The Washington herald., 1914-04-23
HORSON PRAISES
PLAIN PRIVATES'
House Stirred by Tribute to
the Fighting Spirit of
Boy Seamen-
CAN PUT TRUST m NAVY
Patriotic Outburst Greets Eulog OF
Tars When Mernmac Hero Re-
calls Former Feats.
CAN PUT TRUST IN NAVY

An eulogy of the "'plaIn private in the
Arsrica.. navy that brought forth great
applause was delivered in the House yes
ferdav by Representative Richmond p.
Hobson. Of Alabama Coming as IT did
right after the action OF the Rouse IN
'.justffyfng''s the President in the use OF
armed forces against Aiexico, Hobson
tribute to the fighting spirit and courage
of the plain private in the navy, caused
= nstriotic outburst among members
which was sweIled by handclapping from
the galleries
Such men as Representative Butler, OF
PENNSYLVANIA, and Representative DAVIS
of Minnesota who have sons In the navy
were yisfbly moved as Mr.. Hobson, with
great fervor, gave a dramatic recltal OF
the heroic courage exhibited by the plain
privates" that aided In the exploit OF
sinking the Merrimac in Santiago Harbor
in 1885.
Tells of Sinking the Merrtmae.
Another speaker had just mentioned
with a note OF sadness in his voice that
already American blood had been shed
on Mexican soil Advancing 10 the well
Of the House Mr.. Hobson, VINO was an
officer in the navy for many years, ex-
pressed a wish TO pay a tribute to the
memory Of the plain privates who fell
yesterday at Vera CrCZ
Mr. Hobson told how Loo men respond
ed when Admiral Sampson called for
seven volunteers to assist Hobson In
sinking the Merrimac as a means Of
.bestling up" the Spanish feet in San
tiago -Harbor. He told how these men
obeyed orders TO the last as the Merrimac
sank into the waters that lap the shores
OF Cuba. and how at a time when 1t
looked as II the eight men would be
-da f0r- lzafr
ing act the plain privates' sent word
TO their captain that their only wish
was that they might have another op-
portunity to respond to the call of duty.
Hobson stirred the House as 1t has not
been stirred in q long time.
Gentlemen" he exclaimed, referring to
the war, 1--WE have taken great respon-
sibility upon us here in this Congress; but
/ want to tell you from knowledge that
the confidence you have placed in the
plain private, that represents the plain
average American citizen out there at
the front, when the drum beats, when
the flag flies and the thunder is in the
air-the confidence you may place in
them, and / may add, in the officers that
command them, will not be misplaced"
Duty Above Life.
II sbson said he had served with the
plain private for eighteen years.
Il remember well how l was first i'm
pressed with the character and spirit of
the private" he said 1T was on a
cruise A gale had been blowing for
forty1eight hours and the sea was run
ming high. Some midshipmen were sent
over the masthead. They were all sea-
sick.
But the order was given for the mid
shipmen to go over the masthead and
they promptly did so. and half of them
had not gotten over the cross-tTee when
one Of them-a nephew Of Admiral
SchIey, classmate OF mine-felI and
struck the tops on the yard, and went
overheard. 4 heavy sea was running.
Promptly the lifeboat was called for and
the crew responded. They had not been
more than half-lowered before the sea
which was running very heavy, swamped 1
the boat. II was not believed that the
boat could live in that sea. They called
away the other lifebOat's crew and they
went back as cheerily as though it were
a dead calm. and they went out in that
ufeboat to see If they could save any of
those who were overheard.
Il have seen seamen, the plain seaman,
go overheard and try to save a COM
rade, and the officer of the deck had to
order no more to go overboard-a super
fuity exposing their own lives to save
comrade.
This was my first introduction to the
spirit of this plain private. And remem-
ber. gentlemen, they are nothing but
boys. The average age in the fleet that
is of the coast of Mexico today is twenty |
one years"