Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1893-04-06
THANKS OF ESs.
An Entertaining History of Bray-
cry on Sea and Land---Old
Time Heroes.
The First Vote of Thanks of This
Kind---Is the Custom Dy-
ing Out?

the business Of voting thanks to pri-
vate individuals. During recent
years very few citizens have been
thus honored by the national legisla-
ture, and in fact ID is now a precedent
with almost the force Of Law, that
such thanks should be given only for
brave deeds in time of war. During
recent years the only nan who has
received the thanks of congress is a
Massachusetts man, Joseph Francis,
who was given this honor because OF
his memorable invention OF a life car,
which has been put 10 such good
usage and has saved SC many lives in
times Of shipwreck.
Most Of the thanks OF congress
have been given for brave deeds done
upon the sea. A vote OF thanks from
congress is the highest reward which
any naval officer ean hope TO receive
for the most eminent service or the
most extraordinary heroism. Since
our independence as a nation the
thanks Of congress have been ten
dered upon 81 occasions. The first
vote of thanks OF this Kind ives
passed in 1900, and then a gold medal
with accompanying praise was given
to Capt. Truxton. This was in con-
sequence of his victory with the
United States Constellation over the
French ship La Vengeance, when
with 80 guns he splendidly oyercame
the "a guns and superior equipment
Of the enemy. At the time this was
passed Ii was stated by congress that
this was given that an example might
be exhibited to captains, officers,
sailors and marines honorable to the
American name and instructive to
its rising navy. At the same time a
midshipman. james Jarvis by name,
who was on Capt. Truxton's ship, was
similarly thanked for his bravery in
meeting certain death rather than
abandon the post where he had been
stationed.
Two years later Lieut.. Sterett and
his whole crew on board the schooner
Enterprise we're thanked for the cap
ture Of a pirate corsair Of IA guns and
50 men. At this time the president
personally presented by vote Of con-
gress a sword to Lieut.. Sterett COM
memoratiye of his action and one
months extra pay was allowed TO all
| officers and seamgn alike who took
part in the conflict. Again, two years
later, Capt. Decatur was presented
with a sword by the president, while
officers and crew Of the United States
ketch Intrepid were given two
months extra pay as a testimony Of
the appreciation felt by congress for
their action in attacking and destroy
ing in the harbor of Tripolia frigate
of A guns. The next to be thanked
was Commodore Preble for his gallant
ry and good conduct in several at
tacks on the town and naval forces Of
Tripoli in the year 1904. A gold
medal with proper inscriptions was
given Commodore Preble by the presi-
dent at a public gathering especially
for this event, and the president
further presented a sword to each
commissioned officer and midshipnlan
who distinguished themselves in these
attacks. The usual months pay was
allowed to the crew, and TO each OF
those Killed In the engagement con-
gress sent a special vote OF thanks to
their relatives, expressing apprecia-
tion Of their services and regret al
their untimely loss.
No more medals were given OF
thanks voted until 1913, when Capt
Hull, OF the Constitution Capt. De
%catur, OF the United States, and Capt
Jones, Of the Wasp, each received
a gold medal with suitable emblem:
and devices and each commissioned
officer of those vessels received a sill
yer medal. The relatives Of TIVE
~lieutenants who were killed at sc;
during this engagement were ais
!, presented with silver medals, ant
Lieut.. Elliott was given an elegan
sword for his bravery and gallantr.
in boarding and capturing two Brit
ish briggs while anchored undes tn
; protection of Fort Erie. Capt. Balm
bridge, OF the Constitution, also re
/, ceived a gold medal, while to tn
! family Of Capt. La Srence, OF tn
! Hornet, was given S25, 900 as priz
! money, together with thanks by lei
e ter for the destruction Of the BIRTHS
brig Peacock.
= This was the time when naval deed
fourished in our history, and man
d officers during the next few years n
ceived congressional thanks an
IS proper gifts. Lieut.. Burroughs an
i Lieut.. Mccall of the Enterprise wei
y given medals In 1914, and the pres
dent was requested to communicat
II with the nearest male relative (