The Delta independent., 1893-09-13
OUR MEDALS GO ABROAD,
STATE DEPARTMENT REWARDS
FOREIGNERS.
People Who Care for Our Sailors Earn
the Gratitude of Uncle sam-An An
nuai Appropriation Of Five Thousand
Dollars.

a few days ago the most ornate So,
OF tributes ever awarded to tn ose who
have saved the lives of American
sailors in foreign waters. They con.
sisted chiefly of watches and medals
of gold and silver. But there was
one vase among them which was to
go to Abdall Rachman Modlam Sjah.
sultan of Lvigga Rhio. which was a
gorgeous affair. well worthy of the
great nation which presented it.
The state department chooses for
itself the form of reward and the
chief clerk chooses the gifts which
seem to him most appropriate to
the service rendered. There is only
one limitation on their selection. If
they take the form of medals. they
must be struck off at the mint in
Philadelphia There is die at the
Philadelphia mint, designed by Nor
gan. from which all of these medals.
whether gold or silver, are struck.
The engraving appropriate to each
medal is done by Washington en-
| graver.
The design of the medal is very
quiet but very effective. The only
faulty feature of it is the cross-bar.
On this crossbar, which is simple
oblong, is the inscription "E Pluri-
bus Unum." The letters are in re-
lief. Just at the middle of the bar is
small and rathe.' squatty shield
which covers part OF the word ..rlur-
ibus." The medal suspended from
the cross bar on IA swivel is per. ectly
round. The diverse has the head of
Columbia in the center surrounded by
the words Presented by the Presi-
dent of the United States"
These medals are of silver when
they are intended for scainen and of
gold when they are to be sent to
officers, says the Philadelphia Times.
Whether Of gold or silver. they are
encased in morocco and rest on
dainty pads covered with maroon
satin They are kept in steel safe
in the inner Office of the chief clerk.
until the time fixed for shipping
them abroad. In that safe to-day
are several medals awarded by the
state department but never delivered.
Our Representatives abroad were
unable to find those for whom they
"ClV lht'hdeus Nttt VI lltht 1UtuhlN
was designed for one OF those who
rendered services to the survivors OF
the ill-fated Jeannette expedition
1t is not likely that these medals
will be delivered. They will prob
ably be turned back to the mint and
melted over for use in making other
medals, and the state department
will be credited with their value.
The state department has to pay the
treasury department for each OF
these medals. Many of the depart
ments in Washington have running
accounts with each other.
Sometimes the presents sent by the
state department are in the form OF
money. These are to poor seamen to
whom the money would be OF much
greater use than vase or medal
Very often the gifts which are sent
by the department are gold or silver
watches. Sometimes they are very
fine field glasses or marine glasses.
These are not American, but are OF
the best French make.
The award OF these medals and
other tributes OF appreciation is made
on the recommendation Of the chief
OF the consular bureau at the sugges-
tion OF our ministers and consuls
abroad. When n consular report
shows that an American vessel has
been shIpwrccked in foreign waters
and that aid has been rendered to
her sailors by any one, the chief OF
the consular bureau reports The cir
/ cumstance to the chief clerk of the
| department. il he thinks tho case
a worthy one. and the chief clerk
then makes II selection of
medal or watch or whatever seems
to him appropriate. This gift is
carefully packed and sealed at the
! state department and shipped to our
representative at the court OF the
country Of which the beneficiary is a
citizen. Our minister takes the gift
to the foreign office. and there pre-
sents it with much formality and a
little speech. The CHIEF OF the for
cign office receives it and acknowl-
edges it formally, undertaking to
have 1t delivered to the person for
whom 1t Is intended. Sometimes IL
has to be sent to another part OF the
world. Not long ago some American
sailors were rescued from drowning
by the people OF an island over
which the Netherlands had jurisdic.
tion. Ald after our minister to the
Netherlands had presented the gifts
intended for these people they had
to be shipped across the ocean again
before they reached their destina-
tion In every case receipt is
taken. and this goes back through
the same channel unit it reaches the
state department. Either the re-
ceipt or the gift must be returned
| A Hint to Inventors.