Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-09-23
ACTIVE AZ ninETy.eesa.
Cast. Martin q Dsirsit ~ oidsst o1leeR I
~ Rsseaso 0asise.

NEW YoRK, Sept. 22.--A little bef0fs
noon little old man with SNOW white beaft
and form bent with year.. yet showing,
~i,hal, much dignity, stepped aboard thu
s~venue cutter Hsdson at the Battery
b,rge Office and sent to the commanding
officer his card.
! When Capt. Charles F Shoemaker Of the
Hudson glanced At the card which VA
handed him he could hardly believe hia
eyes. Springing to his feet he rushed on,
on deck and the next moment vas tendefly
handing into his cabin Capt. Francis Mar
lin. tie Oldest commissioned oficef In the
United States revenue marine, il not the
Oldest commissioned officer in the United
States service.
Capt. Martin 10 in his 94th year. and,
o~ipg TO there being no retired list In the
revenue marine corps, is still on the active
list Ii has been over 25 years, though.
since he performed active duty, and in the
meantime he has been carried along on the
rolls As on "wsiting oriers."
Capt. Marin. at an early period in the
revenue marine service, made judicious in
vesrments in land in the West and 10 today
reputed to possess . large fortune His
home 10 in Detroit, Mich, where he hss
one of the hsndsomest dwellings in the city
Every summer he weighs anchor" a. he
terms it, and stands down" toward New
York for the sake of adjusting his com
passes.
Capt. Shoemaker was cnly = third liea-
tenant in the revenue marine when the
Civil War broke out, and when Secretary
Of the Treasury Dix sen, his famous in
structions to the officers of the revenue cut
1ap.
haul down the American flag, shoot him on
the spot" Shoemaker was one Of the ON
GERS who received the order, and he was
also one of 10 revenue marine officers OF all
who were serving in the Gulf Of Mexico
who remained loyal to the Union.
When Capt. Shoemaker reached the
MOI ,h he Joined the revenue steamer Bibb,
commanded by Capt. Martin. The Bib
ana the Cors in were then stationed in New
York harbor As port guard ships. Each
Graf. carried eight officers and l2o meu.
The Corwin was commanded by Capt
Douglass Ottinger Of the revenue marine
Capt Otiinger is still on the active list. His
age is SO.
Capt. Ma, in and Capt. Shoemaker wen,
over many old scenes in the cabin Of the
Hudson.
"Do you recall, Shoemaker" said Cspt.
Martin, ",he time We stopped Burnsides
fleet here in New York barbor.'
why, of course l do" replied Capt.
Shoemaker. II had charge Of the deck
tnat evening, and your instructions were TO
permit no craft to pass in or out of the
Nalfows. We were lying off the present
quarantine station, with batteries constant.
east loose, and on that night l espied
steamer crawling along, hugging all the
time the Long Island shore. ! hastily sent
word to you by an orderly and then saw the
battery manned. You were on deck in .
twinkle.
".Give her blank shot" l can hear
YOU roar it out even now. We fired, but
no answer.
Fire a shot under her forefoot, sir
you called out. and we sent rine-incl
.hell ripping under the bobstays. Still ne
stop.
Fire into her, Sir :" was the neAt wor
YOU gave me, and we sent mate to tb'
fir-t nine-inch shell crashing through he
walking beam. That brought the fellew
to in quick time"
AVE, and ii was we'll done, Shoemaker.
1t was well done" and Capt. Martin, hi
face aglow with the recital by his forme'
lieutenant, rubbed his hands and nodef
bis head.
The vessel in question, Capt. Shoemake,
afterwar,l explained to a FREUD, was ont
of Burnside's transports which attempted t.
push out to sea after sunset. Fort Lsfay
etse, on hearing the shots, opened fire, and
the bllndering work of volunteer officer
who commanded the transport came near
causing the death of many soldiers on board.