The age-herald., 1900-10-22
Declares That Sampson Stand at Head of American Navy
CLASSES HIM WITH GREAT MEN
Tells of a Recent Visit to the Sick Off Ger Tn Boston, and the Pathetic Incidents That Oc-
 cured

Selma, October 21.-(SpeclaL)-In his speech at the Academy of Music Saturday night Lieutenant Hobson created a sensa- ton by his enthusiastic and plainly evil dent sincere defense of Admiral Sampson, and declared that the great naval officer, who he says stands at the head of the American navy, is broken hearted at the treatment accorded him by the American people.
 After expressing the wish that the brave men of his crew who were with him on the Merrimac could be present to enjoy the hospitality of the occasion and a touching reference to Cervera, the Spanish admiral, he said
 q wonder what makes me think of an other character just here. When last Sat urday I saw in the papers that Admiral Sampson was i'll telegraphed if it would be convenient for me to call I took the next train to Boston and spent Sunday with him. His health is declining It wrung my heart it grieved me to see him. His physicians are baff1ed at his malady. His organs are right but his health does not improve.
 We touched on one or two subjects For u lllle WDlle De COulu not speak. Soon ne had to be carried to his room and I did not see him again. Mrs. Sampson told me that this great man was breeding, was breaking his heart at the thought that his fellow countrymen were so unkind.
 T wish this nation knew this man as know him. I said to Mrs. Sampson: When I visit my Southland, if the opportunity offers itself, I wish to try to tell them something of this majestic character She replied: You dare not Your Southland was quick and vigorous to resent what was thought to be an attempt to take away the laurels of one of it's great men, said Mrs. Sampson, you do not know the timbre of my Southland or of our South ern people. I will not be afraid to tell them of what I know of Admiral Sampson
 'I came by Washington and saw the Secretary of the Navy and the President or the United States. To them I also stated my intention, and they both gave their consent, warning me, however, of what might expect.
 ''The people of this county think this mans blood is ice water. He has the men tal ability and self-control that is the re- suit of long years of discipline and train- ing. He does not talk much. I tell you this man has heart as tender as that of child. He is as modest as a woman. He never asked for position. He has never uttered word against another officer. He has never taken part in any controversy. l know this admiral, and he stands at the head of the navy"
 Here Lieutenant Hobson described the expedition of The Flying Squadron un- der Admiral Sampson to San Juan, Porto Rico, and stated that it was an exhibition Of nerve, determination and purpose unpar- 1l-l. 4.1 He told how one of the monitors broke down on the first day out and had to be taken in tow by the battleship Iowa. Then on the second day how the Terror broke down and the New York took her in tow; how on the third day both the Indiana be- gan to drop asern and signaled she could not make over seven knots an hour; but despite all this Admiral Sampson never changed his course, and when he sailed into the harbor of San Juan in line of bat tie 1t was with the expectation of meeting a fleet stronger and outnumberng his squadron in many ways. Continuing, Lieutenant Hobson said:
 This great man has had his heart cut has been almost slain. His great heart is breaking He is to be compared with two other great characters in history who suf- fered in silence - George Washington at Valley Forge and Robert E. Lee, who did his great duty and accepted his sorrow without a word.
 Believe me, this admiral, this general of our navy, Is of the type to place along side of these two, and I wish to heaven that in addition to having my crew here and Admiral Cervera, I could have Admiral Sampson and let you shake his hand"
 Though the audience Lieutenant Hobson was addressing was largely made up of partisans of Admiral Schley in the unfor- tunate controversy, they gave Lieutenant Hobson much applause at the mention of Sampsons name. Whether the applause was for his intrepidity in defending his friend or because of having presented to them Admiral Sampson in a new light can not be told.
 That part of Lieutenant Hobsons ad- dress has been the sole topic of conversa- tion today and the whole Schley-Sampson controversy bids fair to be opened anew.