The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-06-28
Compared by the President to CuShin8S
Sinking the Albemarle.
WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO LINE
His Promotion viii Be Designated at Some Flu
ture Date-Naval Cadet Powell and
CAPT. Hodgson Receive Reward
for Gallant Services.

Washington, June 27.--The president to-
day sent the following messages to con-
gress:
To the Congress of the United States:
On the morning of June 8, 1898, Assistant
Naval Constructor Richmond p. Hobson,
United States navy. with a volunteer crew
of seven men in charge of the partially
dismantled collier Merrimac, entered the
fortified harbor of Santiago, Cuba, for the
purpose of sinking the collier in the mar
rowest portion of the channel, and thus inn
posing a serious obstacle in the egress of
the Spanish fleet which had entered that
harbor. This enterprise, demanding cool
ness judgment and bravery amounting to
heroism, was carried into successful OPP
Grafton in the face of a persistent fire
from the hostile fleet as well as from the
fortifcatiohs on shore.
Rear Admiral Sampson, commander-in-
chief of our naval force in Cuban waters,
in an official report dated "Of Santiago de
Cuba, JUNE 3, 1885," and addressed to the
secretary of the navy, referring to Mr.
Hobson's gallant exploit, said;
LAS stated in a recent telegram before
coming here, l decided to make the harbor
entrance secure against the possibility OF
egress of the Spanish ships by obstructlng
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 plan which he considered
would assure the immediate sinking or the
ship when he had reached the desired point
of the channel.
1.-THE plan contemplated a crew of only
Mr. HohsOn who begged
that it might be entrusted to him. AS
soon as l reached Santiago and had the
collier to work upon, the details were
commenced and diligently prosecuted, hop
ing 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 A o'clock in the morn
ing arrived and the preparations scarcely
completed. After a careful Inspection OF
the final preparations l was forced TO
relinauish the plan for that morning as
dawn was breaking Mr.. Hobson pegSeo
to try it at all hazards.
'"rhis morning proved more proptous,
as prompt start could be made. Nothing
could have been more CALAMITY executed.
A careful inspection of the harbor from
this ship showed that the Merrimac had
been sunk in the channel.
81 cannot too earnestly express my ap-
probation of the conduct of Mr.. Hobson
and his gallant crew. L venture TO say.
that more brave and daring thing mas
not been done since Gushing blew up the
Albemarle."
The members of the crew who were with
Mr. Hobson on this memorable occasion
have already been rewarded for their SER
vices by advancement which, under the
provisions of law and regulation, the sec
rotary of the navy was authorized TO
make; and the nomination to the senate
of Naval Cadet Powell who, in steam
launch followed the Merrimac on her
perious trip for the purpose of rescuing
the crew of this interesting vessel, to be
advanced in rank to the grade of ensign,
has been prepared and will be submitted.
Cushing, with whose gallant act in blow
ing up the ram Albemarle during the civil
war Admiral Sampson compares Mr.. Hob
sons sinking of the Merrimac. received the
thanks of congress upon recommendation
of the president by name. and was in con-
sequence under the provisions of section
1908 of the revised statutes advanced one
grade such advancement embracing fifty
six numbers. This section cited applies,
however, to line officers only, and Mr..
Hobson being a member of staff of the
navy, could not, under its provisions be
so advanced.
In considering the question of suitably