The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-07-08
OUR HEROES
LIBERATED
The Men of tn Q Merrimao Safe
In Cur Own Lines. ,-.x.s,z
4 LIEUTENANT GIVEN FOR HOBSQN.
eotrteen Prisoners Exc hanged For
~. the Other Seven.
A TUMULTUOUS GREETING.


Cavalrymen and Artillerymen Vie With
Each Other in Enthusiastic Greetings to
the Brave Sailors Who Passed Safely
Through the Jaws of Death For the Honor
and Glory of Their Flag-The Men Who
Had No Fear of Death Moved to Tears by
the Warmth Of the Greeting Extended
Them-Hobson Talks Modestly Of His
Remarkable Exploit.
Kingston, Jamaica, July 8-A news
paper dispatch boat which lset Surugua
on Wednesday evening brings the fol-
lowing account of the release Of Lieu
tenant Richmond P. Hobson and the
seven seamen who. on June last.
sunk the collier Merrimac in the chan
mel OF Santiago harbor. The other
men released ere Osborn Deignan,
ooxswain; George F, Phillips, ma
S2iAtotb JOuu sVdtCt ICHuol,
George Charette. a gunner's mate;
Daniel Montague. seaman; ]. c. Mur-
ply, coxswain; Randolph Clausen,
hOxswain. The prisoners given In ex-
Ehange for these brave heroes were
Lieutenant Aries and IA non-commis-
sioned officers and privates.
The exchange took place on Wednes-
1Ry afternoon two-thirds of mile be-
vond the entertainments occupied by
lhe Rough Riders. The Spanish pris-
bners. In charge Of Colonel John Jacob
Astor and Lieutenant Miloy, were
kaken through the American lines
mounted and blindfolded. The Ameri-
pan prisoners were brought to the
meeting place on foot. but were not
Slindfolded.
As Hobson and the men of the Mer-
hmac approached the first line of en-
irenchments, occupied by the Rough
Riders. low murmurs ran from one end
Df the line of cowboys and eastern
athletes to the other, and by the time
The returning party reached them
very man was on his feet, refusing to
DO restrained by the admonishing Of
lhe officers, cheering wildly and rush
ing over every obstacle that CHANGED
10 be in their way in their efforts to
reach Hobson and his party and grasp
hem by the hand. The released pris-
bners were soon surrounded and COM
,elled to stop to receive the greetings,
congratulations and vigorous, heart
feIt handshaking Of men they had
-ssver saen before.
Bunburned cavalrymen who had
bpent their lives in the saddle. on the
plains of Arizona, New Mexico or other
western states or territories, and who
lid not know the difference between
ships maintop, bilge or keep, threw
heir arms around the sailor boys and
literally dragged them over the en-
trenchments, all the time sending out
yells that under other circumstances
would have struck terror to hearts
pyen as gallant as those Of the Mer-
hmac heroes.
The Seventy first New York volun-
beers, near the Rough Riders, was the
lext regiment to fall upon Hobson and
his men, and almost Immediately the
Ninth and Tenth cavalry, both colored
regiments, Joined in the general en-
thusiasm, and cheer after cheer arose
u Hobson and his companions forced
their way through the lines Of white
md colored soldiers. Hobson, so far
as possible, grasped each hand ex-
tended towards him, and neither he
aor his men made any protest against
The most uncomfortable crowding and
lostling which they had to undergo.
II the young officer, whose home is in
Alabama, has any race prejudice, he
certainly forgot all about it as hc
passed through the lines of soldiers on
his way to General Wheeler's head
nuarters, grasping the hands of the
bbony hued troopers of the Ninth and
Tenth cavalry and expressing thanks
for their patriotic welcome with as
much heartiness as he displayed to-
wards the men of his own race. He
md all of his men were completely
overcome by the reception accorded
them, and tears rolled down their
eheeks as the soldiers crowded around
them.
As Hobson and his party approached
Captain Grimes battery the men cried
out on every side to have salute
tlred in theh' honor. Hobson protested
neaist this Immediately, and shouted
b the artillerymen. who also caught
The infection, not to waste good powder
In salutes, but to save 1t for the Span
SArds. This sentiment was greeted
With tumultuous cheers.
: 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
aheir journey was marked by the Wild
est demonstrations on the part of the
american soldiers. who threw aside
oil semblance of order, scrambled out
Of the entertainments, knocked over
tent guys and other paraphernalia in
their eagerness to see the returning
heroes. and sent up cheer after cheer
for the men who had passed safely
Through the jaws Of death to serve
Hheir country.
, The same scenes Of enthusiasm were
repeated upon the arrival of the men at
fhe hospital station and at our base