Evening star., 1933-03-12

Y n lamented Seventy-second Con-
\N/ gress, embracing as it did
" Americas last lame duck"
session. it finally succeeded in
bringing about adequate official recognlton OF
one of the most brilliant deeds OF heroism In
the entire military history Of the Nation.
Members of a generation whose memory runs
back to Spanish American War days were more
than mildly surprised not long since 10 learn
that Richmond Pearson Hobson, VINO was the
reigning popular hero of '98, had never received
the Congressional Medal Of Honor, Americas
supreme award for valor. More than third OF
a century had passed since the whole world
was thrilled by an exploit in which the young
naval officer had led handful OF American
sailors into the jaws of seemingly certain death
They all miraculously survived and all save
their leader were awarded, in addition TO the
homage Of their admiring countrymen, the
Congressional Medal
The handsome Hobson loaded with
honors, quickly becoming the special idol OF the
Gibson girl beauties Of the day. After MS
return to the States, when Spain had been
properly humbled and Cuba libre was an
accomplished fact instead OF the pathetic slogan
Of ragged and starving patriots on the Pearl OF
the Antilles he was the target of the lips Of
feminine young America. Wherever he went
young women whose other p-eoccupationS were
cirafing dishes, leg O mutton sleeves, pasSe
partout pictures pyrographed leather pillows
and perhaps little gentle, long-shrted tennis,
strove to kiss the dashing young hero So
alarming became their determination that all
his public appearances were fraught with peril
THE reason for this apparent neglect is not
! entirely clear, although it has been explained
by former Secretary of the Navy Adams that
a defect in the law delayed the bestowal The
average American old enough to recall the
of fhn nf
the century doubtless concluded he had been
awarded every honor within the gift Of CRATE
full Government, including maybe solid gold
guest card to the White House. Other objects
of popular adulaNon came and went The
World War strode across its tremendous stage.
A new generation grew up and with the epochal
events that all but obscured occurrences more
remote than 1914 Hobson'S exploit in the
harbor of Santiago de Cuba 35 years ago next
June became somewhat legendary in the con-
seiousness of present-6ay America. Such is
the evanescence of fame.
Not long ago, however, friends of Capt.
Hobson discovered that although the law re-
stricting award of the Congressional Medal to
enlisted men had been amended to include
commissioned officers, the hero of the Merri-
mac had never received it. They took the
matter up with Representative William B. Oliver
of Hobson's native Alabama and he promptly
introduced bill to correct the long oversight.
It was passed quickly by the House and got on
the calendar of the Senate, where for time
1t appeared likely to become a victim OF the
legislative jam toward the close of the recent
session, but it finally reached and passed
without of course, opposition. The honor,
cpriously enough, carries with it privilege
already enjoyed by the hero, so in that respect
it won't mean much to him. Holders OF the
Congressional Medal are by it allowed to sit
On the floor OF the Senate and House, and as
q former member of the latter, TIobson already
enjoys this right.
The heroism for which Hobson, at the age
of g. is now beatedly honored by his country
was of the type of which every spirited school,
boy dreams. 1t brought the whole world to its
feet in applause but it may be doubted whether
the present generation is familiar with 1t in
more than shadowy outlines. For sheer defiance
of death, its equal is not often found.
When the United States embarked upon the
punishment of Spain for her oppression of
Cuba, eliminating in the destruction of the
battleship Maine IN Havana Harbor, Lieut..
Hobson then 81 years old, was Naval Con-
struction Corps officer assigned to the flagship
New York of the North Atlantic Fleet. His
task was the comparatively prosaic one OF
studying the effect of expected gunfire upon
the warships and their behavior in turn.
During the early weeks of the war the where
abouts of the Spanish fleet under Admiral
Pascual Cervera, became matter of concern.
It was before the days of wireless and the
eEeatest doubt existed as to where the Spanish