Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-25
DIsOBEYED ORDERS BUT ONCE.
An Incident in the Life of a Brave Sea
Captain, Now Dead.

From the San Francisco Examiner
The Pacific mail steamer San Juan,
which arrived from Panama yesterday morn
ing with her colors half -masted brought the
body of her late commander, Capt. James Nc
Craze, whose death at sea on the 18th instant
has already been announced. The dead man 8
widow and children came here from their home
in the interior to receive the remains and ap-
prove the funeral arrangements made by the
Masons, in which order the deceased was
master.
Capt. McCrae was fifty-three wears Of age at
the time of his death, and forty-four of those
years were spent at sea. He was a native OF
Scotland, where he took to ships at the age of
nine, but he had considered himself an Ameri-
can every sense but that OF birth since he was
fifteen. when he made New York his home
port. Lacking early educational advantages,
his progress was slow. but he was a hard stu
dent of books as well navigation, and he
qualified for mates position shortly after at
tanning his majority. He was first officer on
one OF the Savannah steamers out Of New York
twenty-four years ago, when the terrible Morn
ing Star disaster occurred off the southern At
laptic coast.
The Star took fire while unusually crowded
with passengers, among whom were the men,
bers of large opera troupe. Capt McRae
had the deck when the burning steamer was
sighted and his captain was asleep. The boats
could not contain tenth part of the panic
stricken passengers and a hundred or more
were overheard clinging to anything in the
shape of float they could lay their hands on
when the rescue vessel arrived. Young McRae
ran SO close to the Star that the heat could be
felt on his steamer and sot all the crew at work
saving lives
His captain. 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 McC ae
protested vigorously against leaving the I'M
fortunates in the water TO their fate. but his
superior was obdurate and would rot even
allow some of his willing crew to take a boat on
the ground that they would be likely to lose
their own lives. McCrae woman floating
on bit OF plank not far away and before any
one could put out Il hand to stop him he had
stripped off his outer clothing and plunged
overheard. magnificent swimmer. he had
little difficulty in effecting rescue in this
instance, and no sooner was the lady on board
than he started off again.
Twice he repeated his daring feat. saving a
life each time, and then the captain ordered
him to desist. McCrae's reply is still famous.
Captain" he said, II acknowledge your au-
thority. l have been at sea for twenty years
and have never disobeyed an order i would
not now if there were not lives at stake As it
is l shall continue to so as long as 1 have
strength
Again he struck out, and again he helped an
unfortunate to the side of the steamer. The
captain would have steamed away beyond reach
of the pending explosion had he dared, but hi ,
passengers would have taken command if he
had attempted to do so. ard he was forced to
stand by until there was no possibility Of ac-
comprising further work OF rescue
McCrae was the hero of New York when he
reached port, and the enthusiastic passengers
took up columns of space in exploiting his
brave manliness. He won his command on
this. the vessel assigned HIM being the old
Manhattan on the Savannah run. Then he en-
tered the employ of the Alexander line to
Havana. and later served several years OIL the
Garrison Brazil line. He next came to this
coast for the Pacific Mail Company, taking q
run on the south coast branch line between
Champerico and Panama. Five years ago he
was given 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 courage
Gus, faithful to his employers, and ready to
sacrifice his own life for those in his charge al
any time. The Morning Star incident, while
the principal one in his career. is only one Of
many deeds of life saving to his credit.