The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-11
HOBSON COMES
THE CROWD WILD
Extraordinary Scenes Attended the
HerOS Arrival Here.
MOBBED BY HIS ADMIRERS
SHrsiIS Thousands Hem Him in and
Stop His Progress.
MOBBED BY HIS ADMIRERS
MAKES A SPEECH IN A BUGGY
And is Observation-Disclosures With Former
Mayor VanHoose-Drives in After
noon Receives Public Later,
and is Banquetted at Night.

Richmond Pearson Hobson arrived In
Birmingham by the Southern train from
Washington at 11:2O yesterday morning.
He received the most enthusiastic well
GENE ever accorded to any visitor to TINS
city.
Many thousands of people crowded all the
approaches to the union passenger station,
and when the train arrived with Hobson
they fairly went wild.
Former Mayor J. A. VanIioose, with two
or three friends, met Hobson on the steps
81 the car and received him as a friend
The passenger station was crowded with
pAoAs anxious to see the nero of the Merri-
mac, and large number had succeeded,
by ,oany different methods, in gaining en-
trance into the shed. When the train rolled
into the station and stopped, there was a
headlong rush toward the sleeping car
where Hobson was, ana a mighty cheer
went up when Hobson appeared on the
steps.
Everyone wanted to shake hands with
him, and his exit from the station was like
a football scrimmage, as the struggling
mass of people, with Hobson in it's CENTER
the gate and into Morris avenue.
Gray-haired men jostled elbows with
schoolboys and excited women. Particu-
lary was the school girl in evidence. One
charming miss, with flushed cheek and
glowing eyes, who had succeeded in shaking
hands with the hero, cried: I'm going to
put this glove away and keep it, because
had it on when l shook Hobson's hand!''
r. ~ the
crowd in any other way, Hobson's escorts
hurried him into the Morris avenue en-
trance of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and
Railroad company's office. There, behind
locked doors, the lieutenant regained his
breath and held a small reception of the
office force and the few who had managed
to enter with him. Then they took him
through the Potter building out on First
avenue. But the people, foreseeing this
strategic move, had gone around the corner,
and the much beset hero found himself
again the center of an enthusiastic multi
!tude, determined to see and shake hands
with him. Hobson was forced to hold his
court at the intersection of First avenue
and Twentieth street. Traffic was stopped,
drays and delivery wagons hemmed the
crowd and offered vantage points for enter
prisng climbers, the street cars coming and
going in all four directions were blocked,
while the American public satisfied it's de-
sire to shake hands with celebrity.
At last way was made partly through
the crowd, Hobson climbed into an open
buggy, and stood up in full view
Then the crowd clamored for a speech
Pausing between sentences to catch the
breath taken out of him in the tussle, Hob
in a well iatlx,
tered words, expressed his happiness at be-
ing again in his native state, and his ap-
probation of the cordial reception given
him.
The buggy was then driven away, many
men hurrying along the sides to touch the
hero's hands
One young negro man, probably from
Hobsons' home, ran after the buggy and
claimed recognition. Hobson leaned over
the back OF the seat, shook hands with
him. and cried out: Hello, Sam! l am
glad to see you," and the young negro fell
back with satisfied grin at being recog-
nized.
The struggle from the train to safety was
terrific. The hero emerged from the car
shed supported by Former Mayor Van
Hoose, and two or three others. He was
arm-in-arm with Mr.. Van Hoose and two
men never had a harder struggle. Under
tHe carriage SHSu Oh the station they met a
compact mass of shouting humanity, and
they had to break through it. Ex-Mayor
Van Hoose had played football at the Uni
versity of Alabama. Hobson had played 1t
for years at Annapolis. The two saw that
their only means of escape was to make a
center rush. The stalwart form of the ex-
mayor and the tall figure of the young
hero, very bundle of muscles and sinews,
made a supreme dash for liberty and they
won; but with frightful expenditure of
strength.
They thought they had escaped, but hur-
rying into Second avenue through private
doors, they found themselves caught be-
tween two mighty currents of humanity.
They struggled bravely but it was no avail
Hobson couldn't reach Mr.. Van HOSES
carriage, couldn't reach anything. He was
hemmed in. 1t was like sinking the Mer-
rimac.
Finally they surged up against the buggy
of Frank H. Gafford which had been
caught In that wonderful eddy of humanity.
Jump into the buggy and say few
Words urged Mr.. Van Hose. Hobson
did as he was hidden.
81 am glad to you, my friends and
this welcome thrills me with sense of
gratitude ] cannot express. There have
been occasions when thought it not likely
that I should ever see you again; but I re-
jbice that the pleasure of meeting you face
to face has been reserved for me. / cam
not tell YOU how much L thank you, but 1
wish you to be assured that 1 am pro-
foundly grateful"
The crowd parted somewhat and Frank
Gafford drove away with the hero, while all
the multitude shouted.
1t was a wonderful demonstration 1t
was worthy of the first young hero of This
age-worthy in the spontaniety of it's en-
thusiasm.
By a roundabout route Mr. Gafford drove
Hobson to Mr.. Van HOSES residence on
South Twentieth street. Mr.. Van Hose
= carriages was pursued long distance by
the crowd. who believed that the carriage
bore Hobson
Mr. Van Hepse entertained Hobson very
quietly Thoss present were the host, the
guest of honor, Miss jamie VanHoose Miss
Belle Dangaix, Mr. Robert Jemison, Rev.
DR.. o. p Fitzsimmons, Mr.. Woolsey Van
Hoose, Mr.. j. p Ross and Mr.. William
J.5Dangaix.
After luncheon Mr.. Hobson went driving