Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-01-17
ooMMAxpnR naKnn,s pRArH.


AAtAtGu HHh tHE h-hFEUfhthhCt OF NtOAt
exhaustive and Taxing Duty.
Army and Navy Register.
Representative Davis has prepared re-
port from the committee on pensions with
reference TO the bill granting pension to
Margaret Baker, widow OF Commander
Samuel a. Baker. It says: "Ths late Com
mander Samuel Fl. Baker, husband OF the
pensioner, was q man of flne physical con-
stitution, and OF distinguished acquire.
ments, and he was considered to be one Of
the most promising officers In the navy.
About January 3oth, 1858, he was Ia COM
mand of the United States store ship
Monongahela at ooquimbo, Chill, with
orders TO proceed from that port to San
Francisco. This ship was a steam vessel,
but the order was that she was 10 proceed
TO San Francisco under sail. The COM
plement OF the crew furnished Commander
Baker for this purpose were boatswain and
mates three, seauen six and landsmen a.
an actual working force Of IS men, put to
navigate u vessel OF some 5000 tons
burden on u long voyage. The vessel
got under way February "a, 1888, 1t hay
Ing taken this short-hRnded crew
three days to heave anchor, which Is
usually tho work Of only few minutes
On the 25th OF February she arrived of the
port OF Payta, Peru, being then short OF
water, with men under restricted allow
ance. Partly because this ship came from
a Gillian port, and partly because II was
alleged that epidemic diseases were raging
in the port from which she came, she was
denied admission into Payta, and denied
the privilege OF communicating with the
shore Tor the purpose OF telegraphing the
condition OF her crew to the navy depart
ment at WASHINGTON. The vessel has no
distiller aboa.d, and altogether the manner
10 which was sent out and the insuiiiciencies
OF aer equipment and crew are mysteries of
the naval administration. About the LIST OF
OF the commander Of the United
States steamship Alert, Commander Baker
succeeded In putting himself IL
communication with the navy department,
and the result Of the kilograms was an
order that the Monongahela was to proceed
to San francisco. The execution of this
order was entered upon Immediately, and
after many privations Commander Baker
brought his vessel into that port OH the l9ih
OF May, 1888. Under ordinary eircum-
stances the voyage should have been made
In 30 days, and during this period Com
mander Baker stood watch every day, ex-
posed to weather which the log shows to
nave been exceedingly inclement. During
the entire run from PaytA TO San francisco.
from March 18th to May 10th, the log shows
that the officers and crew were on short OF
hlloWhuSe VI WAter, huu IL mas Dozen SHOWN
to the satisfaction OF the committee that
nothing but the unceasing personal toll and
exposure OF Commander Baker and
other officers IN performing the ordinary
duties OF seamen enabled the ship to be
brought to the port Of San Francisco. The
effect OF this on Commander Baker was bis
death by acute uraemla, October 9th, 1888,
caused, as the medical certificates show,
while IN command OF the United States
1FfN I.
The report here recommends IN increase
OF pension.l The committee, alter care.
full consideration Of the facts in this case
and the precedent In the cases Of Naval
Officers Delaney, Twiggs. Collins, Breeze,
Green, Craven. Edes and Butler, who sacri-
feed their lives in early manhood by de-
votion 70 duties exceptionally arduous anu
whose widows pensions were increased on
that account, earnestly recommended the
passage OF the bill