The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-24
DISCIPLINE IN TIE NAVY.
BR4pE COxSTAIN DISCHlRGED FROM
THE FRIGdTE MINNESOTA.

Uescuing Three Men from Drowning nnd
Anrtward Rehuk ID forthe Condition or his
Launch-1hcn A Accused OF Driaking Beer.
A week ago last Sunday tho officers and
men on the deck Of tho United States frlgate
Minnesota. lying of Weehawken. were startled
byseoing shell rowboat containing three men.
capsize within mile OF the ship. A cry Of
alarm was given by one Of the auartermasters.
and preparations wero at once made for n res-
cue. The frlRate's steam launch lay alongside.
ana George Brown. her coxswain. hurried into
It. shouting. " Cast of forward-let 10 every
thlngr The launch parted from the ship and
madc directly for the rowboat. which had by
this tlmo turned bottom upward. Brown and
the seamcn who were with him rescued the two
men who were cllnginR to IT, and then turned
to tho third. who was struggling at distance.
Meantime. Lieut. Noyes had come up in a 500
ond boat-a giR-nnd was endeavoring TO save
the third man by drawing him in over the stern.
This was found to be impracticable and the
Lieutenant was forced TO give way to Brown.
VINO. coming up WIN the launch. rescued tho
drowning man. and took him with the others to
tho ship.
The rescued persone, who gave their names
IA Peter Brown Robert Mannheartz. and Henry
Toppen were first dried. and then conducted
down to the forecHstle. where the surgeon pre-
which they were sent ashore in the launch.
under care OF Brown. AT the wharf n police
name. and he gave H. Next morning THE Sun
and other papers published reports II the affair
giving the coxswain due credit for his presence
On Monday following Capt Stephen B. Lewis,
who IL Lieut. Noyess father tn-law. called
tion ot the launch. saying that the boat cushions
were dirty. Yesterday, Brown says. the Captain
summoned him to him Mt noon. and told him
he had NJ more work for him. Brown asked him
II he had done anything wrong and the Captain
at I barroam @ on the wharf Zoo, " Of %
street on Wednesday last and had allowed two
Of the other men In the launch to drink there.
Brown swore that he hadn't entered the bar
room. hut admitted that two OF the men with
him had got beer on that particular Wednesday.
The Captain then told hi m that at any rate he
was too old to be OF service. that he WAS not lt
for Captain o. top. and that q he stayed on
rntrd. He concluded by advising Brown to get
some other ship. Brown said: Captain. II I'm
too old for a top man on your ship Pm too old
Brown then got his dunnage and went over
| the side. Brown says that number OF the
10 a Sun reporier yesterday Brown said that
he was A3 years OF age, and native OF Queens
| town. He has been able seaman and petty OIL
Ger In the Minnesota of and on for sixteen
years. He took part In the fight With the Mer-
rsmnac' n HAMPTON Roads on the otn OF mardn:
| frigate Delaware with Capt. Hammond, and in
the friRate Richmond on the Brazil station; lie
said he was going to Montreal to try to find em-
Lieut.. Little. who. In the absence Of Capt.
Lewis. was found in command OF the, Min
nesota last evening, said that Brown had been
| punished for drinking In u saloon near the
landing some three or four days after the
rescue. He was quite sure that the publication
| In the papers concerning the rescue had noth-
| ing 70 do with II. Lieut.. Howes understood
| that both Brown aud Lieut. Noyes had received
| complimentary letters on their conduct from
the Secretary Of the Navy, Lieut. Prime. who
was officer OF the deck at the time Of the rescue.
| coroburated Browne story in regard TO the cir
| cumstauces The reason why Lieut.. Noyes
| hadn't been able to save the third man was be-
| cause the gig WAS only big enough to hold him.
| self and the single oarsman in II. As Il was.
| the Lieutenant got wet uD to his waist. Brown
strenuously denies that he was In the drinking
| says that he was watching him from the cabin
| window with his spyglass and saw him enter.