St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-01-02
HOMAGE OF HEROES.
Beautiful Memorial Vase Pre-
Sented to the Widow Of
Samuel S. Cox
By a Committee From the
United States Life-Saving
Service.
Eloquent Tribute Of Love and
Respect From Senator
Frye, Of Maine.
The Gift Comes From Thou
sands of Brave Men With
Hearts Of Oak.

that service The vase is of solid Ster-
ling silver and is over two feet in
height. TWAS purchased by voluntary
subscriptions from among the members
of the lifesaving service. 1t was de-
signed and made by Gorham, of New
York. 1t is valued at nearly $4,000. 1t
is handsomely chased with a striking
medallion of the late Mr.. Cox, en-
blems of the service. q view
illustrative of crew at work
aiding vessel in distress.
marine symbols. an appropriate presen-
tation inscription, with a quotation from
Mr.. CoX's memorable speech on The
Life-Saving Service" delivered III the
house of representatives in 1878, in
which speech he so prophetically de-
scribed the wreck of L'Amerique and
the rescue of its passengers and crew.
While the presentation of this memo
rial vase was intended 10 be more or less
informal, there was quite noted gath
ering at the residence of Mrs. Cox, 140S
New Hampshire avenue northwest,
Washington, d. c. Among those pres
ent were Hon. 5. |. Kimball, general
superintendent of the life-saving serv-
ice (who made the presentation
address,, with the committee
from the life-saving service; Hon.
William P. Frye. U. s. S., chairman of
and representing the committee on COM
merce of the senate: Senators Voorhees,
and Dolph: ex-senator COnger, Of
julia COX-McKelden, nephew and niece
of the late distinguished statesman
Capt. Dobbins. U. S. K. NJ; Lieut..
Worth G. Ross, U. S. h. N; Commo-
dore HoratiO Bridges, U. S. n, and
wife; Hon. Robert p. Porter, superin-
tendent of canals, and wife: Capt. G. A.
Abbey. superintendent life-saving serv-
ice. New York city; Hon. Thomas T.
Wilson, Washington. ID. c.; ex-Mayor
NJ. q. Emery, of Washington, ID.
G., wife and daughter; n. j.
Kearney, inspector life-saving serv-
ice. New York: Mrs. Col. E. A.
Green. of Ohio. niece of Mrs. Cox; Mrs.
Z. II. Painter. cousin of Mrs. Cox; Hon.
ii. l.. Dawes, United States senate; Mrs.
Carrie Sexton, of New York city, cousin
of Mrs. Cox; Rev. w. n. Mllburn. chap
lain house of representatives. and daugh-
ter; Felix Brannigan, assistant attorney
department of justice; Hon. Albert E
Paine, wife and daughter; Mr.. Nor
lghlan, secretary Turkish legation; Hon.
S. X. Bond and wife, Mr.. Kimball Jr.
and wife. Mrs. S. l. Kimball, Mrs. SEN
ator Frye, Mr.. and Mrs. }. a. Harden
bergh, Of New York, brother-in-law and
sister of Mrs. Cox; ii. W. Spofford,
Washington, ID. c.; Mrs. o. ID. Conger
and John ID. O'COnnOr, who was the late
MIR. CoX's private secretary.
In presenting the vase Mr.. kimball
said:
The Address.
''Mrs. Cox: These gentlemen and ]
have berh selected as a committee to
present to you in behalf of that body of
men who constitute the organization
known as the life-saving service this
memorial vase. 1t is designed to com
memorate the regard in which your late
distinguished husband was held by all
Its members, from those who, in COM
parative security of life and limb, eXer-
ciSed the functions and bear the reSpon-
sibilitleS of official direction, up to the
gallant Steam-warriOrS, who perform
the nobler and more heroic work of bat
Ting with the sea for the lives of i'm
perllled mariners.
"When we remember Mr.. Cox as a
statesman of such patriotism and abili-
ty that the impress of his ideas of gov
uteS passed by almost every session of
congress during the twenty-four years
of his service in that body. as scholar
who had cleaned rich haryests from ev-
cry field of learning, and CLEANED an in
eXhauStlDle store Of knowledge from
which he could draw at pleasure; as an
orator, whose elOQuence everywhere
commanded attention and always de-
lighted and charmed his auditors: as
an author whose works enriched and
ennobled the literature of his times; as
a public servant of much purity and rec
titude that the shadow Of suspicion
never fell upon him during the extended
term of his official career, we only re-
cogniZe the characteristics and qualities
that are everywhere acknowledged. and
that have been widely and Justly eX--
tolled.
"The action we take today has a
deeper Significance than the tributes
with which others Of his cOuntrymen
have so generally and sincerely honored
his memory. Between HIM and us there
existed a relation which we all felt to be
of personal nature, infinitely closer
than that of mere fellow citizenship.
Bonds scarcely less strong than
those OF intimate kinship united US.
/ or years we labored and struggled to-
u
mon purpose. He lived to see the con-
SUMMATION of that purpose fulfill the
desire of his heart in the establishment
upon a solid foundation of the present
1Ife-Saylng system. ''It seems proper
that on this occasion l should call to
mind some of the prominent services he
rendered in the creation and develop
ment of that system. The system was
initiated IN 1871, hut the way was pre-
pared iii 1870, when an amendment to
an appropriation bill to provide
of surfmen at the stations on
months. having been defeated, Mr.. Cox.
after a sharp and persistent contest,
secured the passage of substitute au-
thoriZIDg their employment at every al
ternate station. This was probably the
first time his attention had been at
tracted to the idea of rescung the shin
wrecked by organized effort from the
shore, and from that hour he became its
devoted adherent and champion.
THE result that followed was so i'm
mediate and striking as to arrest gen.
eral attention. At the close of the sea-
son it was found that not life had been
lost within the field Of this guardian
ship As one writing upon the subject
said: Fatal disasters, hitherto inces-
SAINT upon these perilous shores, appear
to have suddenly ceased. as when a
plank sawed through drops to the
ground Other dangerous portions of
the Seaboard began TO call for protec-
ton. Cape Cod and Rhode Island de-
manded it, and stations upon these
coasts being authorized, were built and
put in operation by the winter of
1872. Additional improvements in
equipment were made, and compre-
hensive code of regulations was issued
for the government of the service. The
result at the close of this season was as
marked and triumphant as that of its
predecessors. But a single person per-
ished by shipwreck within the province
of the establishment. Such was the out
come of Mr.. CoX's initial action The
question that had been raised of the adj
vantage of the scheme of manning the
stations with crews was settled, and the
problem of its practlca5ility solved. The