| Show TRUE key west pla fla june juhe IL correspondence pon dence of the associated press one of hobsons greatest admirers I 1 and staunchest staunch sst friends in them the T navy vy is captain miller late commander of the merrimac an incident which brought to light captain millers de and loyalty to his heroic friend occurred last night on 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 n the group although quite a number were on the veranda the conversation turned after a while bile into a more analytic channel ahsene and we of the speakers remarked that fh lits his opinion all heroism was tinged with selfishness and that all deeds of braill bravery were prompted by egotism and abo morbid craving for notoriety tame fame or self seh glorification capt 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 himself to the cynic who had undertaken to discuss the ethical side of hobsons heroism may I 1 ask you who you are sir asked captain miller in a courteous and dignified manner but in a voice quivering with suppressed anger and emotion he waited tor for the answer and then replied 1 I am captain miller commander of the merrimac I 1 over i heard your remark and wish to tell teli you that I 1 have known hobson fqy years I 1 was his professor at the naval academy and have ever since been close to him eager and anxious as I 1 was to be allowed the privilege of taking the merrimac into the santiago channel I 1 felt a certain pride in admiral sampsons Samp sons selection of mr hebson I 1 knew him to be a man fearless and brave devoted to his duty and his country there is not one par tide of selfishness in mr hobsons Hob sona makeup make up I 1 assure yoland on the night that he sank the merrimac he went forth to meet certain death without one thought of self sir I 1 beg you to contradict the statement you just made wont you please retract capt millers words were listened to in silence and a grateful reparation was waa expected for the thoughtless and hasty expression that had called forth this just but polite rebuke par from it however the iconoclastic and argumentative young man stood its ground and refused to allow captain millers opinion to overrule his own right to free thought and its expression pres slon vot por fully fifteen minutes captain miller descended condescended con to argue with his opponent and repeatedly invited him to take a 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 a telling and crushing blow you dont mean to tell me captain he said that aman with home ties flee or engaged affections and ordered ate t carry outa desperate plan in which sure death Is his only material reward and that man does not flinch but obeys ble bis orders that his real motive for so doing and the only voice that prompts um kim to do what you call his duty to is not the velce of selfishness the ambi blont ti litand and vainglory of having his name go down to history as a hero and a martyr do you sir answered captain miller bowing 1 I have no desire to waste my ma time answering questions made by al a man a of your convictions I 1 beg these pardon for having intruded but as ft a representative of the united states navy and a friend of mr hobson I 1 would advise you to walk down to tb the dock and drown yourself 1 on can now realize why you do not understand der stand what heroism means good night captain miller walked away and d called tar the key to his room wondering deft ng if the young man would have the heroism to carry out the watery plan of self destruction he had de but it is sate safe to say that his courage tailed failed him as he has been seen alive and dry since day break |
