The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1898-06-30
HOB|SSOn'S CASE
Presidents Message Presenting
the Matter to Congress for
Suitable Action.
Recommends That He Be Made
a Line Officer and Promoted
at Discretion.
Other Members of the Crew Have
Already Been Rewarded for
Their Services.
Rewards Also Recommended for
the Captains of the Hudson
and McCullOch,

lent has sent the following messages
TO congress:
10 the Congress Of the United States:
On the morning of the Sd of June,
1898, Assistant Naval Constructor
Richmond P. Hobson, u. S. N, with a
volunteer crew of seven men, in charge
Of the partially dismantled collier Mer-
rimac, entered the fortified harbor of
Santiago, Cuba, for che purpose of
sinking the collier in the narroWest
portion of the channel, and thus oppos.
ing serious obstacle to the egress of
the Spanish fleet which had recently
entered that harbor. This enterprise,
demanding GOODNESS, judgment and
bravery amounting to heroism, was
carried into successful execution in the
face OF a persistent fire from the hos.
tile fleet, as well as from the fortifica-
lions on shore. Rear Admiral Samp-
son, COMMUNICATIVE chief of our naval
force III CUBAN waters, in an official
report, dated soft Santiago de Cuba,
June 3, 1885," and addressed to the
secretary of the navy, referring to Mr..
Hobson's gallant exploit, says:
The president here quotes Admiral
SIMPSONS report to Secretary Long,
heretofore puolished, and continues:
Others of His Crew Rewarded.
The members of the crew who were
with Mr.. Hobson on this memora BILE
occasion have already been rewarded
for their services, by advancement
which under the provisions of the 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
crew after the sinking of that vessel,
to be advanced in rank 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 com.
pares Mr.. Hobson's sinking OF the Mer-
rimac, received the thanks of congress,
upon recommendation OF the president.
by name, and was in consequence by
the provisions of section 100 of the
Revised Statutes, advanced one grade,
such advancement EN- bracing 56 num-
bers. The section cited, applies, how
ever, to line officers only, and Mr..
Hobson being "a member of the staff of
the navy could not under it's provisions
be so advanced.
To Be Transferred to the Line.
In considering the question of snita.
bly, rewarding Assistant Naval Con.
structor Hobson for his valiant conduct
on the occasion referred to, l have
deemed it proper to address this mes.
sage 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, may determine. Mr. Hob.
sons transfer from the construction
corps to the line is fully warranted, he
having received the necessary technical
training as a graduate of the naval
academy, where he stood number one
in his class. and such action is recon-
mended partly in Difference to what is
understood to be his own desire, al.
though, he being now prisoner in the
hands of the enemy, no direct commu.
nicauon on the subject has been re.
ceived 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
duties of the line.
WILLIAM M'KINLEY.
Executive Mansion, June n, 1898.
Another message recommended med
ais of honor tor the captain and crew
Of the revenue cutter Hudson, Frank
III. Newcomb captain, who rescued the
Winslow from certain destruction un-
der heavy fire from Spanish gunboat.
1t also recommends the retirement OF
Captain Hodgsdon of the Hugh Nc
Culloch on 1ull duty pay, he being the
only one of the Manila men impossible
to promote, having reached the top of
the list in the revenue cutter service
and 81 years of age.