The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-03-05

A simple marble cross, erected by the
officers and crew Of the United States
cruiser Baltimore, marks the spot where
Boatswain Charles w. Riggin and Sea-
man William Turnbull sleep the sleep
Of death.
In my whole career as q salNOr can
not recall to memory a story 50 dramatic
and so sad, fate so cruel as that Of
those two men. To be sure, the yoca-
ton of sailor is a glorious one, and
from the times of the old Phenicians
down to the present day Jack has been
the most constant messenger of civiliza-
ton. On nearly every page of history
we find written, i'll golden letters, deeds
OF gallantry and devotion which, for
their simple, stole heroisn, touch the
hearts of men. And among the sailors
of the world the American stands near
the top.
The Riggin and Turnbull episode goes
to prove this. Cases in which the com
mander Of a vessel pays such touching
tribute to one of his crew as Captain
Schley has paid in his letter to the
brother of rhs murdered boatswain's
mate, living at Philadelphia, are very
rare IN the naval annals of any nation.
1t Is with feelings of the greatest sor-
row." writes the gallant commander
from Valparaiso, that | have to COM
municate to you the death of your
brother, Charles w. Riggin, while on his
liberty at this place. His tragic death
at the hands of a mob embittered
against all Americans has left a wound
in the hearts of his shipmates that may
not soon heal, and the time viii soon
come when it viii be avenged by all who
remember his worth and his genial good
manners. | feel more than ordinary
sorrow as the commanding officer in
being the messenger Of such sad in
telligence to you, but | can assure you
that mis- name and his worth will not be
forgotten so long as honor her record
keeps.
After such a eulogy of the dead man
ii Is hardly necessary to add another
word of praise.
Riggin evidently was a sailor at heart.
He loved the sea above everything. Born
on the shores of the Atlantic, he had
heard the mysterious voices of the deep
call to him from his earliest youth He
was filed with an indefnabia longing to
roam the ocean beneath the shelter of
the stars and stripes. From the day he
entered the navy to the day Gillian
mob robbed him of his life he did his
duty. All his actions show that his
mind was animated with that sturdy de-
termination TO excel which is one of the
most glorious and characteristic quail
ties Of the American tar Who can ever
tell what dreams of a great future lay in
his sturdy heart and what manly ambi-
tons are buried in the grave where he
now rests2 On his breast he wore the
medal for Fidelity, Zeal and Obe-
dience." Nay, more; with these quail
ties he even tried to inspire all around
him, and especially his youthful nephew.
Always after his return from distant
shores he took the child upon his lap
and told him tales of the ocean and the
foreign countries he had visited and the
strange peoples he had met, and urged
him to revere and be loyal to the flag of
the great and reunited republic.
Ever since the Declaration of hide
pendence there is not single incident
on record OF which l am aware when
the American Jack Tar has failed to do
his duty. Who can forget Captain