National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-06-04
GrN. nAnCock nRowNrn.
Bcn suffer, Lovi u. LuciSey, and the Gem
crSl Arc shirwreclted and Lost On tho
Florida Coast.

Florida Coast.
Jacksonville, FLA, juno IA Daytona
(Fla.) special TO the Times URion dated $3.50
q. M, says Gen. o. L. Babcock, U. s. A.,
Levi P. Luckey, Of Baltimore, Bon +. Suffer,
of Washington, and one seaman were
drowned yesterday at $3.50 o'clock, while
trying to cross Mosquito inlet bar in q small
boat during high wind. So far only tho
body of Gen Babcock has been recovered.
All tho particulars of the drowning obtain
able now are as follows Gen Babcock and
party left Baltimore at noon of May 10, on
the light house tender Pharos, two masted
schooner, bound for Mosquito inlet, ninety
miles below the mouth of st. Johns river,
on the Florida coast, where the government
is building d light house. Tho Pharos put
into Charleston and loft there on
tho 25th, having encountered adverse
winds all the way heavy northeast
gale began on the Doth, in the midst of which
the Pharos made st. Johns light and came to
anchor off the. bar with two cables out. A
pilot was signaled for and although tho sea
was running hslf-mast high, one reached the
Pharos land Gen. Babcock sent the follow
ing message to DR.. j. G. Longle, of this city,
proprietor of the steam towing tugs on the
rivers
The Pharos sails from here this morning; please
have the seth Low or the Maybe to tow her over
Mosquito Inlet bar. Lot her take the Pharos in
tow IL overtaken.
The sea ran so high that the tug could not
get out, and had not gone down this morn
ing. -....'
The next news received was the dispatch
from Daytona to tho Times. Union announcing
the sad catastrophe. When tho tug comes
back from Mosquito inlet full particulars
will be known. The probability is that the
Pharos anchored off the inlet and the general
and his party undertook to go ashore in n
small boat, which was swamped in tho
breakers. The only way to communicate
with the scene of the disaster is by telegraph
to Day tona, several miles from there, on the
Halifax river, via Astor.
The first news of the catastrophe received
in Washington came to Mr.. j. ID. Franzoni,
of Gilman's drug store, where Mr.. Suffer, one
OF the victims, was clerk. Tho dispatch
sent to Mr.. Franzoni was dated at Daytona
and signed by George d. Benjamin, who is a
brother-in-law of Mr.. Luckey, another of
the victims, and is connected with the light
house service. The dispatch simply said that
the three men were drowned, and the body
Of Gen. BsbGock only recovered.
1t was remembered that Mr.. w. H. Bailey,
district superintendent of lamps, had accom-.
panied tho party when they started from
Baltimore May 10, and he was asked for in
formation about the trip. He stated that the
Pharos was commanded by Capt. Anderson,
an experienced sailor, and the man who
transferred Gen. Anderson from Fort Moul-
trie to Fort Sumter at the beginning Of the
war. Gen. Babcock was in charge of the party,
all the members of which, except himself
won't simply for pleasure. Owing to delays
from high winds, Mr.. Bailey's leave expired
before the cruise was finished, and he was
put ashore at Charleston, and returned ia
Washington two days ago. Gen. Babcock
Iytyau ahs. &c., II,
lighthouse districts, which include Florida
which was combining business with pleasure
on the trip, when Mr.. Bailey was put OF al
Charleston. Each one of tho party tele.
graphed news of himself to his family.
No official notification of the disaster wa:
received yesterday by the lighthouse board
or by Adjt. Gen. Drum, although the latter
telegraphed to Datonia for information.
The place where these three gentlemen at.
tempted to land in the accomplishment Of
their mission Is the exact spot where the
Vera Cruz was lost. 1t is point of great
danger and the surf is very violent. The
boilers Of three lost steamers are now visible
within reach of this last disaster.
The news of the disaster shocked every
body, and was received with special regret in
army circles.
Gen. Orville L. Babcock was a native o
Vermont, appointed to the West Point mill
tary academy from that state, and graduated
in 1861, being shortly after appointed secont
lieutenant of volunteers, and made first lieu
tenant in November, 1861. June l, 1868, h,
was promoted to a captaincy, serving will
the army of the Potomac until 1868, ant
on Jan. /, 1868, was made lieutenan
colonel, and during his service with thu
9th corps, for gallant service at the siege o
| Knoxville, was brevetted major in thu
regular army. He subsequently became
chief engineer Of the department of Ohio, ant
in 1864 he became member of Gen. Grant
staff. He was brevetted lieutenant colonel
for gallant services at the battle of Wilder
ness, May 6, 1864, and colonel Feb. "a, 1866
On March Is, 1866, he was brevotted Brigade
general for gallant services in the field.
He was appointed March 81, 1867, major o
engineers, and assigned to Gen. Grants stat
remaining in that position until Presiden
Grant appointed him his military secretar
aud placed him in charge public building
with the rank Of colonel of engineers. Il
1876 he was tried at st. Louis as u member Q
the whisky ring, and was acquitted after
long and tedious trial.
In 1877 no was placed in charge of tn
fifth and sixth lighthouse districts, extendin
from Maryland TO Florida, with hesdquarter
at Baltimore, and the accident which resulte
fatally, occurred while he was superintend
ing the erection of a lighthouse at Mosquit
inlet. Gen. Babcock leaves wife, who h6
been ill for some time and three young son
They reside in this city. Con. Babcock
nomination for lieutenant colonel Of eng
neers is pending in the senate.
Mr.. Levi p. Luckey was also private seer
tary to President Grant during Mr.. Babcock
term of office, being first appointed assistan
secretary and atterward secretary. Upo
leaving the white house no was placed at til
head of the Indian division of the seer,
tarys Office, department of the inteii 10
and subsequently made secretary of Uta
territory by President Grant. Returnir
east several years ago he was made chief eler
of Gen. Babcock's bureau at Baltimore, al
accompanied the latter upon this fatal trip
assistant. He resided at Baltimore, al
leaves there wife and four children.
Mr.. Benjamin P. Sutter, the third victi
of the disaster, was well-known resident
this city, and has been employed in Gilman
drug store for the past fifteen years.
: He was about So years old, single, and car
: here from Mount Holly. N. j., where he h
: a sister now living. He was prominent
t Masonic circles, having held high positio
, in tho order. While Mr.. Suffer had oil
! barked upon tho trip mainly for pleasure,
, was intended that his medical skill shou
benefit tho party in case Of necessity.
0 q The Proposed Kellogg Investigation
: At meetin of the house committee
u