The record-union., 1898-08-21
HOBSOh'S ELOQUENT SPEECH
HIS TRIBUTE TO THE AMERI-
CAN SAILOR AND SOLDIER.
Modestly Tells the Story Of the
Sinking Of the Mer-
rimac.

Sinking of the Mer-
rimac.
The "Record-Union" has already
published an account of the great meet
ing at the Metropolitan Opera-house in
New York for the benefit of soldiers
and sailors, presided over by Lieuten-
ant Richmond P. Hobson, but his
speech in full has not been published in
this State. AS it is remarkable in many
| respects, and proved Lieutenant Hob
son to be an orator as we'll as hero
We give it here in full. After the tre-
mendous applause following his appear
ance had subsidized, he said:
Ladies and gentlemen: The deck has
been turned over to me, but l take OBJ
lection to likening this situation to the
deck Of a man-o'-War. Qaugnter.)
AS you all know the sailor abhors
words. If you followed his routine
from the time he turns out in the morn
ing until taps at night you would hear
but very few words. He has the SIM
pie pipe of the whistle for most OF his
orders, or the blast of the bugle. Even
for those commands and communica-
tions which control all the forces that
make UP a vessel for directing the en-
gines, for controlling the battery, ne
will have simple signals; and now that
the deck is turned over to me and L am
called upon to use words - words IN
ABUNDANCE am on an unknown sea.
daughter) I must confess, however,
that / knew that I should be upon the
unknown sea when / consented TO ap-
pear here tonight; but sailors before
have gone into unknown seas when
causes adequate have called them Qoud
cheers), and if any cause could appeal
to me more than all other causes 1t is
that which works to the interest OF the
sailor and soldier, for / have been as
sociated with the sailor, though for
brief number Of years, yet long enough
to know him.
AN INCIDENT OF A PRACTICE
CRUISE.
My first Xperience-abOut the only
thing the sailor can talk about is few
little incidents and experiences Of his
own-was while on practice cruise
just after entering the Naval Academy.
One day several of the cadets were
swimming toward the Constellation,
which was anchored about three-quar-
ters Of mile from the shore. Most OF
the cadets had reached the ship, but
one Of them was seized with cramps,
and he sang out for boat to be low
cred and take him aboard. Immediate
ly a rush was made to hoist out boat
but a sailor who heard him jumped
overheard to his assistance. Then an
other went overheard, then from the
boom, from the quarter and from the
bridge other sailors followed in such
numbers that actually the Captain had
to give the order in stern tones, and his
orderly passed it along, that NO more
men jump overboard!' daughter and
cheers)
have seen the same spirit exhibited
when in a heavy gale lfeboat had
been called for. 1t was with the same
old Constellation. She was running
free before half a gale with close reefed
topsails, when man fell overheard
Without waiting to bring her to the
wind, so that the launching would be
easier under the ships lee, the life
crew lowered the boat. 1t was COM
rade of mine they were seeking to res
cue He fell from the crossuees, ana
struck the water apparently hfeiess
While the lifeboat was getting away
she was swamped by heavy wave,
and it was no longer a question OF saw
ing one man. but seven. Another me-
boats crew was called away. 1t was
not necessary to give the order Ior the
call. They were already there. 1t was
not necessary to muster the crew. Eacn
man was in his place. and they loW-
cred the lifeboat without hesitation
(Cheers) This was my first introduc-
ton TO the acquaintance of the sailor,
he whom we call Jackie" A num-
ber Of years passed, and every year or
asSociation with Jackie" confirmed the
first conclusions I had drawn of him.
and recently, friends, have had occa-
sion to see Jackie" where he was sorely
taxed I feel that certain features OF
tho recent incident in which Jackie
n1avad his part so we'll should be re-
ferred to. It is known that when the
call was made for volunteers to go on
tho Marrimac (vociferous cheers and
cries of Three cheers for the hero Of
tho Nerrimac!"), literally the men fell
over each other in their eagerness to
volunteer. (Renewed cheering) The
lief on the New York ran above 100,
14O would volunteer, before the order
was passed that no more volunteers
were needed. When the few out of
this number had been assigned to sta
t;ons on the Merrimac, the direction was
given to them to lie fiat on their races
alongside the particular piece OF duty
they had to perform. Two were sta
toned by the anchor gear, and others
by the torpedoes, while two were in the
engine-room The directions were that
no man should pay any attention to the
fire of the enemy. 1t was agreed and
understood by all that they should not
even look up over their shoulders to see
where the firing came from; that, as
the shots fell, they should pay no atten-
ton to them. If man was wounded
he was to give no attention to it, but
to place himself in a sitting -kneeling
posture-in a posture so that when the
signal was given each man, if wounded,
could perform his simple duty; and.
friends they lay there, each man at his
most. until the little duty Of each was
performed.
UNDER CONTINUOUS FIRE.
And I may tell you that five out of
the seven torpedoes that were attached
to the ship had been shot away, the
steering gear had also been shot away,
and the projectiles that were being
hurled at us came more as a continu-
Gus stream than as individual project
lies. Yet those "jackies' lay there with
out moving, each one ready to do his
duty as he had been instructed. Then
again. when the duty was done and the
hove had assembled at the rendezyoI1S