The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-23
HOBSON GOES TO WASHINGTON
MERRIMAC HERO CHEERED AT
NEW YORK.
Did Not Bring SIMPSONS Official Re-
port On the Destruction of Cerve-
ra's Fleet-Wrecks Can Be Saved.

New York, July 22.-The United
States cruiser St. Paul arrived here to-
day, after a run of four days from the
harbor at Guantanamo, with all well
on board. On arrival at quarantine, the
surgeon of the st. Paul presented the
first bill of health from Cuba received
from a United States officer since. the
war commenced.
Lieutenant Hobson. who took the
Merrimac into the channel at Santiago,
arrived here today on the st. Paul and
proceeded at once to Washington by
way of the Pennsylvania railroad.
When Hobson left ferry boat at the
foot of Whitehall street it took but
few moments to learn his identity, and
a crowd gathered to cheer him.
Accompanying Lieutenant Hobson
was Congressman j. w. Wadsworth OF
Genesee, N. Y, who was at the sur
render of Santiago, and also came as a
passenger on the st. Paul. Lieutenant
Hobson said that he had inspected the
wrecked Spanish warships. and he is
certain if prompt action is taken that
two of them, the Cristobal Colon and
Maria Teresa, can be saved. The
Oquendo is a total wreck. The Vizcaya
is not quite as bad as the Oquendo, and
some of her guns may be secured.
Should a gale spring up" added
Lieutenant Hobson, .all the work of
the wreckers would go for naught, and
the Colon and the Teresa would be lost
to us. That is why / am hurrying to
Washington to explain to the officials
there the necessity of making contracts
at once for the raising of the warships.
They doubtless will do so when they
understand the situation as 1 can eX-
plain it."
Philadelphia, July 22.-Lieutenant
Hobson was met at Trenton by an AS
ISOLATED Press reporter, who rode with
him as far as Philadelphia. The lieu
tenant said that he was on his way to
the navy department at Washington
with Admiral SIMPSONS report of the
destruction of Cervera's fleet, and he
felt that it would be out of place for
him to discuss any of the matters that
were likely to be covered by the ad-
miralS report.
Washington, July 22.-The officials
We're not informed of Hobson's APP
preaching visit, except through the
newspapers. Consequently, when he
reached the railway station here at
2:3S o'clock this afternoon, there was
no official there to meet him, and his
reception was truly democratic. He
succeeded in escaping observation as
he passed through the train shed, coat
and umbrella in hand, and followed
gage; but before he emerged from the
station someone spied him, and in a
moment the station resounded with
vociferous shouting. The cry of Hob
son, Hobsonr' rang out, and the crowd
closed in about him, shaking his hand
and pushing him about until he was
rescued by the police and escorted to
his carriage.
AS he approached the office of the
secretary of the navy there ensued an
other demonstration. A large crowd
had gathered about the doorway, and
the hearty welcome it gave the young
officer brought bushes to his cheeks
Secretary Long came out of his pri-
waite Office and, grasping Hobson with
both hands, said with sincerity, Lieu
tenant, 1 am glad, very glad, to see
you"
Then he drew him into his office,
where the lieutenant was introduced
to Assistant Secretary Allen and was
greeted by Captain Crowninshield,
Captain Bradford and Pension Com
missioner Evans, who happened to drop
in. He spent half an hour in confer
ence with the secretary and then re-
turned to the club for rest. Secretary
Long stated that Hobson did not bring
the long-eXpected report from Admiral
Sampson and his brother officers on
the destruction OF the Cervera fleet
The exact purpose of his visit was to
confer with the officials concerning the
raising of the wreck of the Christobal
Colon.
About $50 Lieutenant Hobson went to
the White House to pay his respects 10
the president. Secretary Long accompa-
MED him. The president received them in
the cabinet room ne gave Lieutenant
HobSon most cordial greeting and paid
him high tribute for what he regarded
as one of the most conspicuous acts of
gallantry in the history of naval war
fare.
While at the White House. Hobson gave
his autographs to a half dozen or more
solicitors. although he remarked he could
not imagine why they desired it,
He is enthusiastic in his efforts to save
the ships. and. declining to remain in
Washington for even a day tonight hur-
ried back to New York to take up the
subject of his mission with the wrecking
company.