The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-01-05
Tribute to Captain Nye.

tribute 10 captain Nyes
The London Times pays the following high tri-
butte to the humanity and courage of Captain Nye,
of the Pacifo
can act of great humanity and courage on the
part OF an American commander and his searnen
was reported In our advices from Liverpool pub
lished yesterday. Ii seems that the United States
mail steamship Pacific, Captain Nye, six days be.
lore her arrival In Liverpool, Tell in with the ship
James Stephens of Irvine, bound from Quebec to
Glasgow. There was very heavy sea running at
the time-it blew perfect gale. The James
Stephens was waterlogged and on the point of
sinking. AS may be readily supposed from the
riva.ry existing between the companies which are
contending for>supt emacy in the Atlantic it was
no. light matter for Captain Nyeto turn aside from
his course. or course we do not mean TO say that
as man OF proper feeling there was any alterna-
tive open to him but that of saving his pc ishing
fellow creatures at all reasonable hazard and at
whatever commercial risk There is, however
such thing as cheerful, and such thing as re-
uctant aid. There is all the difference in the world
between assistance rendered for FORMS sake and the
heroic determination to number of helpless
men from peril or to perish in the attempt Captain
Nye-to his honor be it spoken-did not hesitate
for moment as to the course he should pursue
As soon as the ship was deserted and there was a
suspicion that she might be in danger he gave or
ders to steer straight for the spot that her real posi-
ton might be ascertained. Nothing certainly
could well be more hopeless than the situation of
the James Stephens and of her crew-few things
less probable, considering the state of the weather
than that any effective assistance could be render
ed TO them. Captain Nye, however, had a life
boat lowered down, and the brave fellows who
manned her strained every nerve to approach the
wreck. The sea was running too high for them,
and the fury of the storm must have been great
indeed when such men as these were Obliged to
return, and confess themselves fairly beaten by
the power of the elements. Still Captain Nye
would not be turned from his benevolent purpose:
he refused to leave the crew of the sinking ship to
fate inevitable if he deserted hem but waited for
hours and hours until the weather should moder-
ate, come favorable chance should turn up which
would give him the opportunity of taking the
crew OFT the wreck. Again, after long delay,
the life boat was manned, and again her crew pull
ed for the waerogged ship. This time their efforts
were crowned with success and they had the
happiness of transferring the ships company of
the James Stephens from their own sinking YES
sel to the deck of the Pacific.
"We are told that the passengers by the steam
er who witnessed the exertions of the men, and
who were therefore in the best situation to appre-
clate their merits, instantly entered into a sub
scription to reward the of the life boat and
500 dollars were collected on the spot This is as
it should be- as far as the men are concerned; but
it would not be amiss that Captain Nye should re-
celve come mark of the opinion entertained in this
country of bis humanity and singular energy
under such trying circumstances. 1t is by his
resolution tina SO many of our countrymen have
been rescued from watery grave. A pecuniary
reward to such man, and for such an act, would
OF course be simply offensive; but it is possible in
many ways to evince our gratitude TO this gallant
SEAMAN for the service he has performed"