The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-07-01
Messages to Congress on
the Matter.
REWARD FOR BRAVERY.
The President Makes Recommends.
ton as to the commander Of the
Crew of the Hudson and Naval Ca
Oct PoHelI-He Wishes Hobson
Transferred to the Line and Consent
for His Promotion.

Washington. June 27.-The president
today sent two special messages to
congress-, providing for recognition of
the services of Lieutenant Hobson. the
hero Of the Merrimac, of Lieutenant
Newcomb and crew Of the revenue cut
ter Hudson, which rescued the torpedo
boat Winslow at Cardenas. Captain
Hodgsdon Of the dispatch boat Hugh
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
gress for the transfer of Hobson from
the construction corps to the line of
the navy and the president announces
that, with authority given, he will 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 Hodgsdon is
to be suitably recognized. The men
tioning of Hobson cites the fact that
the crew with him already have been
promoted.
In the second message the president
recOuntS the story of the conflict in the
bay OF C~ardenas. Cuba, on May 18th,
in which the naval torpedo boat Wins
low was disabled, her commander
wounded and one of her officers and
a part of her crew killed by the enc
my's fire, and continues:
I'm the face of a most CALLING fire
from the enemy's gun the revenue
cutter Hudson, commanded by First
Lieutenant Frank II. Newcomb,
United States revenue cutter service,
rescued the disabled Winslow, her
commander and remaining
crew. The commander of the Hudson
kept his vessel in the very hottest fire
of the action, although in constant
danger Of going ashore on account of
the shallow water, until he finally got
a line made fast to the Winslow and
tOWed that vessel out of range of the
enemy's guns, a deed of special gall
lantry.
Il recommend that III recognition of
the signal act of heroism of First
Lieutenant Frank H. Newcomb,
United States revenu cutter service,
above set forth, the thanks of con-
SIeSS De e8teI1OoO TO MIN ana TO MS
officers and men OF the Hudson, and
that a gold medal Of honor be present
ed to Lieutenant Newcomb, a silver
medal of honor to each of his officers
and a bronze media of honor to each
members Of his crew who served with
him at Cardenas.
1T will be remembered that con-
gresS, by appropriate action, recOg-
nized seeral commanders OF ships
Of yrror for fhoip CnruiooC ~ Tho bot
tie of Manila May 1, 1898.
THE commander of the revenue cut
ter Hugh McCulloch present and in &C
tive cooperation with the fleet under
Commodore Dewey on that occasion,
(by executive order under the pro-
visions of section 2757, Revised
Statutes), is the only commander of a
national ships to whom promotion or
advancement was not and could not be
given, because he held the highest
rank known to the revenue cutter SER
vice.
Il now recommend that in recogni-
ton Of the efficient and meritOriOuS
serices of Captain Daniel B. HOdgS-
don, United States revenue service,
who commanded the Hugh McCulloch
at the battle of Manila, that officer
being now in the 63rd year Of his age,
and having served continuously on ac-
tive duty for thirty-seven years, be
placed upon the permanent waiting or
ders on the retired list of the revenue
cutter service on the full duty pay of
his grade"
The president also sent the special
nomination of Naval Cadet Joseph
w. Powell to be advanced two num-
bers, land to be an ensign in the navy
for extraordinary heroism while in
charge of the steam aunch which ac-
companied the collier Merrimac for
the purpose of rescuing her gallant
force, when tina vessel was under the
command of Naval Constructor Hob
son, ran into the mouth of the harbor
of Santiago, Cuba on the 3rd instant
and dexteriously sunk in the channel