Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-04-28
A GRACEFUL TRIBUTE.
Kimberly and His Officers
COmplimented.
NO COURT OF INQUIRY NEEDED.
Visitations of Providence are Not
Provided for by the Rules of
The Service.
Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD.

Associated Press Dispatches to the HERAID.i
WASHINGTON, April 27.-Secretary
Tracey to-day addressed letter to Rear
Admiral Kimberly, acknowledging the
receipt of his reports from the Admiral
and other officers, narrating the circum-
stances of the disaster at Samoa. The
Secretary adds: 'I need not say to you
that this event has caused profound sor-
row at the Department, which, as the
appalling extent and character of the
catastrophe became known, was reflected
throughout the country. Even If the
navy were possessed of an adequate num-
ber of chips to supply the necessities OF
the service, the loss of three at one blow
would be a serious dimiunition Of the
available cruising force. To q navy,
passing, as is that of the United States,
through stage of transition, when most
of its previously existing vessels have
disappeared, and its new feet is only on
the threshold of existence, the blow
comes with crippling force.
"The Department learns with deepest
pain that the wreck resulted in the
death of four officers and forty-seven
men. However severely the destruction
of the vessels may be felt, the loss OF 30
many valuable lives is far greater and
more irreparable misfortune.
Captain Schoonmaker died, as he
had lived, at the post of duty, a gallant
and generous officer, and devoted SER
want of his country to the last.
"The hurricane at Samoa has brought
affliction to many American households,
which will receive the deepest sympathy
of the Government; yet it cannot be said
that those who died thus manfully, fac
ing danger in the execution Of their duty,
have died in vain."
After reviewing at some length
the details of the reports, and
noting with satisfaction the COM
mendation of various officers, the
Secretary continues: cit appears
that the conduct of those under your
command evinced, throughout, that cour-
age, resolution and fortitude which the
United States has learned always to OK
pect from the officers and seamen OF its
navy. When her Britannia Majesty's
ship Calliope, fortunate in the posses
sion of more powerful engines, sue
ceeded in her gallant effort to
pass the Trenton and steam out of
UU6 ud1DOI AShluSb bllC tliO
ing cheer from the American flagship, as
her crew were standing in the face of
death, showed spirit alike generous and
dauntless. During the whole of Saturday,
when the Trenton was helplessly drag
ging her anchors and on the verge of de-
struction, the officers preserved their
composed and heroic bearing, and di-
rected her movements with consummate
fba alOoo oft ha hou xuhan che
was brought up alonside of the Vandalia,
/ her officers and men, not
withstanding the suffering through
which they had passed, and the dangers
by which they we're still surrounded,
thought only of doing their utmest to as
sist their comrades of the Vandalia,
| whose distress was greater than her own,
while, under the inspiration of the senti-
ment which has awakened response in
every American heart, the band of the
flagship, to encourage those who, dazed
with fatigue and weakness by exposure,
were still clinging to the rigging, played
the National Anthem.
| SIN reply to your request and that of
| Captain Farquhar for court of inquiry,
the department has to say that it deems
such court unnecessary. It is satisfied
that the officers in command at Apia did
their duty with courage, fidelity and
sound judgment, and that they were
zealously and loyalty seconded by their
subordinates; that the hurricane which
caused the destruction of the vessels and
the loss of 30 many lives was one OF
those visitations of Providence, in the
presence 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 it was due to
those measures that 80 large propor-
| tion of the crews were saved; that the
one step which might have averted
the catastrophe, namely. to have
put to- sea before the storm
had developed, could only have been
justified, in view of the grave RESPONSE
bilities resting upon you at Samoa, by
the certainty of overwhelming danger to
your fleet, which could not then be fore
seen. You rightly decided to remain at
your post, and the department, even in
the face of the terrible disaster which it
involved, approves absolutely your de-
cision which has set an example
to the navy that should never
be forgotten. To convene court
of inquiry under these circumstances
would seem to imply doubt on the part
| of the Department where no doubt exists,
and, instead OF ordering an investigation,
it tenders to you, and, through you, to
the officers and men of your command.
its sympathy for the exposures and hard
ships you have encountered, and its pro-
found thanks for the fidelity with which
you performed your duty in crisis OF
appalling danger. Very respectfully,
B. f. TRACEY,
Secretary of the Navy"