The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-28
HoNoR'S REWARD FOR HEROES
PRESIDENT SENDS TWO MESSAGES
TO SENATE.

III Il
moted-Lieut. NewcOmb and the
Crew of the Hudson and Ensign
powell Also on the Honor List.
Can't. Hodgsdon of the McCuIIOch
Also to BE Rewarded.
washington, June H.-The President TO-
day sent two special messages to Con-
gress. providing for recognition of the SCR
vices of Lieut. Hobson, the hero of the
Merrimac, of Lieut.. Neweomb and crew
of the revenue cutter Hudson, which les
cled the torpedo boat Winslow at Carde-
mas. Capt Hodgsdon of the dispatch boat
Hugh McColloch. which figured ia the bat
tie at Manila and Naval Cadet Joseph
Wright Powell, who held the steam launch
under the bluffs at Santiago harbor search
ing for the crew of the Merrimac. Author
ity is asked of the Senate for the trans
fer of Lieut.. Hobson from the construc-
ton corps to the line of the navy and tie
President announces that with authority
given him he will, with and by the advice
and consent of the Senate suitably ad-
vance Lieut. Hobson in the line. The Hob
son crew are to be given vote of thanks
and medals of commemoration.
Cant. Hodgsdon is to be suitably recog
nized.
The President in mentioning Lieut.. Hob
son cites the fact that the crew with him
already have been promoted.
The message in relation to Lieut.. Hobson
was as follows: "On the morning of June
Q 1898 Assistant Naval Constructor Rich
mond P. Hobson, United States Navy,
with a volunteer crew of seven men, IN
charge of the partially dismantled collier
Merrimac entered the fortified harbor of
Santiago for the purpose of sinking the
collier in the narrowest portion of the
channel and thus interposing a serious
obstacle 10 the egress of the Spanish fleet,
which had recently entered the harbor.
This enterprise demanding GOODNESS, judg-
ment and bravery amounting to heroism,
was carried into successful execution in
the face of persistent fire, not only from
the hostile fleet but from the forts on
each side of the harbor.
Rear Admiral Sampson commander-in-
chief of our naval force in Cuban waters,
in an official report dated of Santiago de
Cuba June 10, 1885, and addressed to the
Secretary of the Navy, referring to Mr..
Hobson's gallant exploit, says AS stated
In a recent telegram before coming here
decided to make the harbor entrance Sc
cure against the possibility of egress of
the Spanish ships by obstructing the mar
row part of the entrance by sinking a col
l1er at thaI point. upon GAZING upon MI.
Hobson for his professional opinion as to
a sure method of sinking the ship he
manifested a most lively interest in the
problem After several days considera-
ton he presented a solution which he con-
sidered would insure the immediate sink
ing of the ship when she had reached the
desired point in the channel The
plan contemplated a crew of only seven.
men and Mr.. HobSon who begged that it
might be entrusted to him.
Gas soon as I reached Santiago and
had the collier to work upon, details were
commenced and diligently prosecuted, hon
ing to complete them in one day, the
moon and tide served best the first night
after our arrival. Notwithstanding every
effort the hour of o'clock in the morn
ing arrived and the preparations were
scarcely completed. After a careful in
spection of the final preparations I was
forced to relnquish the plan 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. Moth
ing could have been more CALAMITY eXecu-
ted A careful inspection of
the harbor from this ship shows that the
Merrimac had been sunk in the channel.
I cannot myself too earnestly express my
appreciation of the conduct of Mr.. Hob
son and his gallant crew. I venture to
say that more brave and daring thing
has not been done since Gushing blew up
the Albemarle
THE members of the crew who were with
Mr.. Hobson this memorable occasion
have already been rewarded for their SER
vices by advancement, which, under the
provisions of the law and the regulations,
the Secretary of the Navy is authorized to
make, and the nomination to the Senate
of Naval Cadet Powell, who in a launch
followed the Merrimac on her perilous
trip for the purpose of -reScuing her crew
after sinking the vessel he advanced
in rank to the grade of ensign, has been
prepared and will be submitted.
Gushing, with whose gallantry In blow
ing up the ram Albemarle during the civil
war Admiral Sampson compares, Lieut..
Hobson'S sinking of the Merrimac, re-
ceived the thanks of Congress upon the
recommendation of the President and was
In consequence under the provisions of
section 1903 of the Revised Statutes, ad-
vanced one grade, such advancement en-
bracing fifty-six numbers.
The action cited applies, however, to
line officers only and Mr.. Hobson, being
member of the staff, could not under
the provisions be so advanced.
I'm considering the question of suitably
rewarding Assistant Naval Constructor
Hobson for gallant conduct on the occa-
sion referred to, I have deemed it 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 90 such position therein as the
PRESIDENT, by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate, may determine.
Lieut.. Hobson's transfer from the con-
struction corps to the line is fully war
ranted and such action is recommended,
partly in Difference to what is understood
Il TO be his own desire, although, he being
now a prisoner in the hands of the enc
my, no direct communication on the sub
Ject has been received from him, and
partly for the reason that the abilities dis
played by him at Santiago are of such
character as indicate especial fitness for
the duties of the line
William Mckinley"
Executive Mansion June rs, 1898
In the second message he re-
counts the story of the conflict in
the bay of Cardenas, Cuba, on
May II, in which the naval torpedo boat
Nhslow was disabled her commander
wounded and one OF her officers and part
OF ner crew killed by the enemy's fire, and
continues:
he fa.ao