The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-08-18


more or less accurate stories of tn
sinking of the Merrim &C in Santiag
harbor, by Lieutenant Hobson and hi
crew OF seven ''Jackies," but the fol
lowing taken from the New Yor
Suns account of the great meetin.
meeting held in that city on Thurs
day night, August 4th. at whicl
Lieut.. Hobson presided, is the onl,
full and accurate "of1icial' accoun
of the affair, as told by Hobson him
self:
There was such display of pa
triotic feeling at the Metropolitan
Opera House last night as this city
has not seen for years and years
Nominally, it was a meeting in ait
of the New York Soldiers and Sail
ors' Families Protective Association
Actually, it was a continuous out
burst of the strongest, warmest kind
of national feeling, and of generous
tribute to the men who have shown
their gallantry in this war, whether
they were for us or against us.
With the same uprOar with which
the big crowd greeted Lieut.. Hobson
when he opened the meeting and
greeted the names of Mckinley and
Dewey, it greeted the name of Ger
vera, the Spanish Admiral. This
spectacle of great audience of en-
thusiastic Americans rising to their
feet, waving their handkerchiefs, and
shouting three big American cheers at
the mere mention of the name of the
man who made the strongest fight
that has been made on the sea arains t
the United States during this war
was equally significant and remark
able.
The big opera house, with the ex-
ception of the middle of the two tiers
OF boxes, was crowded full. People
stood III the rear of the seats on the
main floor and in the galleries, and
the stage was crowded with as many
people as it could hold, although it
was as hot a night as ever tested the
enthusiasm of New York audience.
When Mr.. Hobson stepped out in
the wings on the left side of the big
stage the house rose with tremen-
dous shout. He stopped short, but
only for second, then went on and
took his seat, while the shouting,
cheering and waving of flags con-
tinued for more than full minute
and half. After the s'Star-Spangled
Banner had been sung, which seem
ed to relieve the feelings of the crowd
a good deal-for everybody joined in
Byrne came forward. He
told what the meeting was for, how
bank clerks, grocery clerks, truck
drivers, day laborers, were working
side by side in the Southern camps
and on pestilent Cuban battle fields,
while their families were left here to
get along as best they may. This
meeting was called SO that there
might be as little difference as pos
sihle in the feelings with which their
families regarded their absence.
When in talking about places where
our sailors were Major Burne hap
pened TO mention the name of Dewey,
the crowd rose to it's feet and hur-
rahed, and some body in the gallery
called for three cheers, and they rang
out. Then Major Byrne said that he
was glad that Capt. Philip had prom
ised to be present. He was obliged
to stop while the people shouted their
three cheers for Capt. Philip, and for
the Texas also. When he turned
around and called Mr.. Hobson for
ward the cheering that greeted the
last skipper of the Merrimac was
even louder than all the previous
cheers, and it was prolonged much
more. Major Byrne, in Introducing
him, had apparently said, though
few. if any, had heard it, that he
would turn over the deck" to Mr..
Hobson.
The deck has been turned over to
me- Mr. Hobson said in clear, full
voice that could be heard in the top
most gallery without the slightest
effort to fix the attention, but
cannot say that l feel that this plat
form resembles in any way the deck
Of a warship. The sailor abhors
words. If you have followed him
from the time he is turned out in the
until taps at night, YOU will
find that he has small opportunities
to make use of words and phrases
The pipe of the whistle and the blast
of the bugle are the oratory that
sway him. Even at the task of ma
the great engines. or fir
ing the 13-inch gun in action, he
will have simple, easily understood
signals to direct and encourage him.
When the deck is turned over to
me, and l am called to use words in
abundance, l am, indeed. upon an
unknown and perilous sea. But
must confess that | knew that
should have to embark upon that sea
when | consented to appear here to-
night. But sailors have gone into
seas before when adequate
causes called them there"
Here the Lieutenant had to pause
while his audience rose and cheered.
apparently to his surprise, and GER
talnly to his embarrassment If
ever any cause called me it was the
cause of the soldiers and sailors, the
army and navy of the Uuited States,
and the cause of all who are dear to
them. There was no order to call a
second boats crew, because the boat
was ready and manned without an
order, and it was filled with the same
KIND OF seamen that are on every ship
Of our navy.
This was my introduction to
Jackey the sailor, and recently, my
friends | have had oooeSion RI snp