The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1898-07-13

cried out on every side to have salute
fired in their honor. Hobson pro
tested against this and shouted tc
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 Astor and
the latter entered into the spirit OF
the occasion and told the men they
need not obey Hobson's 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 lin their
state of disorder and enthusiasm for
an engagement.
WHEELER AND CHADWICK.
As Naval Constructor Hobson
finally reached Gen. Wheeler's head
quarters where the veteran cavalry
man and other officers gave him a
warm welcome. By this time Capt.
Chadwick of the New York and the
naval escort from the flagship had
reached Hobson and his men and
they were the first persons, with
whom the rescued prisoners had any
previous acquaintance, whom they
had met since they entered Santiago
harbor on their perilous mission.
Capt. Chadwick and all others took
each man by the hand and extended
the heartiest greeting.
The escort had brought a change
of clothing, including new uniforms,
for Hobson and his men, and the
latter were given short respite
while they changed tLeir apparel.
Hobson was also given a horse to
ride over the trail to Juragua and
his men were placed in an army am
bulance.
CONGRATULATED SHAFTER.
Before leaving for the seacoast
Hobson was taken to Gen. Skaters S
headquarters and warmly greeted by
the commanding general.
The correspondent of the Asso-
ciated Press asked Hobson for an
interview and statement as to his ex-
periences 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 in
tended to submit complete report
to Admiral Sampson on the subject
and that it would be outside the line
of his duty to say anything about
the sinking of the ship until after he
had made such a report or at least
has had an opportunity to consult
the admiral.
HoBsoNs STATEMENT.
He could not be induced to say
anything on this subject, but with
regard to his experiences as pris
oner of war in Santiago he said:
During the first four days we
were prisoners of war we were con-
fined in Moro castle and I can
assure you those were extremely un-
comfortable and disagreeable days.
The Spaniards did not exactly i'll
treat as, but it took them some time
to recover from the shock caused by
what most of them considered our
Yankee impudence in trying to block
their harbor
AS a 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 I have nothing but the high
est admiration.
His act in informing Admiral
Sampson OF our safety, I regard as
that of kind hearted, generous man
and chivalrous officer. I expressed
to him my sincere thanks and tie
thanks of my men for taking 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 his
tory, though am sure we were moi
entitled to the commendation We
received, for there were hundreds OF
other men on our ships who woulc
have been glad to undertake to &c
the same thing.
"While we were in Moro castle