The record-union., 1892-02-05
MATE RIGGIN'S RECORD.
He Wore a Medal for Fidelity
Zeal and Obedience. +"
Career of One of the Victims of the
Chilean Crlme-Says Captain Schley:
ssHis Name and Fame VIII Not Be
Forgotten

Few knew him except his brother and
his sisters, yet Charles w. Riggin, one Of
the victims of the Chilean crime, muir
dered in the streets of Valparaiso while
he wore the navy blue of the United
States, was Philadelphia born. His home
was here, says the Inquirer, and the child
he loved is here. The dispatches and
papers tell Of him as the boatswain's
mate, not as the sailor prentice boy who,
sixteen to the day, walked aboard the
training-ship Portsmouth at League
Island February 10th, twelve years ago.
His brother says he was handsome lad.
He did his best to get ahead in the two
years he was learning to be man-of-
wars man. His medal of merit later on
shows that he had Fidelity, Zeal and
Obedience for his motto. He won it
when he was full seaman on the Ten
nessee She was the flagship of the North
Atlantic Squadron then, and he gave his
services the full cruise-three years. He
liked the water and the flag he sailed
under so well that immediate re-enlist-
ment came to him naturally.
AS of the old vessel he was sent to the
torpedo station in Newport harbor for adj
vanced instruction. Successful again, he
was pushed on TO the gunnery school at
Washington, and there he gained the
skill to make the model that his brother
prizes, miniature of the six-inch rifle,
with its shining barrel, on land car
riage instead of the sea rest.
From the Government shops he Joined
the Galena, and when he returned again
it was on Thanksgiving Eve, in 1889, and
for the last time. He lived during the
short shore spell-telling his sea yarns to
the curly-haired nephew who bore his
nd Nsyhn ha hiS
brother, John l. Riggin, OF the gas works,
and the latter'S wife, at their cheerful
home, 29l4 Master street.
He did not remain long, though there
were also the ties of sisters to keep him
from the sea. The old longing brought
him to the Baltimore for his last voyage.
lie was with her nearly two years until,
stabbed in the back by the mob, shot in
the throat by the police, he gave up his
life to the hatred OF the enemies of his
country.
His brother told OF his career last night.
lie had received, among other papers for,
warded, a letter from the commander Of
the ship. 1t is worth reproducing because
OF the spirit it breathes.
sit is with feelings of the greatest sor-
row." writes Captain w. s. Schley, that
L have to communicate TO you the death
Ofyour brother, Boatswain's Mate Charles
w. Riggin, while on his liberty at this
mob embittered against all Americans
has left wound in the hearts of his ship
mates that may not soon heal, and the
time will soon come when it will be
avenged by all who remember his worth
and his genial good manners. lfeel more
than ordinary sorrow as the command
ing officer in being the messenger Of such
sad intelligence TO you, but | can assure
you that his name and his worth will not
be forgotten as long as honor her records
keep
There is another letter penned by the
boatswain's mate himself during the heat
of the revolution against Balmaceda. 1t
also indicates what Americans have SUI
tered in Chile.
Il think it might interest you," he
says, Ito hear something of the war here.
valparaiso was captured on the 2Sth by
the rebels after terrible fight. But il
would never have been taken, only that
the Government troops deserted by the
wholesale to the other side. The feeling
against the Government is intense. We
are the only nation standing by them.
The harbor is full of foreign men-of-war
and all the ships are loaded with refugees.
We are crowded. 1t was a great sight to
was simply awful. Every one captured
is killed. They don't know what parol-
ing prisoner is down here.
Talk about the feeling against us! All
the other warships get cheered, but we
are Missed and cursed. But we can stand
it. We have got 100 men ashore protect
ing the American Consulate, and if they
harm hair Of any of their heads there
will be trouble. We know what it is to
have good fighting ship. They call us
the White Devil and well they may"
Higgins brother and sisters, Mrs. Mary
Zimmerman and Mrs. Ellen Matthews,
have administered upon the affairs OF
their dead relative, and have, at the re-
quest of the Navy Department, for
warded to Washington his discharge
papers of former cruisers and other docu-
ments.
The medal which he earned on the
Tennessee bears on its face the inscrip-
ton: &c. s. c., No. 5,79l. Charles w.
Riggin, u. S. S. Tennessee, Feb. 10,
1885," surrounded with the words, "Fi-
deity, Zeal, Obedience" On the reverse
Is the figure of the old ship Constitution,
inclosed in a circle of chain and anchor.
The body of the boatSwain's mate lies
with that of William Turnbull, his fellow
victim, in the British cemetery at Val
paraiso. a monument has been placed
over their grave by the officers and men
of the Baltimore.