The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-07

Then he wanted TO go 70 the Naval Acad-
envy, and the chance was Afforded wnen
Colonel Hilary A. Herbert, the Repre-
sentative IN Congress from tho Mont
gofnery district. had a vacancy at the
Academy 70 I'LL. Colonel Herbert ana
Judge Hobson. OF Mobile, the father OF
the Constructor, were in the same regi-
ment in the Confederate Army. Ihey
fought side by side at the battle OF
Sharpsburg, Colonel Herbert neid
competitive examination and young hob
son made the highest percentage. He
received the appointment and went 10
the Academy In September. 1885, After
graduating i'm 1882 the youngest man in
his class. he was sent as a cadet ON the
flagship Chicago with squadaron OF
evolution, and cruised in the Mediter-
ranean and South American waters until
October, 1890 Then he was ordered TO
special course in construction at Paris.
He spent one year at the Ecolo Rationale
Superieure du Mines and two years az
the Ecole Applications du Genie Mari
time. In the summer months he studied
ship construction at the French ship
yards. Several diplomas for distinction
were conferred on him by the French
schools which he attended. After visit
ing the English shipyards. he retWneS
10 the United States in December, 1898,
and was on duty at the Navy Depart
ment as an Assistant Naval Constructor
from January, 1894. TO April, 1895, Dur
ing that time he wrote number OF pa
pers on technical subjects which attract
ed wide attention.
HE GOES TO SEA.
In 1895 and the following year he was
I'd "A n
I'm the summer OF 1896, went 10 sea with
Commodore Bunce's squadron. IL was
Mr.. Hobson who proposed the establish
ment Of a postgraduate course at the
Naval Academy for cadets who intended
80 onter tho Construction Corps. Be-
fore that time all constructors were edu-
Gated abroad Mr. Hobson was placed
in charge Of the course, and through that
means he found a way of going with
Admiral SIMPSONS squadron just before
the war began. Ii was his idea that
constructors should be assigned 70 sea
duty in time of hostilities on account OF
their knowledge OF construction OF ships,
which would enable them TO point out
the vital parts OF an enemy's vessels ard
thus materially assist commanding OF
ficers in conducting engageents. lie
also succeeded in having his class OF
construction students assigned 10 the
squadrons engaged i'm operations. Last
April he was assigned TO the flagship
New York, and was on that vessel when
he volunteered TO take the Merr!mac into
the entrance channel OF Santiago BAY
Recently he performed the duties OF con-
structor for the fleet at Key West. and
directed the construction work or the
naval station at that place.
,t.cr 90 sFC
on naval topics. His most noted paper
was entitled, 1.-The Situation and out
look I'm Europe" and dealt with mill
tary, naval and political subjects. This
was published in the Proceedings Of tho
United States Naval Institute I'm jan
uary. 1895. and attracted considerable at
tention abroad. When the China-Japan
war began Mr. Hobson applied for duty
with the Japanese feet, in order that
he might observe the effect OF protectiles
in vessels OF modern construction. He
was named for the duty by Secretary
Herbert, but at the last moment his
orders were revoked. The revocation
was attributed yariously TO the opposi-
tion OF line officers, who believed that
one Of their number should have the as
sienment. and 10 the premature publica-
ton OF the fact that he was going with
Japanese
caused the Government az Toxic 10 re-
scind it's permission for fear that other
nations would be offended over the privi-
lege given the United state. He also
applied for observation duty I'm the
Greek-Turkish war.
RESPONSIBLE COMMISSION.
In December, 1896 when only twenty
six years old, he was nominated by the
Mexican Government 10 represent II on
the commission OF experts 20 conduct
trials and pass upon the Mexican vessel
Dunata Guerra, built at Philadelphia.
Mr.. Hobson is of North Carolina stock.
He is a great-nephew OF Governor John
Morehead. OF that State, a grandson
OF Chief-Justice Richmond Pearson. a
great-grandson OF Colonel Williams
senator from Tennessee. and OF Hugh
Lawson White. Of Tennessee, and ne
phew of Richmond Pierson, the present
representative in Congress from the
Asheville district of North Carolina. His
father was a judge on the Alabama
bench.
The Merrimac was a steel single-screw
steamer. built at Newcastle. England. IN
1894, and rebuilt by the John n Robins
Company, New York. I'm November. 1897.
She was OF the highest class In the
British Lloyds and I'm the American
Record. Her principal dimensions were:
Length, $50 feet; beam, a feet: depth
from side OF the deck 20 the top of the
keel, % feet 10 inches; load draught, a
feet: load displacement. 1900 tons; total
dead weight capacity, 800 tons; indi-
Gated horse power. 1900; speed when
loaded. 10 IL knots: speed with light
load, II 1-2. and could make 10 knots in
ballast The Merrimac had two COM
plete steel decks. steel top, gallant fore
castle. steel pilot-house, steel wheel
house aft. and wood bridge Her con-
struction was such that she could be
used for carrying cattle and stores. IN
addition 10 coal and would have plenty
OF space available for hospital purposes.
She was purchased from the Hogan line
OF steamers running ont OF Baltimore.