The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-27
HELPED TAKE CALIFORNIA.
Hill says He IL the Last or tho Expedition
and Tells Hia Story.

and Tells HIs story.
From all l have been able to learn" said
William Hill OF Honesdale, Pa, II am the sole
survivor OF the United States naval force that
took possession Of California and held II in tho
interest Of our Government in 1916. / had run
away from my homo in Honesdale in ls43. and
shipped on the whaling vessel Marcia from New
Bedford for a three years cruise In the Indian
Ocean. We got a full cargo OF oil in two years.
and sailed homeward. We touched at Homo
lulu, and there l, in company with others OF the
crow. quit the ship. because the Captain In
sisted on making the long voyage homo with
out fresh meat on board. The United States
Consul at Honolulu took our part in the conten-
ton. and the Marcia sailed without US. / ship
ped at Honolulu on the merchant vessel Ajax,
and sailed to India and back TO Honolulu.
Zone day a number of US sailors were ashore.
We were looking seaward over the coral reef
toward Diamond Head and sighted a United
States man-of-war rounding the Head. We had
heard that war had broken out between our
country and Mexico. and we were all wild to
have some kind OF a hand in 1t. The man-of.war
cast anchor outside the reef, and We gave her
three hearty cheers. She proved to be the Cay
enne, commanded by Capt. Mervine. A boat
came ashore from the vessel In charge OF an
officer. who was looking for men TO enter the
United States naval service for three years or
during the war. We were getting from SIS to
500 a month in the merchant service, but
wages were no object when war was concerned.
We were eager to enlist, and when the boat
pulled OFF shore to return 10 the vessel I and
three others jumped in and were hurried of
with them. We signed the enlistment papers on
board ship. Capt. Mervine lost no time in sail.
ing. ] was by far the youngest person in the
crew. being not quito 20 years old.
W sailed straight for Monterey and arrived
in the harbor on July 8. 1916. The frigate
Savannah. commanded by Commodore Sloat,
and the sloop-of-war Levant were there. The
Commodore was waiting for a larger force. 1t
did not come. and the next day We went ashore
and hoisted the American flag over Monterey.
putting out Fremont and his troops. The proc
lamation OF possession was read in English and
Spanish. That's the way we took California for
the United States, and we did not take 1t any
too soon. II we had been forty.eight hours later
the United States would have had TO fight Eng.
land or give up all claim to California, for
while the excitement over the occupying
OF Monterey by our forces was at
it height, on July 8. a British line of. battle ship
appeared in the offing. She vas a formidable
looking vessel. l tell you She carried moro
guns than our three ships combined. Neverthe-
less. our decks were cleared for action in short
order. Every man was at his post. and every
gun ready 10 be fired at the word. The great
British ship sailed straight for the harbor. but
as she entered IL she tackled, and her band struck
responded with God Save the Queen The
Brit, Ssh vessel was under the command Of Com
motore He entered a boat and was
rowed TO the savannah. where he paid his re-
spects to Commodore SloAt,
go. see the American flag is flying on shore
said he. II were not, should Immediately
nave rals'a the brltish nag and taken posses
sion of California in the name of her Majesty
Tho people of California wanted English pro-
anffn rat than nnrG and = nnr L. AAk
hadn't got there first and lost no time. the his.
tory OF those times would read a little differ
Two or three days after this episode Commo-
dore Stockton joined our Meet with the frigate
to the Congress. and remained in service on her
unit the war was over, helping protect the Cali
tS% a, tiesh fos' bovef red a tnrH" Inn, Inc rsas war as s waIl sa
the Mexican coast, for some reason or other. hut
thy never came AS near taking n hand in I, o
game as SEYMOUR did al Monterey. At the
close OF the war the Congress WAS at San Diego.
and we gave a. grand jubilee ball aboard her.
tons ton "S en% 'sS o oST ship GilH lo oHf III" fine or M AZ ma ia.
vited III" officers and crew OF the British War
friendly Cailtornians, ran, hero4, and their wives
and daughters I" JON in the festivities. and they
and no one was able To co Il thing all next day.
I've danced with woLlel in ali parts OF tho
world, bur ] mover saw any who were a match
for these native California women who danced
abo 'rt the United states flagship Congress that
soon aiterward the Congress was ortcred to
San Francisco and placed under the command OF
Can't; Avealet. the Independence being made the
five men rs guard. returned 10 tho East over
land, and Capt. Avealet had orders to sail
to Norfolk, Va, around Cape Horn. Willie
going round the Horn We were struck one night
by a tremendous typhoon. The Congress WAS
thrown on her beam ends and all hands were
called to help save snip. The frigate drifted to
lee at the rate OF sixteen knots an hour.
al the height Of the eIri9icstorm we sighted
u ship to wlndward. her rigging tiled with men
evidently CRYING for help. but We could give
tn. m no aid. ! never knew what ship IL Was.
but she went down. with all on board. The
Congress weathcrot tho storm. and we arrived
Of Norfolk safe and sound and were disch arged.
l am sure ! am tho last one OF that crew."