The evening times., 1898-06-27
To the Congress of the United States:


To the Congress of the United States:
On the morning of the Sd of June 1885,
Assistant Naval Constructor Richmond
T.. HobsOn, United States Navy. with
volunteer crew of seven men, in charge
of the partially dismantled collier Mer-
rimac. entered the fortified harbor of San
tlago. Cuba, for the purpose of sinking
the collier in the narrowest portion of
the channel. and thus interposing a seri-
Gus obstacle to the egress of the Spanish
fleet which had recently entered that
naroor This enterprise, demanding cool
ness. judgment and bravery amounting to
heroism, was carried into successful ex-
ecution in the face OF persistent fire
from the hostile fleet as well as from the
fortihcations on shore.
Hear Admiral Sampson, commander in
chief of our naval force in Cuban waters
in an official report. dated ON Santiago
de Cuba, June 3. 1885," and addressed to
the Secretary of the Navy. referring TO
Mr. Hobson's gallant exploit, says:
As sta,ed in a recent telegram before
coming here l decided to make the har-
Dor entrance secure against the possibil-
ity of egress of the Spanish ships by OBJ
structing the narrow part of the entrance
by sinking collier al that point. Upon
calling upon Mr.. Hobson for his profes-
sional opinion as TO sure method OF
sinking the ship. he manifested a most
lively interest in the problem. After sew
erai days consideration. he presented a
solution which he considered would in
sure the immediate sinking-of the-ship
when she had reached the desired point
in the channel. ss~s the plarf con-
ier~p'ated crew of only seven men
and Mr.. Hobson, who begged that ii
might be intrusted to him. ..--
LAS soon as ! reached Santiago and had
the collier TO work upon. the details 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 tine preparations
were scarcely completed. After "A careful
inspection OF the final preparations l was
forced to relinquish the plan for that
morning as dawn was, breaking Mr.
Hobson begged to try it at all hazards.
This morning proved mere -propitious,
as a prompt start could be made. Moth
ing could have been more galiantIy exc
cuted. A careful inspection of the
harbor from this ship showed that the
Merrimac had been sunk in the channel
Il cannot myself too earnestly express
my appreciation of the conduct of Mr.
Hobson and his gallant crew. I venture
TO say that n more brave and daring
thing has not been done since Gushing
blew up the Albemarle."
The members of the crew who We're with
Mr. Hobson on this occasion have already
been rewarded for their services by ad-
vancement which, under the provisions of
law and regulations, the Secretary 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 perilous trip for the
purpose of rescuing her force after the
sinking of that vessel, to be advanced in
rank and to the grade of ensign, has
been prepared and will be submitted
Gushing. with whose gallant act in
blowing UP the ram Aibemarle during the
civil war, Admiral Sampson compares
Mr.. Hobsons sinking of the Merrimac.
received the thanks of Congress upon
recommendation of the President. bv
name. and was in consequence, under the
provisions of section 150S of the Revised
statutes. advanced one grade, such ad-
Nancement embracing fifty-six numbers.
Ehe section cited applies, however. 10
line ofhcers only, and Mr.. Hobson. being
member of the staff of the Navy, could
not under its provisions be SO advanced
In considering the question of SUITABLY
rewarding Assistant Naval Constructor
Hobson for his valiant conduct on the
occasion referred to. / have deemed IL
proper to address this message TO YOU
with the recommendation that he receive
the thanks of Congress: and, further
that he be transferred to the line of the
Navy, and promoted to such position
therein as the President. by and with the
advice and consent of the Senate. NAV
determine Mr.. Hobson's transfer from
he Construction Corps to the line is full
ly warranted. he having received the
necessary technical training as gradu-
ate or the Naval Academy where he
stood number one in his class: and such
action Is recommended, partly in defer
ence to what is understood to be his own
desire. although he being now prison.
er in the hands of the enemy. no direct
on the subject has been
received from him. and partly for the
reason that the abilities displayed by
him at Santiago are of such a character
as to indicate especial fitness for the du-
ties of the line.
WILLIAM MCKINLEY.