HOBSON IS FREE off jaragua Jur agua july 6 evening by the associated press dispatch boat to port antonio jamaica july 7 copyright 1898 by the associated press via kingston ja july 7 a m abst 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 july 3rd ard last and sunk her there were surrendered by the spanish military authorities ties in exchange for prisoners captured by 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 wildest demonstrations on the part of the american soldiers who threw aside all semblance of order scrambled out of the entrenchments knocked overe the tent guys and other camp paraphernalia in their eagerness to see the returning heroes and sent up cheer after cheer tor for the men who had passed safely through the jaws of death to serve their country the same scenes of enthusiasm were repeated upon the arrival of the men at the hospital station and at our base at jaragua Jur agua hobson who reached there in advance of his companions was taken on board the new york immediately the flagships deck was lined with officers and men and as hobson clambered up her 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 a dozen transports lying near by hobson had little to say in regard to his experiences except that he and his companions had been well treated by the spaniards and that they were all in excellent health the spanish authorities thorit ties les consented this morning to exchange hobson and his men and a truce was established for the purpose the place selected for the exchange was under a tree betwee en the american and spanish lines two thirds of a mile beyond the entrenchments occupied by col woods rough riders near gen wheelers headquarters and in the center of the american line the american prisoners left the reina mercedes hospital on the outskirts of santiago de cuba where they had been confined at this afternoon in charge of major irles 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 accompanied by interpreter maestro were in charge of the spanish prisoners these consisted of amelio bolez and aurelius a german belonging to the twenty ninth regular infantry who were captured at el caney on friday last and lieutenant adolph aries of the first provisional regiment of barcelona one of the most aristocratic military organizations of the spanish army and fourteen no non nj commissioned officers and a prIva vata td taftt aries and a number of men were wounded in the fight at el caney the spanish prison prisoners eis were taken through the american lines mounted and blindfolded the meeting between col astor and major irles was extremely courteous but very formal and no attempt was made by either of them to discuss anything but the matter in hand major tries irles was given Ms his choice olt of three lieutenants in exchange tor for hobson and was also informed that he could have all of the fourteen men in exchange for the Am amerlean Ameil eilean can sailors the spanish officer selected Lieuten lieutenant ani aries and the two other spanish officers were conducted back to jaragua curag Jur agua ift it was then not later than 4 and just as everything was finished ind and the two parties were separating tries turned and said courteously enough but in a tone which indicated considerable defiance and gave his hearers th tha impression that he desired hostilities to be renewed at once our understanding is gentlemen that this truce comes co 10 an end at 5 1 col astor looked at his watch bowed to the spanish officer without making a reply and then started back slowly to the american lines with hobson and s his companions the meeting of the two parties anel ana the exchange of prisoners had taken t place in full view of both the Amerl american eariL J and spanish soldiers who were en trenched near the meeting place and f the keenest interest was taken in the episode