The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-07-20
BRAVERY REWARDED.
Marcus a. Hanna Presented With a
Gold Medal.


last january. Until reaching Half Way
Rock the passage was uneyentful but here
the schooner encountered one of the fiercest
gales known on the coast for many years.
All that night the Australia beat back and
forth in the binding snow storm in the hope
of making Portland harbor When at last
morning dawned, as a last resort the
schooner was run on to the rocks near the
Two Lights, and at about 9 o'clock the wreck
was seen by Mrs. Hanna from the door of
the house. Mr.. Hanna at once took measures
to save the crew, and after long and hard
struggle at the risk of his life, with what
little aid one of his assistants could give
him while performing his duties, and the
help Of neighbors who arrived after MIR.
Hanna had succeeded in getting line to the
vessel, the two seamen were saved, the cap
tain having been drowned soon after the
schooner struck.
In commemoration Of Mr.. Hanna gallantry
on this occasion, the Treasury Department
recently ordered gold medal to be presented
to him, and Saturday Mr.. Hanna received
this token of the gratitude of the govern
ment for his bravery, the presentation being
made through Commander Crowninshield Of
the Lighthouse Department. Upon the in
vitation of Commander Crowninshield, a
party composed of many of our leading citi-
zens witnessed the presentation. Among
those who were received by Commander
Crowninshield in his office in the Custom
House we noticed Hon. I. B. Reed, Hon. l..
D. M. Sweat, Surveyor Stanley T. Pullen'
Gen. Geo. Thorn, Mayor Deering, District
Attorney Geo. E. Bird, Capt. Chas. H. Chase,
ex-Mayor Senter, Messrs. H. N. Jose, Horace
Anderson, w. H. Anderson, II. F. Kurdish.
Fl. Kurdish, and others. The party proceeded
to the steamer Iris, lying at Franklin wharf,
and at about half past II O'Clock the steamer
started for the lights. The day was perfect,
the temperature on the water being in de-
lightful contrast to the heat in the city, and
the guests, seated on the quarter deck of the
Iris, fully enjoyed the sail and the charming
scenery. The harbor and bay never looked
lovelier, and the Cape shore lying in the
| warm July sun, with the pretty cottages and
the strips of beach half hidden among the
rocks, could hardly be believed to be in the
same region as the snow and ice bound rocks
on which the Australia went to pieces.
| When the light station was reached, boat
was sent ashore for Mr.. Hanna Upon the
return of the boat, Mr.. Hanna was intro
duced to the guests on board, after which
Commander Crowninshield presented the
medal speaking as follows
COMMANDER cRowNINsHIELD's SPEECH
Gentlemen-I have invited YOU to be present on
this occasion to witness the presentation of gold
| medal to Mr.. Marcus A. Hanna, the principal
keeper of Cape Elizabeth light station, which has
Treasury for gallant and heroic conduct in saving
| the lives of two seamen from the wreck of the
| schooner Australia, which occurred on the 28th
| Of last January.
You may remember, gentlemen, that that day
there was raging on this coast storm of unusual
severity; temperature as low as five below zero
| terrific snow storm, and living gale from the
| northeaSt,-a combination of the elements rarely
met with, even In this severe climate. AS the cir
| cumStanceS attending the wreck were fully pub
| lished at the time, will not now detan YOU
| gentlemen, by recountng them; but cannot re.
| frain from saying that MIR. Hanna, in making this
| rescue, was called upon to perform no ordinary
task, and that his efforts and exertions must have
been such as to have required in him qualities Of
| heroic character. To brave the storm and the
| cold, and the dreaded surf itself, with repeated
| and persistent effort, until two of his fellow men
| were snatched from certain death, is undoubtedE
heroic; and for the rescueathus made the govern
| ment of the United States has presented Mr.
| Hanna with this suitable reward-this enduring
cause of humanity, and which it is now my pleas
ant duty to convey to him. and you will all gentle
men, men, am sure JON with me in extending to Mr..
Hanna our sincere and hearty congratulations,
Mr. Hanna then responded as follows
MIR. HANNAs SPEECH.
| One SO isolated so benighted and / NAV also
| facetlously add though none the less truthfuy
so befogged as a lightkeeper must necessarily be,
| the "set phrase" used on such occasions, OF to
| nave any use for the gift of public
| Acknowledgement are due from me. / trust thai
my words will not be misunderstood when say
that If the choice were given me to stand agaif
alone on the bleak ice-coated storm-sWept
shore of yonder headland ON that terrible JANUARY
morning. engaged in an effort to save the lives o.
my fellowmen,o or to stand here today thelrecipien
of this honor, surrounded by these distinguished
and appreciative citizens Of Portland t trus
the sentiment will not be misunderstood when i
such as that have had some experience
through life; to scenes such as this | am all un-
used, and feel much embarrassed.
The consciousness of having rendered a sigma
service to. my fellow-men in the timt
OF his dlrest distress and greatest peril is of it
pocricy tand ingratftude me to deny til,
feeling of qualification afforded me in receiving
this elegant testimonial. Prompt and eficien
than the faithful execution of public trust is
simple duty that does not, perhaps call for an,
extraordinary manifestation of public or officia
gratifying to me to receive this token of ap
probation from, that great government
of which am an humble employee / suppos,
the intrinsic value of this award is considerable
but its chiefest value to me will be its constan
reminder that It is a reward fori well doing in thu
past, as trust 1t will prove an incentive to TIN
performance OF similari conduct in the future.
To- al Of those q. my friends who 50 generously
was required by the NY Department SInt sIsn {
satisfy the statute in such cases, / tender m,
grateful thanks: And to you ,lsir, through whom
my sense of gratitude for the kindly interest mani
Tested and for the words of approval and encoul
agement with which you have accompanied tn
Departments recognition OF my act.
At the conclusion of his remarks Mr.. Han
ma was loudly applauded and received tn,
congratulations of those present. The com
pany was then called to order and the Hon
Mr. Sweat nominated as presiding officer
Mr. Sweat said that the object of this organ
ization was to express the thanks of thos
present to Commander Crowninshield al
well as to express their feelings to Mr. Han
ma. Mr.. Sweat then called on Hon. MI
Reed, who replied that after the excellen
speech of Mr.. Hanna he considered nothing
further to be necessary. AS Mr. Hanna lef
the steamer to go ashore he was again loudl
applauded.
The medal which is solid gold, about tw,
and half inches in diameter, is attache,
to crimson silk ribbon and contained in
handsome case. On one side it bears an i'm
press of boat in the breakers with sailo
rescuing man from the waves. On tn
rim is the inscription: Omitted States o
America, Act of Congress June 20, 1874" o.
the other side is the inscription: SIN test
mony of heroic deeds in saving life from tn
perils of the seas. To Marcus A. Hanna, TO
nobly saving two men from the wreck of th,
schooner Australia, Jan. %, 1886"
The return trip was as enjoyable as til,
outward one had been. An elegant luncl
was served which reflected great credit OF
the skill of the cook and steward of the Iris
and the steamer reached Franklin wharf a
two o'clock. The presentation passed off il
perfectly successful manner, due in grea
measure to the excellent management o
Commander Crowninshield, and the courtes
of the officers of the Iris