The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-12
HDBSON SURE Of REWARD.
PLrekY NAVAL OFFICER WILL he
MADE LIEUTENANT eoNMAxDEa.
Admiral sanpsen SUBMITS N o0eial
Report 81 the shaking 81 the Mer-
rtnae-SecretaFy Lens Has Prom
iseA Reeognitiou for Drave Deeds.

NAehGNIToN, June u--I1e ch-y suo-
Jecs for an official bulletin today at The
navy department was Hobso-'s glorious
feat IN battling Up the Spanish squadron
with the huh % the Aerrimae. Win the
fraakness and candor peculiar 70 the man.
Admiral Sampson withheld I'D credit from
HoSs1n for either the execution or pro-
lection OF q weil-worked-out scheme 70
~6ica the constructor was entitled, and
he has cleared away the small cloud OF
dissa rsfart.on that had shown Itself
among few ot the line officers because
OF the selection OF star ofteer In the
person OK Henson to conduct the desperate
enterprise.
Reference was made in sampson's state
ms5t 20 the inspiring letter Of Secretary
Long. as q basis for the request for Hob
son's promotion. With the consent OF Sec
rotary Long. the particular passage in
TIE .etter TO which Admiral Sampson re-
ferrec. Is now made public. II reads:
Each rnan engaged in the work OF
the inshofe squadron should have in
MN the stuff OF which TO make a pos
sioie Gushing, and If the man wins, the
recognition given him shall he as great az
Una, given TO Gushing. so far as the de-
partHent can bring IL about.
JOHN D. LONG. Secretary"
Hooson has Won. and IL he escapes from
his present thralldcm the navy Department
viii redeem Its promise.
An examination OF the records OF the
navy department shows that the recoxni-
ton accorded to Cushing was his advance
nfent one full grade--that is from the rank
OF lieutenant. which he had when he took
MS little boat up 10 the AlbemarIe. TO the
rank or lieutenant commander. In addi-
ooh. ne was given a vote OF thanks by
congress.
II Hobson Is rewarded in the same man
hef pc VIII IL kept in his corps. be raised
TO the rank Of lieutenant Commando AZ
!east. and made full constructor instead
@. assistant constructor, as he now Is.
admiral Sampsons offleia! report is as
follows:
United States Flagship New York.
"Psrml, m. 70 c oH SAM santiago. June >;
tion TO Assistant Naval Constructor Hob
son. AS stated In the special Telegram
neaore coming here, was ordered to make
ene hasoor entrance secure against the
possioiity or the egress by Spanish ships
ny oostructing the narrow part Of the en-
trance oy sinking collier al that point.
Upon calling upon Hobson for a profes-
sionai opinion as 10 the sure method OF
sinking the ship. he manifested the most
nveiy interest In the problem. After sew
solution which he considered would in
sure the immediate sinking of the shin
when she reached the desired point in the
channel. This plan We prepared for exc
cutlon when we reached Santiago.
The plan contemplated q crew Of only
seven men and Hobson. who begged that
Anchor
chains were arranged en- deck, for both
anchors. forward and after. the plan In
cfnding the aaehoring OF the ship almost
automatically As soon as / reached San
tiago and / had a collier to work upon,
the details were completed and diligently
prosecuted. hoping to complete them In
one day. as the moon and tide served best
standing. the hour of O'Clock in the
morning arrived. and the preparations
were scarcely completed. After a careful
- n he 4..a1
forced TO relinuussh the pan for that
morning, as dawn was breaking. Hobson
begged 10 try IL at all hazards This morn
start was made. Nothing could have been
more calamity executed;
I'VE waited impatiently after the firing
did not reappear from the harbor I feared
they had all persisted. The steam launch,
which had been sent In charge of Naval
Cadet Powell To rescue the men. appeared
az this time. coming ont under persistent
FIRE OF the batteries. but brought none OF
the crew a careful inspection of the har-
Dor from the ship showed that the vessel
Merrmac had been sunk In the channel.
This afternoon, the chief OF stan OF
Admiral Cerver2 came out under a flag
OF truce. with letter from Admiral Cer-
vera. extollng the bravery OF the crew in
an unusual manner. / cannot. myself. top
earnestly express my appreciation OF the
conduct OF Hohson. and his gallant crew.
venture TO say that more brave. daring
thing has not been done since Gushing
blew cp the A.bem7rle. Referring 10 the
inspiring letter which was addressed TO
The officers az the beginning Of the war I
am sure you viii offer a suitable profess
SIGNAL reward to Hobson and his conpan-
ions.
II must add that Commander Miller re-
fnquished his command with the very
greatest reluctance. believing he would re-
tain his command under all circumstances.
He was, however. finally convinced that
the attempt OF another person 20 carry ont
the multitude Of details which had been
IN preparation by HohSon might endanger
its proper execution. I therefore took the
liberty 10 relieve him for this reason only.
There were hundreds OF volunteers who
were anxious "a participate; there were 80
men In the crew. nearly "a nanv from
th3s ship ana large numbers from all other
ships. OF officers and men alike