The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-03-31

u
pllcation he was appointed second lieuten
ant OF marines, being the first graduate of /
Annapolis 10 enter the marine force. lie L
was promoted 10 be first lieutenant March |
y, 1888, and was stationed at Mare Island. |
He had Just been detailed 10 command |
the mar ne guard OF the Mohican, but the |
Vandalia sailing suddenly for Samoa before |
the arrival of her commanding marine ofiic |
Lieut. Sutton took his place. expecting 10 |
fall In with the MUhican on the cruise. |
Ills father Is a resident OF Rome, N. Y. At Il
the navy department Lieut. Sutton Is re-
garded as having been one OF the brightest
and most intelligent officers OF the marine
corps, and his loss is greatly deplored
Capt Cornelius NJ. SchOonmaker, com
mandlng the Vandalia, who lost his life al
Apia, had total sea service OF fifteen
years, the additional thirteen years and
three months on shore duty, and about six
years unemployed He was appointed
lrom New York In 1854. became q midship-
man In 1859, made lieutenant at the out
break OF the rebellion, and In 1885 became
lieutenant commander. Eight years later
he got full rank as commander, becoming
captain In October, 1886 He Is a member OF
the Ulster county family OF Schoonmakers.
Paymaster Gibson was appointed from
Connecticut in 1854, and has been on duty
on the Vandalia since May, 1887. His fam
lily resides at the Crawford House, New
London.
masters Clerk John Roche was ap.
pointed from Ilion, N. Y. lie was ~ years
of age and a man OF athletic build. His
nearest relative Is J. jeffrey Roche, who Is
q poet and assistant editor OF the Boston
Pilot
ALBANY, N. Y, March 30.-The wife OF
CAPTAIN q. Shoemaker, the ill-fated con-
mander OF the vandalia lost In Apia, hs
resided In this city several months. caIilg
faF y "A ~ a ar bssr
CHICAGO, March 80 There were seven
naval cadets on board the Trenton and
three on board the Vandalia OF those on
the last named was Edward Moole, Jr.. son
Of Major Moole, United States army, on
duty at Presidio, Cal.
GOOD VESSELS GONE.
In the navy department II was noticeable
that while The line officers mourned for the
men lost, the bureau officers had an equal
ton bureau said: "rhe Trenton, which
was Admiral Kimberly's flagship, was the
best wooden vessel In the American navy
and the best ship OF the old navy. The
Vandalia was another fine vessel and had
been thoroughly reftted at the Mare Island
navy yard at considerable expense, just
| before she sailed. Engineer officers recall
the fact that the Trenton, which is set
down as having speed OF twelve knots.
when In the Red Sea astonished the Eng
| lishmen BY easily running away from
the crack vessels Of their feet,
rated fourteen and sixteen knot vessels.
She was launched In New York In 1877 NJ
the navy yard. She was ship rugged, 26S
| feet long, IS feet beam, drew 20 feet Of
water, and was 5000 tons displacement, or
about 800 tons more than the Boston and
Atlantic. She had i2l officers and men
aboard when she sailed from home. n
The Vanialia was built at the Boston
navy yard and launched In 1879 She was
OF q 100 tons displacement She was rated
as twelve knot ship and carried 200 Of
icers and men.
The Nipsic sailed from the United States
| with $50 officers and men aboard, making
the total strength OF the American fleet al
Samoa 800 men, or nearly double the
strength OF the German forces. The Olga
had 276 men, the Adler l2s, and the EbeI
81; yet with one half the number Of the
American forces these unfortunate vessels
appear To have lost more than twice az
many men. Some naval officers think this
an indication that the American vessel,
had greater structural strength than thu
German ships. or that superior seamsnship
was shown.
| SERIOUS LACK OF SHIPS.
| BY the destruction of the American flee
at Apia the navy department finds itsell
confronted with serious problem. Short
OF the China station, where there is smal
fleet OF old wooden vessels, at least one O
which can never hope TO successfully crosl
the Pacific, there are almost no American
war vessels worthy OF the name In the Pa
ci6c ocean which can be sent immediately
TO Samoa. IL would not be a wise policy
10 allow events there TO drift along with
out the presence Of one or more American
vessels. The hostile armed faction
on the islands are no longer un
der the restraining influence OF 4
man OF war representing any civilized
nation, and property rights ut least nigh
be insecure, II life was not In jeopardy
The Mon0ngahela. an old st0reship carry
ing a couple OF h0witzers, sailed with store
for Samoa from Mare Island. California
Feb. 2l, and should arrive In week o
Il two unless she encountered bad weather
The Dolphin, dispatch boat, which.
formidable through the possession o
one great gun, might be ordere'
from China, but this abou
completes the list OF available ships. an
none Of them would worthily represent tn
authority OF the United States. BY dint o
| extra work the Charleston, now building a
San Francisb0. might be gotten ready 4
sail in about three weeks, but her batterie
, would not be complete and the government
would be at great expense, as the contract
J ors would probably insist upon remission
OF the penalties already incurred for della
In the construction OF The vessel as condl
J ti0n precedent TO accelerated work.
New YORK, March 3O-A dispatch ;
Winslow. WittlOck * Co, from Quarter
7 master Corwin. OF the Nipsic. states tina
the vessel was blown ashore during the lat
, gale, but suffered little damage, that tn
vessel will be f0ated tomorrow, and tina
her crew Is all safe.
TO BRING THEM HOME.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 30 The Aucl
land agent OF the Oceanic steamship line
whose steamships ply between here an
Australia, has cabled John ID Spreckle,
president Of the company, that Lieu
Wilson desires TO secure accom-
, m0dati0ns on the steamship MAJ
iposa, which touched at Aucklan
on the return trip fr0m Sydney In the lal
ter part OF April. for 800 OF the wreck
sailors at Samoa 10 be taken 10 San Fran
cisco. The MartpOsa Is entitled TO carr,
only 250 passengers. The department q
state has been requested by telegraph
grant permission for the steamer 20 tax
the extra passengers. The steamship Ala
media left Auckland three days ago. IL
| estimated she touched At Samoa to-day.
Is thought she will bring large number q
the shIpwrecked sailors 10 this port witt
out waiting for the Mariposa 10 receive OF
ders. The Alameda is due here April l3.
, BERLIN, March 30.-Adyices received b
, the naval authorities report storm rage
during the 18TH and 18th inst. Sevent
, | persons from the Ebpr and twenty from III