Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-12-09
"a GOVERNMENTS GRATITUDE.
Senator Evarts' Story of the Reward Pre-
sented to Swedish Captain.

Senator Evarts' Story of the Reward Pre-
sented to Swedish Captain.
"When Senator Evarts was here the
other day." said one of his friends to q
correspondent of the Indianapolis
Journal recently. "hetold a very good
story in connection with that fund for
rewarding sailors who aid American
wrecked seamen." Senator Evarts'
story was about like this: Somefour or
fveyears ago, while he was secretary of
state, this fund had run down to q low
ebb, and the department concluded to
economic a little. They, therefore,
contracted with New England watch
firm to supply a. cheap grade of silver
watches and chains. The idea was to
engrave these watches: "Presented
by the President of the United States
to -, for gallant services in aiding
the crew of the wrecked American ship
-" A9out the time this resolu-
ton had been taken, Swedish cap
tain rescued a party of seventeen
American seamen, and turned back in
his course and took them to Stock
holm, where they were turned over to
the consul. In due course of time,
when this gallant action became
known, the department forwarded one
of these watches to him through the
customary channels. The captain to
whom this valuable token was to be
presented was entitled, under the law,
to SO cents per day for each seaman
rescued, during the time which he had
charge of them. He put in no claim
against the government, and asked TO-
no remuneration for the outlay to
which he had been put. When be re-
ceived the thanks of this great govern
ment in such substantial form he did
not like it, and instead of wearing the
watch, as it was expected he would do,
he hung it up in show window in
Stockholm, and above it attached
card bearing legend something like
this:
presented to Capt. Memo, by the
president Of the United States, for
rendering aid to seventeen shipwrecked
American seamen. This token gives
some idea of the value which that
great country places upon the lives OF
it's sailors"
The watch attracted a great deal of
attention, and came to the notice of
the American minister, who oDened
correspondence with the state depart
ment, which correspondence proved in
the end quite voluminous. 1t resulted
in the return of that silver turnip, and
the substitution in it's place of as fine
gold watch as the department could
secure, which was quite naturally &C.
cepted with thanks. Capt. Memo, by
the way, in writing to the department,
said that the first watch which had
been sent him was neither ornamental
nor useful, and as for the chain, he
could not find any use for it unless it
was to tie up some vicious dog, which
he might have some time IN the future.
He added that a simple letter of
thanks from the United States gov
eminent would have been received with
gratitude, and would have been highly
appreciated, and hehinted that the al
legged reward for his gallantry was in
the nature of an insult. Mr.. Evarts
added that the $18-watcb experiment
was not repeated after that day In
this connection it may besaid that an
effort is to be made to induce the COM
ing congress to increase the appropria-
ton for the reward OF citizens of other
countries who aid in succoring Ameri-
Cctu ClUlLSLlS. 4 LIS 1ullu, WuICu ID uOW
about $4,000 annually, is never
adequatefor the use to whichit is put,
and the department people believe
that if it is increased to, say, $40, 900,
it would afford an opportunity to
give substantial money rewards in
many instances where the recipients
would be really worthy of it. For in
stance, common seaman who risks
his life, and occasionally breaks
limb, in saving thelives of shipwrecked
American sailors could then receive a
reward of, say, 500, when now $50
is the limit.