The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1889-05-04
a FITTING TRIBUTE.

Navy to Rear-NdmiraI kim"rrly-II"
Loss Of Our Men and ~h'ps ~ Npia
Deeply DCpIorcd, I;ut til" Conduct "f
the survivors Needs NJ InY">ticatInu;
1t speaks for Itself
WASHINGTON. \ pril ril2S.-S'cretary Tracy
yesterday addressed the following letter
10 Rear Admiral Kimberly, commanding
United States naval forces on the Pac.ac
station at Apia, Samoa:
SGR-The department = IN receipt OF your
cable dispatch 81 March 8, from Auc',laUd,
and also OF yoU- letter OF Mar.h 70, from cap
tain Farquhar. Commander NulIau and Lru-
tenant Carlin. narrat Il: tn circumstances -
the overwhelming disaster which h., recently
befalcn your squadron IN Np!I hl~hnr. need
not say that this event has caused Ia" depart
ment profound sorrow, which. - tie appalling
extent and character Of tE,'ctta~,rophc b".
came known. was reflected fhrouE1oYt tho
country Even II the navy w"r" possessed -
an adequate number OF ships 90 supply tar
nccess ties Of service, the los, uf tar"c ~ uus
blow would I've serious d.m!UIt'oH " tho
cruising force. To navy passing Is Is tina; ut
the United States, through = STAG OF trLu.s-
tion, when most OF is prcviously.cN!~'-
ing vessels have disappeared. aul
It's new fleet is only on the threshold
OF existence, the blow came with cripplfl;
force. The department learns with the I"rp-
the death OF four officers, Captain Schoon-
maker, Paymastcr Frank H. Arms F.rst Lieu.
tenant Frank T. Sutton of the ruarlnc corps.
and Pay Clerk john Roche, ani thlrjy-ulnd
men OF IN" Vandalia: seven men OF the y p,Ir,
and one man OF the Trenton. However sey"rc.
ly the destruction Of the vcs-l"- NAV be felt ny
the navy, the loss OF - many valuable lives ~
FAR greater and more irr"par.Nlc misfortune.
Captain SchoQnm4ker died, rs hr IA! i.y"d at
the post OF duty, gallant and r"E"ruu- officer.
and devoted servant ~ his couutrv % tho last.
Weakened by long "ICrt, he was swept hy IN"
sea from the deck Of his vessel soon after She
had drit,ct 10 her tnal resting place. The lUr
rCane at Samoa has brought Is an CtlGuS &C
many American households, which Will receive
the SyWpahy or the Government, Yet Il can
not be said that thO>" who died thus. mlnfully
facing danger in the execution OF their dIty,
have died in vain
The department, having closely examined
the reports OF the circumstance under which
the disaster occurred, learns that on the 18th
OF March, when ind cations of bad weather first
appeared. every preparation WAS made to meet
the coming gale. The Ship, were stripped, and
steam was raised. The force Of the approach
ing storm could not be fOrrsecH ard there was
every reason to hope and believe that the yes.
scls would ride IL out ut thor anchorage IN
safety. The extraordinary violence OF the gallo
rendered this impOss blr. VIII lc the crowded
condition OF the harbor where the vessels lay,
exposed 20 the full force OF the W nj AMI sea.
yet shu, in on both sides hv the sharp edges OF
coral reefs, made their position one OF extreme
danger. The Njpsc, Commander Dennis W.
Mu!lan the innermost vessel OF the fleet, was
enabled To reach place OF comparative safety
on the beach where her 2 gs crew were lost
while gallantly attempting to run a line ashore.
The Naudalia. commanded by Captain SChOon-
maker and upon his death 10y Lieutenant J. w.
Carlin, after slillfully avoiding collision.
washed into the inner harbor. struck the pOint
OF the rect not far from the y psic. Here she
remained exposed to the fury Of the storm, her
Officers and men taking refuge n the rigg ne,
while the sea swept over her and the spray and
surf we're flying to her mastheads. Many OF
her crew were lost In the attempt To swim
ashore. and one man. f. NJ. Hartman, seaman.
met his death in a brave hut iruitless EFFORT 10
carry a line to the Nlpsic. The survivors,
after remaining for eight hours in momentary
expectation OF death, were finally rescued.
