New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-28
NO COURT OF INQUIRY NECESSARY.
SECRETARY TRACY APPROVES THE HANDLING
OF THE AMERICAN FLEET AT SAMOA


OF THE AMERICAN FLEET AT SAMOA
Washington, AphI a7.-Srcretary Tracy to-day ad-
dressed The following letter 10 Kcar-Admiral KIM
berry, commanding the United states Naval forces On
tho Pacific station. AT Apa, samoa:
Sir: The Department IS In receipt of your cable
dispatch Of March 30 nom Auckland and also Of
your letter Of March -. from samoa, with accom-
panylns reports from Captain Earquhar, Commander
Mulldn and Lieutenant Carin, narrans the ciIcum-
stances ~ the ONcrw hclnIns disaster which has 10
Gently belalen your squadron In Apia liarbor.
need not say 10 you thar this event has caused
the Dcpai tncnt profound soww, which. the ap-
palling extent and character OF the catastrophe be-
came known, was reflected thriaghout the country.
Even II the Navy were posses ell of adequate num-
be OF ships to supply the necessities Of tho service.
IN" loss of three at one blow would be a serious
diminuiion of the available cruising force. To =
navy passing. that of the United States. through
a stage of transition. when most of Its previously
listing vessels have disappeared. and It's fleet IL
only on the threshold Of existence, the blow comes
samoa ha, brought aniicon many Amer4c an house
holds, which VIII receive the deepest sympathy Of
who died thus manfily, facing danger In the execu-
ton of their duty, have died I'm vain.
From your own report and from other accounts
that have reached the Department, appears tho
conduct Of those under your command cvinccd through
out chat courage resolution and forludc which tho
United states has learned to expect from the officers
and seamcn Of lis navy. When Her Britannia Mai.
c,iy', ship Callope. fortunate IN the possession of
pass the Trenton and steam out Of the habor against
the hurricane The ringing cheer from the American flag.
hip. her crow were standing I'm the face OF DEAN.
showed n spirit alike generous and dalntless. .
In reply to your request and that Of Captain Far
quhar for court Of inquiry. the Department has
to say that fl deems such court unnecessary. 10
Is satisfied that the officers I'm command Of the ships
at Apq did their duty with courage fidelity and
sound Judgment and that thcv wcre zealousy and
ovay seconded by their suhorlinates that the hurr
cane which caused the dcsrc tion OF tho vessels and
the loss of many lives OF those visitations
Of Providence I'm the presence of which human efforts
Of little avail: that tho measures arf,iaiiy faken
by Yourself and the officers under were all theS
wisdom and prudence could dictate tcs, u. =
due TO these measures thaf so large an l.IS'on =,
have avered the catastrophe. namely, to have put
~ Soa before tho hal developed. could only
have been justified I'm view Of the reSpOnsbin.
ties resting upon you At Samoa. by the certainty Of
overwhelming danger tn your fcef. which could non
then be that rightly decided 10 remain at
your post and that he Department. even In the face
Of tho terrible disaster which II involves. approves al
snufPlv your decision. which has set an example To
the Navy that should he forgotten. To convene
court ~ inquiry under these circumstances would
Scrm imrlv doubt the part Of the Department
whore no doubt exists and instead Of ordering an In
vpStgatlon. II irrdcrs 10 you. and through you m
the officers and Of vonr command. It's sympathv
for the rypoSures and harishps you have encountered
and IT. profound thanks for the fidelity with which
YOU performed your duty in crisis ~ snnang dan
ger Worry respectfully p. =. TRACY.
Secretary OF the Navy.