The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-14
6IyELlEUTENANT HOBSON
| u. Miller OF the Merrimac Tes-
titles to His Courage.
stlFIsHNEsS IN HIS MAKEUP.
Forth to Meet What He
was Certain Death
v,,b No Thought of Self.

y. wssh Fla. June 9.-(Correspond-
., the Associated Press.)-Qne of
..,.nsnt Hobson's greatest admirers
s,aunchest friends in the navy is
s,,n Miller late commander of the
-D,ac An incident which brought to
I, c.n,ain Miller's devotion and lov-
10 his heroic friend occurred last
4, IN the porch of the Key West hotel.
.,.,, group was assembled in front OF
,.,l antrance discussing the published
.,,,s Of the sinking of the Merrimac.
:. was not single naval officer in
group, although quite number We're
ding and smoking on the veranda be-
! ,urning in for the night.
~ conversation turned after while
mere analytic channel, and one of
speakers remarked that in his opinion
hsroism was tinged with selfisnness
a that all deeds of bravery were prompt
Nv eeotlsm and the morbid craving for
l,orie,y fame or self Qualification.
cantain Miller. who had hitherto been
k,sning unnoticed to the conversation.
airing the different garbled reports of
ltlon the details of which he Enew SO
HI. sprang to his feet and addressed
mself to the youthful cynic who had
.aertaken to discuss the ethical side of
obsons herosm.
aNay ask who you are, sir" asked
n,alu Miller, In a courteous and dignlfied
amer. but In a voice duivering with
kppressed anger and emotion. He waited
the answer and then went on: 81
N Captain Miller. commander Of the
.rrimac. I overheard your remark and
,h to tell you | have known Hobson
wears. was his professor at the naval
&atmy and have since been close to him.
arer and anxious as / was to be allo%ed
h privilege of taking the Merrimac into
Santiago channel, felt a certain pride
Admiral SIMPSONS selection OF Mr..
bison I knew him to be man fearless
d brave devoted to his duty and his
rntry. There is not one particle of sell
Illness in Mr. Hobsons makeup, l as
Ire you, and on the night that he sank the
1srrimac he went forth to meet a certain
bath without single thought of self.
|ov beg to contradict the statement you
Is. made. Won't you please retract
Captain MIllers words were listened
10 silence and a grateful reparation was
krcted for the thoughtless and hasty ex-
enion that had called forth this just,
bl polite, rebuke.
But the iconoclastic young man stood
y ground and refused to allow Cap
Iin Miller opinion to override his own
bit to free thought and its expression.
For fully fifteen minutes Captain Mil
condescended to argue with his oppo-
nt and repeatedly invited him to take
brect and lofty view OF heroism. but to
avail.
The evidence on both sides was in and
young man proceeded to the summing
Of his case with what he considered
telling and crushing blow.
lou don't mean to tell me, captain,
said that if a man with home ties
engaged affection is ordered to carry
desperate plan in which sure death
DIS only material reward. and that man
KS not hunk, but obeys his orders, that
real motive for so doing and the only
we that prompts him to do what you
MS duty is not the voice of selishness,
amntlon and vainglory of having his
Me 90 Down to history as a hero and a
afyr, do your"
sT, answered Captain Miller bowling.
rave no desire to waste my time
.enng questions made by man OF
convictions. l beg these gentlemen
uon ior having intruded: but, as a
.'eh,ative OF the United States navy
friend of Mr.. Hobson. would ad-
!ou 10 walk down to the jVck and
~ Yourself | can now realize why
ma IOu understand what herosm means.
y,h Miller walked away and called
MI as KEY to his room wondering If the
w. man would have the heroism to
itoa. me watery plan of self-des rue
Al NJ pau prescribed, but it is safe to saw
I, y. w courage failed him, as he has been
ah'e and dry since daybreak.
----
w., 'amp AIccr Notes.
!" .'n'ns'on' June ls.-The priucipa,
~ u progress at Camp Aleer Just now
!, aun,hg OF telephone and telegraph
"ts Nom heado,,..