The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-16

scuppers ran down the ships side like
water. Now and then an unhappy wretch
with burning death behind and waterv
grave in front of him, plunged into the
angry sea TO be seen no more.
Jerome acted on this occasion with that
promptitude which brave men display in
great crisis. He jumped from his boat into
the water swimming for the ship. Up the
bows of the burning vessel he climbed,
which was as yet the only small portion of
the Ocean Monarch that was not on fire.
His action emboldened the crews of the
boats. They approached the ship, and
Jerome tied each passenger and lowered
been hastily rugged between the Alfonso
and the doomed vessel. 1t was solely due
to his heroic conduct that these passengers
were saved. His arms and hands were
badly burned while he was at work lower
ing the terror stricken emigrants to the
boats.
Prince de Joinville, the son of King
Phillip of France, requested that Frederick
Jerome be sent on board the Alfonso. The
hero was given an ovation by this scion OF
the house of Orleans and the nobility
present A purse of $500 was presented
him for his daring act.
This humble but heroic bluejacket be-
came the hero of the day. The Queen of
England sent him so guineas from her prl-
Queens private secretary, sent highly
complimentary letter with the money.
Thomas Barry Horstfal, the Mayor of
Liverpool, called special meeting of the
Common Council. The freedom of the
city was rendered to Mr.. Jerome, together
with gold medal and the thanks of the
Common Council
The city of New York, by a unanimous
vote of the Common Council, voted him
the freedom of the city and a highly
chased gold snuffbox in commemoration
of his bravery during the burning of the
Ocean Monarch. The Boston Humane So
ciety presented him with beautiful gold
medal bearing the following inscription:
Humane Society of Boston to Frederick
Jerome, mariner ship New World, who by
his gallant. conduct was instrumental In
rescuing the crew and passengers of the
ship Ocean Monarch, burned at sea August
"a, 184S."
Jerome reached California on July 6,
1S49, on the Tarolinto. Among the pas
sengers were w. S. O'Brien, William Cod
dington, J. C. Tucker, Daniel S. Norcross
with o. Brien after his arrival, going with
him in search of gold.
During the war Jerome was taken pris-
oner by the Confederate priyateer Florida.
Jerome got up plot to take the Florida
one evening, but it fell through because a
man who had been taken into Jerome's
confidence revealed the secret. For this
attempt Jerome was, as ringleader, put
in double irons and dashed to gun. The
captain of the priyateer put him on board
the first ship that he overlook.
Mr.. Jerome was born at Southsea, Eng
land, in 1923. He came to the United
States when he was small boy. The sea
has always been his employment. For
years he was a boatman on the bay OF San
Francisco. Mr.. Jerome has amassed quite
fortune. He is now enjoying a we'll
deserved rest. The Pioneer. Society of Cali
fornia elected him an honorary member.
Mr.. and Mrs. Jerome, while on visit to
England last year, were dined by the
yacht Osborne, and the Queen, through
Sir Henry Ponsonby, requested their pres
ence at Osborne Castle.