The latter vessel, Captain FJrquhar command
ing, had the misfortune, early on the morning
of the 10th, TO lose her wheel and break her
rudder. Soon after the heavy sea, forcing its
way into the hawse- holes, in spite
OF distractions. filled the furnace rooms, and
put out the fires. The flagship, without steam
or rudder, her anchors dragging, driftoi almost
at the merry OF the gale, along the edge OF the
eastern reef at times not more than twenty
feet from total destruct on. Every endcayor
was made TO control her movements, and her
commanding officer states In his report that
upon at least one occasion, il WAS through tho
excellent Judgment OF Lieutenant X. NJ g.
Brown the navigating officer, that the ship
cleared the reef and the four hundred and flftv
lives oD board were saved. The department
notes with satisfaction your commendation OF
Lieutenant brown, aud also OF Lieutcnant
Commander II. w Lyon. the executive officer, fof
their efforts 10 savs the ship. After a collision
with the Olga, the Trenton passed over to the
western reef, where she drifted with the cur
rent, until she struck the ground near the Van
daia
From your own report, and from other ac.
counts. that have reached the department, IL
appears that the conduct OF those under your
command evinced that courage, resolution ant
fortitude which the United States has Learned
always TO expect from the officers and seamct
of its navy. When Her Br fannie Maiesty't
ship Calliope, fortunate in the possession OF
more powerful engines. succeeded in her gal
liant effort to pass the Trenton and steam out
OF the harbor against the hurricane. the ringing
cheer from the American flag ship as her crew
were standing facing death showed a spirit
alike generous and dauntless. During the
whole Of Saturday. when the Trenton was help
lessly dragging her anchors ON the verge OF de-
structon, the officers preserved their cOmpOS-
ure and heroic conduct. and directed her move.
mcnts with consummate skill The crew were
sails and through the cool and exact judgment
of those charged with her guidance, she wa.
enabled TO escape the extremity of peril
Finally, at the close Of the day.
when she brought up alongside Of
the Vandalia. her officers and men, not
withstandng the suffer ng through when they
had passed and the dangers bv which they
were still surrounded. thought only OF doing
their utmost TO aasst their comrades OF the
Vandalia, whose danger Was greater than their
own, and by firing rockets with life lines uycI
the masts and rigging OF the SunlsCu vessel,
they su 'ceeded in reScuiug all OF those who haC
taken refuge there; while under the inSpirI-
tlon OF n sentiment which has awakened a re-
sDOnsc In every American heart. the band OF
the flag ship. to encourage those who, dazcl
with fatigue and weakened by exposure, wcrg
still cinging 10 the rigging played the National
anthem.
In reply 10 your request and that Of Captain
Farquhar for court OF inquiry. thu depart.
ment has 10 say, that ~ deems such 4 court UG.
necessary. II is satisfied that the officers IN
a ghiDG "A
with courag", fidelity and sound Judgment and
that they were Z"alOusly and Loyalty seconded
by their subordinates; that The hurricane
which caused the destruction OF the vessels and
the loss OF so many lives was one OF those v.-I.
tnfions OF Providence, in the presence of which
human Efforts are OF little avail; that
and the oficcrs under you. were az
that wisdom and prudence could
dictate. and that IL was due to these measures
that so large a proportion Of the crews were
saved; that the one step which might havs
avertef the cata.trOpe, namely 10 have put 10
sea before the storm had deve!Opci, could only
sponsiblities resting upon you nj Samoa. b7
the certainty OF overwhelming danger TO yOuI
feet, which OF course could not then he fore
seen; that you rightly determined TO remain at
your post and that the department. in tho
face OF the terrible disaster which 1t involved,
approves absolutely your decision, which has
set an example TO the navy that should never
be forgotten
To convene a court OF inquiry under these
circumstances would seem 10 imply doubt on
the part OF the department, where no doubt cX-
lists: and instead Of order ng an investigation,
II tenders 10 you. and through you, to the On
GERS and men OF you command. ITS sympathy
for the exposure and hardships you have en-
countered, and It's profound thanks for the
fidelity with which you performed your duty in
a crisis OF appalling danger. Very respect.
fully. B. +. TRACY,
Secretary OF War
Accident ~ nd
TOTrcvrrrv Ev Anril % -VbiIa tho