Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-01-07
TIE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
SENATOR STEWART TALKS ABOUT
THE CHINESE.
Commander Bakers Widow-The
Union Pacific Funding Bill
Contested Seats-Etc.
ESPECIAL DISPATCHES TO THE srooRD-us1os.,
sOMETHING WRONG.
How the Navy Department Sacrifices the
Lives of Its Men.

Lives of Its Men.
WASHINGTON, January 9th. Representative
Davis has prepared report from the Comuittee
on PENSIONS with reference to the bill granting
a pension to Margaret Baker, widow of Com.
mander Samuel H Baker. Il shows a most de-
plorable condition of affairs in the Navy Depart
ment. The report says:
The late Commander Samuel II. Baker hus-
band of the petitioner, was a man of splendid
physical condition and of distinguished acquire
ment, and he was considered one of the most
promising officers in the navy. About January
81, 1855, he was in command of the United States
store-shlp Monongahela at Coquimbo Chile
with orders to proceed from that port to San
francisco This ship was steam vessel, but
orders were that she was to proceed to
San Francisco under sail. The Complement
OF crew furnished Commander Baker for
TINS purpose were a boatswain, three
mates, mates, SIX seamen and twelve landsmen-an
actual working force of eighteen men-put to
navigate vessel of some 5000 tons burden on a
long voyage. The vessel got under way Feb
ruaIy = 1885 1t having taken this short-handed
crew three days to heave anchor, which is usu-
ally the work of only few minutes On the
18th OF February she arrived off the port of
Payta, Peru being then short of water and with
the men en- under restricted allowance Partly be-
cause this vessel came from a Chilean port, and
partly because it Yves alleged that epidemic dis
eases were raging in the port from which She
came, she was denied admission into Payta and
denied the privilege of communicating with
the shore for the purpose of telegraphinp the
condition of her crew to the Navy Department
at Washington. The vessel had no distiller
apoard. ana altogether the manner in which
sne was sent out, and the insuffciency of her
equipment and crew are mysteries of naval
administration.
About the LIST of March, 1855, through the in
teryention of the Commander of the TTnitad
states steamer Alert, Commander Baker snc-
ceeded in putting himself in communication
with the Navy Department, and the result of
ms telegram was an order that the Mononga-
hela was to proceed TO San Francisco. The ex-
ecutlon OF this order was entered upon irnmeCii-
ately, and after many privations Comm ander
Baker brought his vessel into that port on the
l9tn OF May, 1855. Under ordinary circum-
stances the voyage should have been made in
thirty days. '''"0' -
During this period Commander Baker stood
Watch every day, exposed to weather which the
log SHOWS 10 nave been exceedingly inclemept
during the entire run from Payta to San Fran
cisco, from March 18th to May 10Th, the log
SHOWS that the officers and crew were on a
short allowance of water and it has been shown
to the satisfaction of the committee thar moth
ing but the unceasing personal toll and expos
ure OF Commander Baker and the other officers
IN performing the ordinary duties of seamen
enabled the vessel to be brought to the port OF
san francisco. The effect of this upon Com
mander Baker was his death by acute urfpmia
on on october 3d. 1883, caused-as the medical GER
tincates shoW-by exposure in the immediate
line of bis duty while in command of the
United States storeship Monongahela upon this
voyage.
He left his widow in Strengthened circum
stances and with one child TO support and edu-
cate. she is now receiving a pension of $50 a
month, and the Dill provides for its increase to
$50 month";
The committee after a careful consideration
OF the facts in this case and precedents in the
cases OF naval officers Dulaney, Twigs Collins.
Breeze, Breen, Craven and Butler who sacri-
nced tnelr Ives in early manhood by devotion
TO duties exceptionally arduous and whose
WIDOWS pensions were increased on that ac-
count, earnestly recommend the passage of the
bill. In view of this statement which will be
gwen 70 the House on Monday, it would seem
CATION is in order.