Evening star., 1898-07-08
HOBsON AND HIS MEN CRIEn
warmth of Their Welcome Drought
Tears to Their Eyes,

| warmth OF Their Welcome Drought
| Tears to Their Eyes.
| Copyright $685. by the Associated Press
ON Juragua, July (evening), by the AS
| sociated Press Dispatch Boat Wanda, to
Fort Antonio, Jamaica, July q am), via
| kingston, Jamaica, July G:3c amD.-As
Hobson and the men of the Merrimac after
| the exchange, approached the first line of
| entrenchments, occupied by the Rough
! riders, low murmurs ran from one end of
| the line CT cowboys and eastern athletes
| TO the other, and by the time the return
| ing party reached them every man was on
| MS feet, refusing to be restrained by the
admonlshing of the officers, cheering wild
| ~ and rushing over every obstacle that
chahced 10 be in their way, in their efforts
to reach Hobson and his party and grasp
| them by the hand
The released prisoners were soon sur
rounded and compelled TO stop to receive
'he greetings, congratulations and vigor-
Gus, heartfelt handshaking of men they had
never seen before. Sun-burned cavalrymen
| VINO had spent their lives in the saddle. on
| the plains of Arizona New Mexico or oth.r
western states or territories, and who did
not know the difference between a shln's
mamtop, bilge or keep, threw their arms
around the sailor boys and literally dragged
| ihem over the entrenchments, all the time
sehaing out yells that under other circum-
stances would have struck terror to hearts
even as gallant as those of the Merrimac
heroes.
The Wild Outbreak
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 m et
ing of the sailors who did their duty. ~ III
every Spanish gun in the harbor trai. "a
upon them. and the hardy man, who, from
lhe day OF their arrival on the Island of
Cupa' nave fought their way over the bodies
ol their own dead and wounded to the very
sates Oh the city that they will gladly
storm again when ordered to do SO.
The list New York Volunteers near tho
Rough Riders. was the next regiment to
fall upon Hobson and his men. and almost
Immediately the 9th and 10th Cavalry. both
colored regiments, Joined in the general
enthusiasm, and cheer after cheer arose nc
Hobson ard his companions forced their
way through the lines of white and colored
soldiers
Hopson, so far as possible, grasped each
hand extended toward him, and neither he
hor MS men made any protest against the
most uncomfortable crowding and jostling
which they had to undergo.
II 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 wav tn
Gen. Wheeler's headquarters He saw IT
was the uniform of the United States army
and he cared not for the color of its wear
ers, grasping the hands of the ebony-hued
troopers of the 9th and 10th Cavalry and
expressing thanks for patriotic welcome
with as much heartiness as he DISPLAYED
toward men of his own race
They Were Overcome.
He and all Of his men were completely
overcome by the reception accorded them
and tears rolled down their cheeks as the
soldiers crowded around them.
AS Hobson and his party approached Cap
tam Grimes battery the men cried out on
every side to have salute fired in their
honor- Hobson protested against this i'm
mediately, and shouted to the artillerymen.
who had also caught the infection, not to
do it. Then some of the most enthusI-
astfc OF the men appealed to Col John
Jacob Astor, and the latter entered into the
spirit of the occasion and told the men
they need 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 Span
1ards might have mistaken the reports for
the opening of an attack, and If the latter
had responded our soldiers were in no posi-
tion in their stat of disorder and enthus-
iasm for an engagement.
Hobson finally reached Gen. wheeler's
headquarters. where the veteran cavalry
man and other officers gave him a warm
welcome.
BY this time Captain Chadwick of the
New York, and the naval escort from the
flagship had reached Hobson and his men.
The escort had brought a change of |
clothing. including new uniforms for Hob
son and his men, and the latter were given
short respite while they changed their ap- |
parel. Ho6son was also given a horse to |
ride of the trail to Juragua and his men
were placed in an army ambulance
Before leaving for the seacoast Hobson |
was taken to Gen. Skaters headquarters |
and warmly greeted by the commanding
general.
Hobson's approach to Juragua had been |
heralded some time in advance, and he re- /
ceiyed the same hearty welcome and ring /
ing cheers there that he received at the
front. Many of the thousand wounded SOL |
diers Joined in the enthusiasm as be rode
along the line of hospital tents
His crowning welcome came when he /
stepped his foot on the deck of the flagship /
New York and was greeted by his COM
rades and personal friends. The entire l
crew mustered on the deck and gave him |
most enthusiastic cheers. while his fellow /
officers crowded around him. shaking hands, |
offering congratulations and plying him |
with hundred questions.