILD WEST YELLS.

States or Territories, or who did not know
the difference between a ships maintop,
bilge or keel. threw their arms around the
sailor boys and literally dragged them over
the intrenchments, all the time sending out
yells that under other circumstances would
have struck terror to hearts even as gal
liant as those of the Merrimac heroes. No
mountain fastness of the West ever re-
sounded with shouts from an Indian war
dance that equaled the wild outbreak of
American spirit that occurred at this meet
ing of the sailors who did their duty with
every Spanish gun in the harbor trained
upon them and the hardy men, who, from
the day of their arrival on the Island of
Cuba, have fought their way over the bodies
of their own dead and wounded to the very
gates of the city that they will gladly storm
again when ordered to do so.
The Seventy first New York Volunteers,
near the Rough Riders, was the next regi-
ment to fall upon Hobson and his men and
almost Immediately the Ninth and Tenth
Cavalry, both colored regiments, both joined
in the enthusiasm. and cheer after cheer
arose as Hobson and his companions forced
their way through the lines of white and
colored soldiers. Hobson, so far as possible,
grasped each hand extended toward him
anu HeltHeT ne NOT MS HleH Hldue dHy plO-
test against the most uncomfortable crowd
ing and jostling which they had to under
go.
If the young officer whose home is in
Alabama, has any race prejudice he GER
tainly forgot all about it as he passed
through the lines of soldiers on his way to
General Wheelers headquarters. He saw it
was the uniform of the United States and
y 49,
grasping the hands of the ebony -hued troop
ers Of the Ninth and Tenth Cavalry and ex-
pressing his thanks for the patriotic well
come with as much heartiness as ne dis
played towards men Of his own race He
and all his men were completely overcome
by the reception accorded them and tears
rolled down their cheeks as the soldiers
crowded around them.
WANTED TO FIRE A SALUTE.
AS Hobson and his party approached Cap
tain Grimes's battery the men cried out on
every side to have a salute fired in their
honor. Hobson protested against this imme-
diately and shouted to the artillerymen, who
had also caught the Infection not to fire
their guns. Some of the most enthusiastic
of the men appealed TO Col. John Jacob
Astor and the latter entered into the spirit
VI liic OCCdSACH ana lOlu Ln6 men tney neeQ
not obey Hobsons orders as he was only a
lieutenant But the officers of the battery
prevented the men from firing the guns.
as the Spaniards might have mistaken the
reports for the opening of an attack and
if the latter had responded our soldiers were
in no position, in their state of disorder and
enthusiasm, for an engagement.
Assistant Naval Constructor Hobson
finally reached GpuaraI yVbaaIar,c bood
quarters, where the veteran cavalryman and
other officers gave him a warm welcome.
BY this time Captain Chadwick of the New
York, and the naval escort from the flag
ship had reached Hobson and his men, and
they were the first persons, with whom the
rescued prisoners had any previous ac-
quaintance, whom he had met since they
entered Santiago harbor on their perilous
mission. I4r.ai.I Chadwick and all the
others took each man by the hand and ex-
tended the heartiest greeting. The escort
had brought change of clothing, including
new uniforms, for Hobson and his men,
and the latter were given a short respite
while they changed their apparel. Hobson
was also given horse to ride over the
trail to Juragua, and his men were placed
in an army ambulance.
Before leaving for the seacoast Hobson
was taken to General Skaters headquar-
ters and warmly greeted by the command
ing general. The correspondent of the AS
ISOLATED Press asked Hobson for an inter-
view and statement as to his experiences
on the memorable night when he took the
collier Merrimac into Santiago harbor He
declined to say anything with regard to the
Merrimac on the ground that he intended
to submit a complete report to Admiral
10 hot - 4
be outside the line of his duty to say any
thing about the sinking of the Merrimac
until after he had made such a report or at
least had had an opportunity to consult the
admiral.
EXPERIENCE IN PRISON.
He could not be induced to say anything
on this subject, but with regard to his ex-
periences as prisoner of war in Santiago.
he said: During the first four days we were
prisoners of war we were confined in MORO
Castle and l can assure you those were ex-
tremely uncomfortable and disagreeable
days. The Spaniards did not exactly i'll
treat us, but it took them some time to re-
cover from the shock caused by what most
of them considered our Yankee impudence
in trying to block their harbor. AS rule,
the officers and men who came into contact
with us were gruff in speech and sullen in
manner. There were many threatening
glances shot in our direction. For Admiral
Cervera have nothing but the highest ad-
miration. His act in informing Admiral
Sampson of our safety / regard as that of
a kind-hearted, generous man and chival-
rous officer. / expressed to him my sincere
thanks and the thanks of my men for TAX
ing this means of relieving the anxiety of
our shipmates and our friends at home. He
repeatedly spoke to me of his admiration
of what he called one of the most daring
acts in naval history, though / am sure we
received, for there were hundreds of other
men on our ships who would have been glad
to undertake to do the same thing
while we were in Moro Castle we were
naval prisoners, but at the end of four DAYS
we were transferred to the jurisdiction of
the army and were removed to the Reina
Mercedes Hospital, on the outskirts of San
tiago, where we remained until to-day We
knew but little Of what was going on in the
city, though, of course, we could always tell
when our fleet was bombarding the shore
batteries, and we could easily distinguish
the terrific explosions caused by the We
suvius throwing dynamite shells. Several
times at night we were also fully aware
that the land batteries were fighting out
side the city. Last Friday and Saturday it
would be difficult to explain how anxious
we were for news of the success of our side