The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-15
HOBSON'S HEROISM.
Captain Miller UphOIds His Pupils
Deed and ReprOves a Cynic.
of the Associated Press.

Correspondence of the Associated Press.
KEY WEST, Fla, June 9.-One of Lieut..
Hobson'sI greatest admirers and stanchest
friends inithe navy is Captain Miller late
commander of the Merrimac. An incident
which brought to light Captain Miller's de-
votion and loyalty to his heroic friend oc-
ecurred last night the porch of the Key
West Hotel A small group was assembled
in front of the hotel entrance discussing the
published reports of the sinking of the
Merrimac. There was not a single naval
officer in the group, although quite num-
Der were chatting and smoking on the We
randa before turning in for the night. The
conversation turned after a while into a
more analytic channel and one of the speak
ers remarked that in his opinion all heroism
was tinged with selfishness and that all
deeds of bravery were prompted by egotism
and the morbid craving for noteriety, fame
or -glorification.
Captain Miller, who had hitherto been
listening, unnoticed, to the conversation,
hearing the different garbled reports of an
action the details of which he knew so
well, sprang to his feet and addressed HIM
self to the youthful cynic who had under
taken to discuss the ethical side of Hob
sons heroism MAY 1 ask who you are,
SIR asked Captain Miller in a courteous
and dignifed manner, but in a voice CULVER
ing with suppressed anger and emotion. He
waited for the answer and then replied:
II am Captain Miller, commander of the
Merrimac. l overheard your remark and
wish to tell you that l have known Lieut..
Hobson for years. / his professor at
the Naval Academy and have ever since been
close to him. Eager and anxious as l was
to be allowed the privilege of taking the
Merrimac into the Santiago channel l felt
a certain pride in Admiral SIMPSONS selec-
ton of Mr. Hobson. | knew him to be a
man fearless and brave, devoted to his duty
and his country. There is not one particle
of selishness in Mr.. Hohson's makeup, 1
assure you, and on the night that he sank
the Merrimac he went forth to meet what
seemed to be certain death without a single
thought of self. Now, beg you to contra
dict the statement you just made. won't
you please retract it?'
Captain Miler's words were listened to in
silence and a. grateful reparation was ex-
pected for the thoughtless and hasty eX
preston that had called forth this just, but
polite. rebuke. Far from it, however; the
iconoclaStic and argumentatiVe young man
stood his ground and refused to allow Capt.
Millers opinion to overdue his own right tc
free thought and its expression For fully
fifteen minutes Captain Miller condescended
to argue with his opponent and repeatedly
invited him to take correct and lofty
view of heroism but to no avail.
The evidence on both sides was in, and
the young man proceeded to the summing
up Of his case with what he considered
telling and crushing blow You don't mean
to tell men, captain, he said, that, if
man with home. ties OF, engaged affections is
ordered to- carry out a desperate plan in
which sure death is his only material re-
ward, and that man does not funk but
obeys his orders. that his real motive for so
doing and the only voice that prompts him
to do what YOU call his duty is not the
voice of seashness. the ambition and vain
glory of having his name go down to his
tory as a hero and martyr. do your
Sir answered Captain Miller. bowling,
II have no desire to waste my time answer
ing questions made by man of your con-
victions. / beg these gentlemens pardon
for having intEuded, but. as representa-
tive of the United States navy and friend
of Mr.. Hobson's, l would advise you to
walk down to the dock and drown yourself.
I can now realize why you don't under
stand what heroism means Good night
Captain Miller walked away and called
for his key to his room wondering if the
young man would have the herosm to carry
out the watery plan of self-destructon he
had prescribed, but 1t is safe to say that his
courage failed him as he has been seen
alive and dry since daybreak.