Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-11-12
DlsoeEYEo ORDERS BUT ONCE.


Now Dead.
Tho Pacific mail steamer San Juan,
which arrived at San francisco recently,
FROM Panama with her colorH half
mastcd, brought the body Of her late
commander, Capt James McCrao, who
died mt sen,
Cuptaiu McCrao was 90 years Of age
nt the time Of bis death, and forty-four
Of those years were spent Mt sea. lie
was n native of Scotland whore he took
20 ships at the age Of 81 but he had 0nn-
sidered himself an American in every
sense but that Of birth since he was Is,
when he mnde New York his home port
Lacking cnrly educational advantages,
his progress was slow, but he was a
hard student Of books as well uB nuviga.
ton, aud he qualified for mates posi-
ton shortly after obtaining bis aiority.
lie Was lrst oihcor on one Of the Swan
nah steamers out OF New York twenty
four years ngo, when tho terrible Morn
ing Star disaster occurred on the south
ern Atlantic coast
The Star took fre while unusually
crowded with passengers, among whom
were the moinberg " large opera
troupe Captain McCrne had die deck
when the burning steamer was sighted,
and its captain was asleep. The boats
could not contain a tenth part OF the
pnnic-strickcn passengers aud 100 or
more were overheard clinging to any
thing In the shape of a toAt they could
lay thor hands ON whom the rescue yes
sci arrived, Young McCrac run so close
To the Star that the heat could be felt
on his steamer aud set all the crew nt
work saving lives.
His captain, n highly nervous, crcitn-
bic man, came on deck In the midst Of
the heroic efforts aud ordered tho steam
er pulled away from the burning craft,
Tor fear that the boilers would oyplode
and Nn him NuuHuHaa
tested vigorously against leaving the I'M
tortunntca In the water to their fate
but his superior was Obdurato and would
not even allow some Of his willing crow
~ take boat. on the ground that thoy
would be likely to lose their own lives
Met. rnc saw o woman floating on a bit
OF plank not Tar uWuy aud before any
one could put out a hand 70 stop him he
hnd stripped on his outer clothing aud
plunged overheard. A magnificent sviin.
mer, he had little difficulty Ia efrecting
rescue In this instance. and no sooner
was the lady on board than he started
OF again,
Twice he repeated his daring feat, saw
ing life each time, and then tlle cou-
tain ordered him to desist McCrne's
reply is stil famous
Captain he said, II acknowledge
your authority / have been at sea for
twenty years and have never disobcyed
an order | would not now II there
were not lives at stake As II is shall
continue to 20 as long as have
Again he struck ont and again he helped
an unfortunate 20 the side or the stpam-
or The captain would have Steamed
away beyond reach OF the pending OK.
posion Ind he dared, hut his passengers
would have taken command II he had
attempted TO do SO, and he was forced 10
stand 10y until there was no pogsibillty
OF accomplishing further work Of resouc.
McCrae was the hero Of New York
WHEN he reached port, and the enthugi-
lie passengers took up columns of apace
In exploiting his brave mnnliness lie
won his command on this, the vessel nv
signed him being the old Manhattan ON
the savannah run, Then he entered the
employ of the Alexander line TO Hnyaun.
md later served several years on tho
Brazil line lilo next came to
this coast for the Pacific mail COMPANY.
taking run on the south coast branch
line between Champericu aud Pangma
Five years ngo he was given a through
steamer, There are no disasters TO blot
Captain McCrae's record as u seamnp.
and he was n true type Of the FIRST class
OF American sailor daring and courn-
geous. faithful to his employers and
ready To- sacrifice his own life for those
IN his charge at any time. The Morn
iing. Star incident. while the principal one
IN his career Is only one Of many deeds
q life saving TO his credit Cincinnati
Commercial,