The record-union., 1898-06-28
Re Ialing to Heroic Deeds Of Naval Officers
During The Present War.
Provide for Recognition Of the Ser
vices of Lieutenant Hobson, the
Hero Of the Merrimac; OF Lieu
tenant Newcomb and the Grew
Of the Hudson; Of Captain
Hodgson of the Dispatch Boat
Hugh McCulloch and Naval Ca
det Powell.

WASHINGTON June 21.-The Pres
ident to-day sent two special messages
to Congress, providing for recognition
of the services of Lieutenant Hobson,
the hero of the Merrimac; OF L1ueten-
ant NeWcomb and crew of the revenue
cutter Hudson, which rescued the tor-
pedo boat Winslow at Cardenas; also
of Captain Hodgson of the dispatco
boat Hugh McCulloch, which inquired
in the battle at Manila, and Naval
Cadet Joseph Wright Powell, who held
the steam launch under the bluffs at
Santiago harbor searching for the crew
of the Merrimac Authority IS asked or
the Senate for the transfer of Hobson
from the Construction Corps to the line
of the navy and the President an
nounces with authority given he VIII
by and with the advice and consent OF
the Senate suitably advance Hobson
in the line. The Hudson's crew are TO
be given a vote of thanks and medals
of commemoration. Captain Hodgson
is to be suitably recognized.
The President III mentioning HoD-
son. cites the fact that the crew with
him already have been promoted.
The President to-day also sent to the
Senate the nomination of Naval Cadet
sign.
LIEUTENANT HOBSON.
In relation to the heroic deed of Lieu
tenant Hobson. the President sent the
following message to Congress:
To the Congress of the United States:
On the morning of the Sd of June,
1898, Assistant Naval Constructor
Richmond z. Hobson, o. S. N, with
a volunteer crew of seven men in
charge of the partially dismantled
collier Merrimac, entered the fortified
harbor of Santiago de Cuba for the
purpose of sinking the collier in the
narrowest portion of the channel, and
thus interposing a serious obstacle to
the egress of the Spanish fleet, which
had recently entered that harbor This
enterprise demanding GOODNESS, judg-
ment and bravery amounting to hero
ism, was carried into successful execu-
tion in the face of a persistent fire from
the hostile fleet as we'll as from the
Notifications on shore.
Rear Admiral Sampson, Commander
in-Chief Of our naval forces in Cuban
waters, in an official report, dated
"Off Santiago de Cuba. June 3, 1S9S,''
and addressed to the Secretary of the
Navy. referring to Mr. Hobson's gallant
las stated in a recent telegram be-
fore coming here / desired to make
the harbor entrance secure against the
possibility of egress of the Spanish
ships by obstructing the narrow part
of the entrance by sinking a collier
at that point. Upon calling upon Mr..
Hobson for his professional opinion as
to a sure method of sinking the ship,
he manifested a most lively interest
in the problem. After several days
consideration he presented a solution
which he considered would insure the
immediate sinking of the ship when she
had reached the desired point in the
channel. The plan contem-
plated a crew of only seven men, and
Mr. Hobson, who begged that it might
be intrusted to him.
-As soon as | reached Santiago and
had the collier to work upon. the de-
tails were commenced and diligently
prosecuted hoping to complete them
in one day, as the moon and tide
served best the first night after our
arrival. Notwithstanding every effort
the hour of 4 o'clock in the morning
arrived, and the preparations were