The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-04-29
COURAGE, FIDELITY AND JUDGMENT.
Secretary Tracy's Words Of Praise
For our Seamen's Bravery.
The DepIorable Disaster at Samoa
Beyond Human Prevention,
And a Court Of Inquiry Deemed
to be Unnecessary.

WASHINGTON, d. c., April H.-Secretary
Tracy today addressed the following letter
to Rear Admiral Kimberly, commanding the
United States naval force on the Pacific sta.
tion at Apia, Samoa:
"Sir-The department is in receipt of your
cable dispatch of March 30, from Auckland
and also Of your letter of March 10, from
Samoa, with accompanying reports from
Captain Farquhar, Commander Mullan and
Lieut.. Carlin, narrating the circumstances Of
the overwhelming disaster which has recent
ly befallen your squadron in Apia harbor. ]
need not say to you this event has caused the
department profound sorrow, which, as The
appalling extent and character Of the catas
trophe became known was reflected through
out the country. Even If the navy were pos
sessed of an adequate number of ships tc
supply the necessities of the service, the loss
of three at one blow would be serious di-
minution of the available cruising force. To
a navy passing, as that Of the United States,
through stage of transition, when most OF
its previously existing vessels have disap-
peared, and its new fleet is only on the
threshold Of existence, the blow comes with
crippling force
"The department learns with the deepest
pain that the wreck at Samoa resulted in the
death of four oficers-Capt. G. M. S choon-
maker, Paymaster Frank II. Arms, 1st Lieut..
Z. +. Sutton of the marine corps and Pay
Clerk John Roche-and 80 men of the Wanda
liza. seven men Of the Nipsic and one man OF
the Trenton. However severely the destruc-
tion of the vessels may be felt by the navy,
the loss OF so many valuable lives Is lar
greater and more imparable misfortune.
Capt. Schoonmaker died, as he had lived. at
the post Of duty, gallant and generous Off
Ger and devoted servant Of his country to
the last. Weakened by long effort, he was
swept by the sea from the deck Of his vessel
soon after she had drifted tc her final resting
place. The hurricane at Samoa has brought
affiiction to many American households
which will receive the deepest symgathy Of
the government, yet il cannot be said that
those who died thus manfully, facing danger
in the execution of their duty, have died in
vain."
The secretary then reviews the particu-
lars of the disaster as reported to the depart
ment and says:
From your own report and from other ac-
counts that have reached the department, it
appears that the conduct Of those under your
command evinced throughout that courage,
States has learned to expect from the
officers and seamen Of its navy.
When Her Britannia Majesty's
ship Calliope, fortunate in the pos
session of more powerful engines, succeeded
in her gallant effort to pass the Trenton and
steam out of the harbor against the nurri-
cane the ringing cheer from the American
flagship, as her crew were standing In the
face Of death, showed spirit alike generous
and dauntless."
Secretary Tracy concludes his letter as
follows: I'm reply to your request land that
Of Capt. Farquhar for court Of inquiry. the
department has to say that 1t deems such
court unnecessary. 1t is satisfied that the
officers in command of the ships at Apia did
their duty with courage, fidelity and sound
judgment,a and that they were loyalty second
ed by their subordinates; that the hurricane
which caused the destruction of the vessels
and the loss Of so many lives was. one Of
those visitations of providence, In the pres
ence Of which human efforts are Of little
avail, that the measures actually taken by
yourself and the officers under you were all
that wisdom and prudence could dictate, and
that 1t was due to these measures that so
large a proportion of the crews
were saved; that the one step
which might have averted the catastrophe,
namely, to have put to see before the storm
ha developed, could only have been justified
in view OF the great responsibilities resting
upon you at Samoa, by the certainty Of over
whelming danger to your fleet which could
not then be foreseen; that you rightly decld-
ed to remain at your post, and that the de-
partment, In the face of the terrible disaster
which it involved approves ablolutely your
decision, which has set an example to the
navy that should never be forgotten. To
convene a court of inquiry under these cir
cumstances would seem to imply doubt on
the part of the department where no doubt
exists; and instead Of ordering an investiga-
tlon, it tenders to you, and through you to
the officers and men Of your command, its
sympathy for the exposures and hardships
you have encountered, and its profound
thanks for the fidelity with which you have
performed your duty in crisis Of appalling
danger. Very respectfully,
"B. +. TRACY, Secretary of the Navy"