The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-16
A ZERO OF THR SEAS.

Capt. James McCrae, Formerly of Sa-
vannah, Dies on His Ship in the Pacific.
Old steamboat men remember Capt
James McCrae, who, years ago. COM
manded the Manhattan, between Savan-
nah and New York. He was known for
his bravery and cColness in critical times,
when cool heads and quick decision are de-
mAnded. He was lost sight of years ago.
and half a dozon old timers, who were on
the river in Capt. McCrae's day, had TO be
reminded Of him before they recalled the
old captain.
Capt. McCrae recently died on
the steamer San Juan which he commanded
between Panama and San Francisco.
Capt. MoCras was So years Of age at the
time of his death. aud forty-four Of those
years were spent at sea. he was anattve Of
Scotland, where he took to ships at the age
| OF 8, but he had considered himself an
American in every sense but that Of birth
since he was Is, when he made New York
| his home port Lacking early educational
| advantages, his progress was slow, but he
was a hard student Of books as we'll as navi-
CATION, and he qualified for a mates posi-
| ton shortly after attaining his majority.
He was frat officer on one of the Savannah
| steamers out of New York twenty-four
| years ago, when the terrible Morning Star
disaster occurred off the Southern Atlantic
| coast.
The Star took fire while unusually
crowded with passengers, among whom
were the members Of a large opera troupe.
Capt. McCrae had the deck when the burn
| ing steamer was sighted, and his captain
was asleep. The boats could not contain a
| tenth part of the panic-stricken passengers,
and a hundred or more were overheard
clinging to anything in the shape Of a float
| they could lay their hands on when the
rescue vessel arrived. Young McCrae ran
so close TO the Star that the heat could be
felt on his steamer, and set all the crew at
| work saving lives.
His captain, a highly nervous, excitable
man, came on deck in the midst OF the
| heroic efforts and ordered the steamer
pulled away from the burning craft for fear
that the boilers would explode and do him
some damage. McCrae protested vigorously
against leaving the unfortunates in the
water to their fate, but his superior was OBJ
durate and would not even allow some of
| his willing crew TO take boat on tho
| ground that they would be likely TO lose
| their own lives. McCrae saw woman float
ing on bit Of plank not far away, and be-
fore any one could put out hand Co stop
him he had stripped off his outer clothing
and plunged overheard. A magnificent
swimmer, he had little difficulty in effect
ing a rescue In this instance, and no sooner
| was the lady on board than he started of
| again.
Twice he repeated his daring feat, saving
a life each time. and then the captain or
dered him TO desist. McCrae's reply is still
| famous.
Captain" he said, ~ acknowledge your
authority. l have been at sea for twenty
years and have never disobeyed an order. |
would not now if there were not lives at
stake. AS it is, shall continue to 60 as
long as l have strength"
Again he struck out, and again he helped
an unfortunate to the side of the steamer
The captain would have steamed away be-
you'd reach Of the pending explosion had he
dared, but his passengers would have taken
| command if he had attempted to do so, and
| he was forced to stand by until there was
no possibility OF accomplishing further work
| of rescue.
McCrae was the hero of New York when
he reached port and the enthusiastic pas
| sengers took up columns of space in exploit
Tag his brave maDliness. He won his COM
mand on this, the vessel assigned him, being
the old Manhattan on the Savannah run.
| Then he entered the employ of the Alex
auder line to Havana, and later served sew
eral years on the Garrison Brazil line. He
next came to this coast for the Pacific Mail
Company, taking a run on the south coast
branch line between Champerico and
| Panama. Five years ago he was given a
through steamer. There are no disasters to
blot Capt. McCrae's record as a seaman,
and he was a true type of the first class of
American sailor, daring and courageous,
faithful to his employees. and ready TO
at any time. The Morning Star incident,
while the principal one in his career, is only
one OF the many deeds Of life saving to his
| credit