The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-12
HE BSKS FOR THEIR REWARD
AND ALSO COMMENDS MANY OTHERS
WHO VOLUNTEERED TO GO.
British Consul Visits the Imprisoned
Mem and Reports They Are He
ing Well Cared For.

WASHINGTON, June 1.-THE only sub
ject for an official bulletin to-day at the
Navy Department was Hobsons glorious
feat in bottling up the Spanish squadron
with the hull of the Merrimac. With the
frankness and candor peculiar to the man,
in detailed report received by mail, Ad-
miral Sampson withheld no credit from
Hobson for either the execution or projec-
ton of well-worked-out scheme to which
the constructor was entitled, and he has
cleared away at once the small cloud of
dissatisfaction that had shown itself among
a few of the line officers because of the Sc
lection of staff officer in the person of
Hobson to conduct the desperate enterprise.
Reference was made in Admiral SIMPSONS
statement to "the inspiring letter. of Sec
rotary Long as a basis for the request for
Hobsons promotion. With the consent of
Secretary Long the particular passage in
the letter to which Admiral Sampson
ferred is now made public. 1t reads: Each
man engaged in the work of the inshore
squadron should have in him the stuff out
of which to make a possible Cushing; and
if the man wins the recognition given him
shall be as great as that given to Gushing,
so far as the department can bring this
about" Hobson has won, and if he escapes
from his present thraldom the Navy De-
partment will redeem its promise. A con-
sultation of the records of the Navy De-
partment shows that the recognition accord
ed Cushing was his advancement one full
grade, that is from the rank of lieutenant
which he held when he took his little boat
up to the Albemarle, to the rank Of lieu
tenant commander. In addition ne
given vote of thanks by Congress. If
Hobson is rewarded in the same measure,
he will. If kept in his corps, be raised to
the rank of lieutenant commander at least
and made a full constructor instead of the
assistant constructor which he now is. Fol-
lowing is the report of Admiral Sampson
which was posted at the Navy Department:
United States Flagship New York. off
Santiago, June 3.-Pernit me to call your
special attention to Assistant Naval
Constructor Hobson. AS stated in a
special telegram before coming here
I decided to make the harbor en-
trance secure against the possibility
of egress by Spanish ships by OBJ
structing the narrow part of the entrance
by sinking a collier at that point. Upon
calling upon Mr.. Hobson for his profess
sional opinion as sure method of sinking
the ship, he manifested the most lively in
terest in the problem. After several days
consideration he presented solution which
would insure the immediate sinking of the
ship when she reached the desired point in
the channel. This plan we prepared for
execution when we reached Santiago. The
plan contemplated a crew of only seven
men and Mr.. Hobson, who begged that it
might be intrusted to him. The anchor
chains were arranged on deck for both the
anchors, forward and aft, the plan includ-
ing the anchoring of the ship almost auto
matically.
LAS soon as I reached Santiago and had
the collier to work upon the details were
completed 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 ar
rived, and the preparation was scarcely
completed. After careful inspection of the
final preparations we were forced to relin-
quish the preparations for that morning, as
dawn was breaking. Mr.. Hobson begged
to try it at all hazards.
This morning proved more propitious as
a prompt start could be made. Nothing
could have been more CALAMITY executed.
We waited impatiently after the firing by
the Spaniards had ceased. When Hobson
and crew did not reappear from the harbor
at 6 o'clock it was feared they had all per-
ished. A steam launch that had been sent
in charge of Naval Cadet Powell to rescue
the men appeared az this time, coming out
under persistent fire of the batteries, but
brought none of the crew. A careful in
spection of the harbor from this ship
showed that the vessel Merrimac had been
sunk in the channel.
This afternoon the chief of staff of Ad-
miral Cervera came out under a flag of
truce with letter from the admiral ex-
toling the bravery of the crew in an un-
usual manner. b
IT cannot myself too earnestly express my
appreciation of the conduct of Mr.. Hobson
and his gallant crew. / venture to say
that a more brave and daring thing has not
been done since Cushing blew up the AL
bemarle.
Referring to the inspiring letter which
you addressed to the officers at the begin
ming of the war, sure you will offer
a suitable professional reward to Mr.. Hob
son and his companions.
II must add that Commander j. M. Miller
relinquished his command with the very
greatest. reluctance, believing he should re-
tain his command under all circumstances.
He was, however finally convinced that
the attempt of another person to carry out
the multitude of details which had been in
preparation by Mr.. Hobson might endanger
its proper execution. therefore took the
libertyvtO relieve him for this reason only.
There were hundreds of volunteers who
were anxious to participate; there were $50
from the Iowa, nearly many from this
shin. and large numbers from all the other
ships, officers and men alike.
wv. II. SAMPSON
Secretary Long was at the Navy Depart
ment to-day for the first time since he was
overtaken by lameness, about ten days ago.
For a man who has suffered such physical
pain the secretary looked remarkably well
and entered with zeal upon his duties.
When asked what the department purposed
to do IN reference to Simpsons graceful