The Indianapolis journal., 1898-07-08
The Released Prisoners Given a ROus-
ing Reception by the Rough Riders
and others at the Front.
SCENE Of GREAT ENTHUSIASM
AS HOBSoN TRIED TO FORCE HIS
WAY THROUGH THE LINES.
Finally Taken Aboard the Flagship
New York, Where There Was An
other Wild Demonstration.

Copyright, 1898, by the Associated Press)
OFF JURAGUA, July 6, evening, by the
Associated Press dispatch boat Wanda to
Port Antonio, via Kingston, Jamaica, July
Z, 1880 a.. m.-Assistant Naval Constructor
Richmond p. Hobson, of the flagship New
York, and the seven seamen who with him,
sailed the collier Merrimac into the channel
of the harbor of Santiago de Cuba on June
8 last and sunk her there, were surren-
dered by the Spanish military authorities
to-day in exchange for prisoners captured
by the American forces. The eight heroes
are:
RICHMOND p HOBSON, lieutenant
United States navy
OSBORNE DEIGNAN, coxswain.
GEORGE F. PHILLIPS, machnist.
JOHN KELLY, water tender.
GEORGE CHARETTE, a gunner's mate.
DANIEL MONTAGUE, seaman
J. c. MURPHY, coxswain.
RANDOLPH CLAUSEN coxswain.
Hobson and his 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 selnblance of order, scram-
bled out of the entrenchments knocked over
tent guys and other camp paraphernalia
in their eagerness to see the returning he-
roes, and sent up cheer after cheer for the
men who had passed safely through the
jaws of death to serve their country.
The same scenes of enthusiasm were re-
peated the arrival of the men at the
hospital station and at our base at Juragua
Hobson, who reached there in advance of
his companions, was taken on board the
New York Immediately. The hagship's
decks were lined with officers and men, and
as Hobson clambered up the side and
stepped on board his vessel 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 expert
ences except that he and his companions
had been well treated by the Spaniards
and that they were all in excellent health.
THE EXCHANGE.
The Spanish authorities consented this
morning to exchange Hobson and his men,
and a truce was established for that pur-
pose. The place selected for the exchange
was under tree between the American and
Spanish lines. two-thirds of a mile beyond
the ntrenchments occupied by Colonel
Woods Rough Riders near General
Wheeler's headquarters and in the center
of the American line. The American pris-
oners left the Reina Mercedes Hospital, on
the outskirts of Santiago, where they had
been confined at 2:40 o'clock this afternoon,
in charge of Major Aries a Spanish staff
officer. who speaks English perfectly. The
prisoners were conducted to the meeting
place on foot, but were not blindfolded.
Col. John Jacob Astor and Lieutenant
Miley. accompanied by Interpreter Maesto,
we're in charge of the Spanish prisoners.
These consisted of Leutenants Amelio Vo-
lez and Aurelus, a German belonging to
the Twenty ninth Regiment Infantry, who
were captured at Ell Caney on Friday last,
and Lieutenant Adolfo Aries, of the First
Provisional Regiment of Barcelona, one of
the most aristocratic military organizations
of the Spanish army, and fourteen nom
commissioned officers and privates. Lieut..
Aries and a number of the men were
wounded in the fight at Ell Caney. The
Spanish prisoners We're taken through the
American lines mounted and bindfolded.
A DEFIANT SPANIARD.
The meeting between Colonel Astor and
Major Aries was very courteous but formal,
and no attempt was made by either of them
TO discuss anything but the matter in hand
Major Aries was given choice of three Span
ish lieutenants in exchange for Hobson,
ard also was informed that he could have
all of the fourteen men in exchange for the
American sailors. The Spanish officers Sc
lected Aries, and the other two Spanish Of
fcers were conducted back to Juragua. 1t
was then not later than clock, and just
as everything was finished and the two par
ties were separating Major Aries turned
ard said, courteously enough, but in a tone
which indicated considerable defiance, and
gave his hearers the impression that he de-
sired hostlities to be renewed at once:
Our understanding is, gentlemen, that this
truce comes to an end at o'clock"
Colonel Astor looked at his watch, bowed
to the Spanish officer. without making
reply, and then started back slowly to the
American lines with Hobson and his COM
panions following. The meeting of the two
PARTIES and the exchange of prisoners had
taken place in full view of both the Ameri-
lean and Spanish soldiers, who were in
trenched near the meeting place, and the
keenest interest was taken in the episode.
AS Hobson and the men of the Merrimac
approached the first line of intrenchments.
occupied by the Rough Riders low muir
murs ran from one end of the line of cow
boys and Eastern athletes to the other, and
by the time the returning party reached
them every man was on his feet, refusing
to be restrained by the admonishing of the
officers, cheering wildly and rushing over
every obstacle that chanced to be in their
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 greet
ings. congratulations and vigorous heart