The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-07-08
tMERRlMAC HEROES CHEERED.
Tremendous Enthusiasm When Hobson
and His Men Returned.

OFF Juragua, July 6, Evening, by the
Associated Press Despatch Boat Wanda,
to Port Antonio, Jamaica, July z, TAM,
via Kingston, July Z, Copyrighted by the
Associated Press. Naval Con-
structor Richard Pearson Hobson of the
flagship New York. and the seven seamen
who composed the crew OF the collier
Merrimac, which was sunk by Hobson
and his companions in the channel of the
harbor Of Santiago de Cuba, on June 8
last, wers surrendered by the Spanish
military authorities today in exchange
for prisoners capturedsby the American
forces.
Hobson and his men were escorted
through the American lines by Captain
Chadwick of the New York, who was
awaiting them.
Every step of their journey was marked
by the widest demonstrations on the part
of the American soldiers, who threw
aside all semblance of orders, scrambled
out of the entertainments, knocked over
tent guys and other camp paraphernalia
in their eagerness to see the returning
heroes and set up cheer after cheer for the
men who had passed safelya through the
jaws of death to serve their country
The same scenes of enthusiasm were re-
peated on the arrival of the men at the
hospital station and at our base at
Juragua. Robson, who reached there in
advance of his companions was taken on
board the New York, immediately
The fagship's decks were lined with
officers and men and as Hobson clambered
up her side and stepped on board his YES
sci the harbor rang with the shouts and
cheers of his comrades, which were re-
echoed by the crews of dozen transports
lying near by.
Hobson had little to say in regard to
his experiences, except that he, with his
comrades, had been we'll treated by the
Spaniards and that they were all in ex-
cellent health.
AS Hobson and the men of the Merri.
mao approached the first line of entrench-
ments occupied by the rough riders low
murmurs ran from one end of the line of
cowboys and eastern athletes to the other
and by the time the rear of the party
reached them every man was on his feet,
refusing to be restrained by admonishing
of the officers, cheering wildly and rush
ing wildly over every obstacle that
CHANGED to ba in the way, in their efforts
to reach Hobson and his party and grasp
them by the hand. The released prisoners
were soon surrounded and compelled to
stop to receive the greetings, congratula-
lions and vigorous, heartfelt hand shak-
ing OF men they had never seen before.
Sunburned cavalrymen who had spent
their lives in the saddle on the plains of
Arizona, New Mexico or other parts of
the West threw their arms around the
sailor boys and literally dragged them
over the entertainments, all the time send
ing out yells that under other oircum.
stances would have struck terror to hearts
even as gallant as those Of the Merrimac
heroes.
The seventy first New York volunteers
near the rough riders was the next yegi-
ment to fall upon Hobson ana his men.
and almost Immediately the 9th and 10th
cavalry, both colored regiments, Joined in
the general enthusiasm and cheer after
cheer arose as Hobson and his companions
forced their way through the lines of
white and colored soldiers.
Hobsc n rs far as possible grasped each
hand extended towards him and neither
he nor his men made any protest against
the uncomfortable crowding and jostling
which they had to undergo.
If the young officer, whose home is in
Alabama had any race prejudice, he Ger.
tainly forgot all about it as he passed
through the lines of soldiers on his way
to General Wheeler's headquarters. He
saw it was the uniform of the United
States army and he cared not for the
color of its wearers, grasping the hands
of the ebon-hued troopers of the 9th and
10th cavalry and expressing bis thanks
for their patr1otlc welcome with as much
heartiness as he displayed towards men of
his OWE race. 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
Captain Grimes battery. the men cried
out on every side to have salute fired in
their honor. Hobson protested against
this immadi atalu and shnutad to the