The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-07

LIEUT.. RICHMOND 2. HOBSON.
to be in the thick Of the present trouble.
and having been successful I'm overcom'
ing the prejudice against assigning con-
structors to sea duty had grasped his
opportunity and turned out a hero.
STUFF THEY MAKE HEROES OF.
He is of the stuff that they make
heroes Of, said Colonel Hilary A. Her
bert. former Secretary of the Navy, who.
as "A Representative IN Congress from
Alabama, appointed young Hobson 20 the
Naval Academy Everybody else in
Washington thinks the same tonight
and those who know the hero of tho
Merrimac are recalling incidents i'm his
career TO show how well fitted he was
for performing n deed of remarkable gal
lantry and judgment.
Just how Admiral Sampson came to Sc
lect Hobson instead Of some officer Of
the line. the lighting branch Of the ser
vice. nobody here knows. The prevailing
opinion is that HObsOn. always ready
with some ingenious scheme. presented
plan TO the Admiral showing how the
corking up Of Ceryera could best be ac-
cOmplished. and asked that the distnc-
ton Of attempting 10 carry IL out be given
him. Admiral Simpsons dispatch like
most official messages. is devoid OF de-
tails. Regret Is expressed that he did not
include in his telegram the names Of the
seven gallant enlisted men who accom-
panied the young naval constructor on the
Merrimac. All the officials want TO honor
them as they are honoring their COM
mander, and naval officers say there is
nothing too good for them. Hobson's in
trepidity will be recognized. as was Dew
pvfc nd bfe com "a nIfnfr oaioarq and a
the seven enlisted men will undoubtedly
receive substantial promotion.
TO BE EXCHANGED.
In accordance with the request OF Adj
miral Sampson steps were taken imme-
diately TO secure the exchange OF Naval
Constructor Hobson and his crew. Sec
rotary Alger and Mr.. Allen the Assistant
Secretary Of the Navy had an interview
on the subject this afternoon with Pres
ident Mckinley, and arrangements were
made for securing the release Of the eight
Americans for an equal number of the
Spanish officers and soldiers In conhne-
ment at Fort Mcpherson, near Atlanta.
Ga. A telegram was sent by the Navy
Department TO Admiral Sampson. giving
him authority TO effect an exchange, and
an arrangement will be made with Cap
tain General Blanco by which the Span
fish prisoners will be turned over TO him
at the same time that Hobson and the
seven blue jackets are turned over TO Adj
miral Sampson. Much favorable com
ment has been caused by Cervera's mag
nanmity In agreeing to exchange Hobson
and the other American captives. I'm rec
ognition Of their bravery" to quote Adj
miral SIMPSONS official dispatch. Ger
vera resided IN Washington number OF
years ago as naval attache Of the Span
ish Legation. He IS remembered kindly
by those who know him. He understands
Americans and their ways. and left many
friends here Everybody who has had ac-
quaintance with Constructor Hobson
agrees that he IS one Of the cleverest men
who ever was graduated from the Naval
Academy
Like most geniuses Constructor Hob
son Is regarded as peculiar. Men who
were at the Naval Academy while he was
there say his classmates at first attempt
ed TO make life miserable for the quiet,
studious boy but found that he could re-
sent their actions in a way that made
them desist before he had been IN the
Academy very long. lie was only fifteen
years old when he went to Annapolis, and
his most marked characteristic was his
use OF words seldom in the vocabulary
OF a youngster OF his age. One OF his
classmates said to-day that Hobson was
hazed a great deal In his plebe year. and
many a dignihed officer had the honor
OF standing him on his head and making
him do all sorts OF ridiculous things in
the hazing curriculum. one day Hobson
resented the annoyance 10 which he was
subjected By older cadets in these words:
PECULIAR VOCABULARY.
81 do not desire, and neither Will 1 toll
crate any more OF your scurrilous con-
tumely."
At another time Hobson was fishing from
the end OF the old Santee wharf and a
passing classmate asked him what he was
doing. Merely INDUCING in piscatorial
pursuits" said the future hero OF the
Merrimac exploit. But while other cadets
had fun at his expense. Hobson plodded
away and graduated from the Academy
second In his class. He was the captain
OF Company A of the Cadet Battalion.
His choice OF the Construction Corps
was not surprising 10 his friends. Tor II
offered opportunity for the pursuit OF
mathematical studies.
Mr. Hobson is not yet twenty-elgnt
years of age. He was born August IL.
1870, In Greensboro. Hale county. Ala.
where he attended the Southern Univer-
sity. graduating at the head or his class.