The morning news., 1889-04-28
STANDS BY OUR SAILORS.
TRACY DECLINES TO~ORDER AN
INVESTIGATION AT APIA.

The Department Satisfied that officers
and Men Did Their Full Duty-Good
Reason Seen For Not Putting to Sea.
Thanks and Condolences Instead of
Censure.
WAsHINGToN, April q. 7.-Secretary Tracy
to-day addressed letter to Rear Admiral
Kimberly. commanding the naval forces at
Apia, Samoa, in which be says:
The department Is in receipt OF your cable
dispatch Of March 30 from Auckland. and also
Of your letter Of March 10 from Samoa with
accom- pauylng reports from Capt. Farquhar,
Commander Mullane and Lieut. Carn, nara
ting the circumstances OF the overwhelming
disaster which has recently disabled your
squadron in A pia ha rbor F,sed not say o you
that this event has caused the department
profound sorrow, which, AS the appalling ex
tent and character OF the catastro he became
known, was reflected throughout the coun.
try. Even if the navy were pos
sessed of an adequate number of ships
to supply the necessities Of the service, the loss
OF three at one blow would be serious dlminI-
ton Of the available cruising force. 70 navy
passing, as is that of the United States, through
stage OF transition, when most or its previously
existing vessels have disappeared and It's new
fleet is only on the thres hold of existence the
blow came with Gripping force. Howeve'
severely the destruction Of the vessels may be
felt by the navy the loss of so many valuable
lives is far greater and more irreparable mis-
fortune. Capt. Schoonmaser died, as be had
lived at his post of duty, gall mt and generous
officer and devoted servant of bis country to
the las. Tee hurricane at Samoa has brought
affliction to many American households which
will receive the deepest sympathy of the gov
ernment yet it cannot be said at those VINO
died thus man uliy facing danser in the execu-
tlon or their duty, have died in vain.
DECLINES TO INVESTIGATE.
The letter then reviews the incidents Of
the disaster as recounted in the reports OF
Admiral Kimberly and his officers and says:
In reply to your request and that of Capt
farquhar for court Of inquiry, tire depart
lnent has TO say that it deems such court un-
necessary II is satisfied that the officers in
command of tho ships at Apia did their
duty with courage, fidelity and soun judgment,
and that they were so closely and Loyalty sec
oaded by their subordiuates that the hurricane
which caused The destruction OF the sSels and
tho loss Of so many lives was one Of those
ylsitations of providence, in the presence OF
which human Efforts are Of little avail, that he
mea Sures actually taken BY yourself d me
officers under you wert all that wisdom and
prudence could dictate and that it WAS due to
these measures that so large proportion Of
the crews were saved; that the one step which
might have averted the catastrophe, namely, 10
have put to sea before the storm had devel
oped, could only have been justified In view Of
the grave responsibilities resting upon you at
Sam by certainty Of overwlel ming danger to
your fleet, which could not then be fOreseen;
tHat you rightly decided to remain at your post,
aud that the department, even IN the face OF tue
terrible disaster which IL involved, approves abSO-
lutely your decision which has set an example
to the navy that snould never be forgotten. To
convene q court Of Inquiry under these circUnl-
ances would seem to imply doubt on the part
of the department where no doubl exists, and,
instead OF ordering an investig .tion, it tenders
to you, ana through you to the officers aud men
Of your command, its sympathy for the eX-
posure and hardships you have encountered.
aud its profound thanks for the fidelity with
which you performed your duty iu crisis of
appalling danger. Very respectfully,
3. +. Tracy,
Secretary of the Navy.