Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-05-03
DIED DOING THEIR DUTY
Sec. Tracey Eulogizes the Sailors Who
Met Death at Samoa.
A High Tribute is Paid to the Daunt-
less Courage of the Men.
Families of the Departed Will be
Taken Care of.

WASHINGTON, April 27.-Secretary Tracy
today addressed a letter to Rsar Admiral
Kimberly acknowledging the receipts of
reports trom the admiral and other Off
Gers narratlng the circumstances of the
disaster at Samoa. The secretary adds
[ need not say to you that this event hs-
cau-ed the department profound sorrow
which, as the appalling extent and char
acter OF the catastrophe became known
was reflected throug hOUt the country.
Even If our navy were possessed of au
ads quate humber of ships to supply the
necessities OF the service, the loss OF
;hree at one blow would be a seriou-
dImunltion OF the available cruising
foroe. To navy passing as is that of
TIE United States, through the stage of
transition when most OF its previously
existing vessels have disappeared and its
new feet ls only on the threshold of
existence, the blow comes with Grip
ping force.
"The department learns with the deep
est pain that the wreck resulted in the
death of four officers and forty seven men.
However severely the destruction cf yes
sells may be felt, the loss of so many val
uaole lives is a far greater and
more irrsparabie misfortune. Cap
tain Schoonmaker died as he
had lived, at the post of duty, a gallant
and generous officer and devoted servant
of his country to the last. The hurricane
at Samoa has brought affiiction to many
American households which wilt receive
the deepest sy N pathy of the government.
yet it cannot be said that those who died
thus manfully facing danger in the exc.
cution of their duty, have died in vain"
After reviewing at some leagth the de
tails of the reports and noting with sat
1sfactior the commentator OF
various officers, the secretary
continues: "I5 apphars that the conduct of
those under your command evinced
throughout that courage, resolution and
fortitude which the United States has
learned always to expect from officers and
seamen of Its navy. When her Britain
mac maiesty's Calliope, fortunate in
possion OF more powerful engines sue
ceeded in her gallant effort to pass the
Trenton and steam out of the harbor
against the hurricane, ringing cheers
from the American flagship, as her crew
was standing In the face of death, showed
a spirit alike generous aad dauntless.
During the whole of the Saturday when
the Trenton was helplessly dragging her
anchors, on the verge OF destruction, the
officers preserved their composed and
heroic bearing, and directed her move
ments with cunsummate skill. At the
close of the day when she was brought
up alongside of tho Nandalia, her officers
and men, not sithstanding the suffering
through which they had passed and by
which they were still surrounded,
thought only of doing their utmost 10
assist their comrades on the Vandalia
whose distress was greater than their
own, while under the inspiration of the
sentiment which has wakened response
in every American heart, the band of the
flagship, to encourage those who, dazed
with fatigue and weakened by
exposure, were still clinging to the
rigging, played the national anthem.
1nreply to your request and that of
Capt. Farquhar for a court of inquiry.
the department has to say that it deems
such court unnecessary. 1t Is satisfied
that the officers in command at Apia did
their duty with courage, fidelity and
sound judgment, and that they were
zealoUsIy aud loyalr seconded by
their subordinates; that the hurricane
shich caused the destruction of the ve5
sells and the loss of so many lives, was
one of those visitations OF Providence, in
the presence of which human efforts are
of little avail; that the measures actually
taken by yourself and the Officers under
you, we're 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, to have put to sea before the
storm had developed, could have been
justified in view of the great responsible
ity resting upon you at Samoa, by the
certainty of overwhelming the danger to
your fleet which could not then be fore
seen; that you rightly decided 30 remain
at your post aud that the department,
even In the face of the terrible disaster
which it involved approves absolutely
your decision, which has set an example
to the navy that should never be forgot
ten. To cor vene court of inquiry
under these circumstances. would seem
to imply doubt on the part of the depart
ment, where no doubt exist; and
instead Of ordering an investig CATION
tenders to you, and through you, TO the
officers and men of your command, is
sympathy for the exposures and hard.
ships you have encountered, ard it's pro
found thanks for the fidelity with which
you performed your duty in the crisis of
appalling danger.
Very respectfully,
B. F. TRACEY, sec'y navy.
ST. LOUIS, April 26.-The Republics
Wichita correspondent telegraphs to that
paper as follows: 0at of the many wild
ruuors with uhieh the hnrda, ia full