The age-herald., 1898-07-26
WAR GOSSIP
 IN WASHINGTON
nY ARuHinAin W. BuTT.

l sails he will not return to this country
 until he has visited the Philippines ln-
 deed, that would seem to be his destination
 from remarks dropped fcom time to time
 by various members of the administration. l One member of the strategic board says | that there is no doubt about an American | squadron going to Spain. In fact, he said,
 1t was likely that when Watson sailed he T would go much further.
 No further explanation was given but
 from other sources information comes that | Watson's destination will be the Philippines
 when once his squadron steams up. The
 admins tration denies that it will attempt
 more than the destruction of Camara'
 fleet. That accomplished. the squadron will
 continue through the Suez and join Admiral
 Dewey to further protect the rights of this | country in the Philippine archipelago. | Commodore watson is southern man, l as his name-John Crittenden-would indi-
 cate. | also places his state as that of 1 Kentucky. He was born in Frankfort. His I mother was a Miss Crttenden and his | father a physician. The Crittendens were 1 pretty well divided up during the war of 1 the confederacy and he was one of those | who stuck his fortune to the union. He l graduated at the head of his class in An 1 apolis in 1S6o He served under Farragut, l and was soon made the flag lieutenant of l his ship. the Hartford.
 l It was Watson who lashed Admiral Far l ragut to the riggins of his ship during the l famous fight with the Tennessee in Mobile l bay Every report of Farrigut, nearly, mentions the bravery of young Watson. | Two years after the war he was made I lieutenant commander. He was just twen- l ty-four, an unheard of age for that pro- | motion. Hobson is twenty-seven and if he l is given that grade these two will be the 1 youngest men who were ever made lieu l tenant commanders. In 1874 Watson was l made commander and three years later | was promoted to a captaincy. In Novem- l Der of last year he was made a commodore | To review the character sketches of Wat son soon after the war reads very much | like a description of Hobson. The two men have similar characteristics that is certain. Both are modest and retiring. Possibly nothing that Hobson has done since his daring feat of sinking the Merri- mac has endeared him so much to his com | raueS as nlS DenaNlOr since then. He HdS gone about his business with renewed en- ergy and confidence. When the expert wreckers whom the government sent to ex- anime the Spanish hulls, off the coast of Santiago reported unfavorably upon that
 of the Cristobal Colon, Hobson went down in a diving bell and made the announce | ment that it could be saved.- He Is now in this country .o hasten the work. So great
 is the confidence felt in him that the presi- dent took his opinion above that of the expert wreckers and will give out the con- tract to a firm to float 1t.
 In view of the various and sundry libels which have been printed of Hobson run ming the cadenza from a sweet-faced col lege boy to a bearded-looking genius, it might be interesting to know exactly how he does look l felt some interest in the matter and was glad when l had the op- portunity to see him for myself It is sell dom that a young man gets the ovation that we accorded Hobson in Washington last Friday.
 He was recognized before he left the Pennsylvania station, and the cheers which went up would warm the heart of Sheri- dan, as cold as he was reputed to be. There was a mad rush for carriages and many
 took to bicycles, following Hobson up Pennsylvania avenue and closing on him
 as he neared the navy department. A great concourse of people followed him into the building and clerks and laborers came out to see him. Old army and naval officers did not think it beneath their dig nifty to join in the scramble to shake his hand and cheer him along the corridor. The only person who seemed embarrassed was Hobson. He seemed heartily ashamed
 to be the center of such crowd and tried to explain to the few who got near him
 nnn in lao ante room of the secretary of the navy one could get a good look at him. The first conviction was that he was handsome
 yes, an exceedingly handsome man. He looks an athlete and walks with an easy graceful step Yet there is something ap- peaing in his expression.
 He has not the stamp of a conceited
 man, nor yet one who has great confidence
 in himself He simply has the appearance of a handsome southern boy who has noth- ing to be ashamed of.
 One might think that he comes up to the requirement. of the old southern gentleman Ito ride well, to shoot well and to tell the truth. In fact, the more l think Of him, this is just about how he does look. He blushed like a girl when, looking around the room, he saw his picture leaning up against the wall. There were several of him. one of Schey and two or Dewey. They were done in charcoal, and some were bad and others fa1rly good. lie hhaue no comment until his eyes lighted on face which he did not seem to recognize. 1t showed a young man with a Vandyke beard.
 "Who is that?" he asked of Secretary T,ong. who had his arm through that Of Hobson's.
 'Don't you know him?" Long asked: "Why, that is one of our greatest heroes"
 q don't think I ever saw him. said Hobson.
 "Oh yes, you do," answered Long; "you know him very well, or ought to- That IS Naval Constructor Hobson"
 The whole administration seemed proud of him. Long would not let him go out or his sight He went with him to the white house, and from there to the club. where he was warmly greeted by old friends The happiest man in the lot was Chief Con- structor Hichborn when he captured him for his special guest at dinner.
 Chief Hichborn said today that he could not get him to talk about himself. "He would do nothing but harp on the floating