The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1898-10-26
PRIZE MONEY FOR OUR TARs.
Fleets VIII Draw Nearly
$5OO,OOO.

300 is to be distributed among the Off
GERS and sailors of Dewey's and Samp-
sons fleets. In addition to this, the
value of the various merchantmen
prizes captured by the Havana block
iding squadron is also to be paid to
those who assisted in the taking of
these vessels.
The IL Spanish ships destroyed at
Manila carried about 1000 men. The
bounty, therefore, will amount to about
100000, of which Admiral Dewey gets
one-twentieth, or $4,000, and the bal
ance goes to the other officers and men
of the feet, according to the rules of
division. The statement has been made
that Dewey would receive about $780,
900. This is mistake.
The seven Spanish ships that Samp-
sons feet destroyed at Santiago car
rier 2,462 men, for whom a bounty of
S246,OO0 will be paid. Admiral Samp-
sons share will be $13,21o,l eaving $780,
700 for distribution among all the 9th
ers of the fleet.
The war with Spain did not continue
long enough for us to capture as many
prizes as we took during the war of
the rebellion.
Some people who have not informed
themselves upon the subject believe
that the confederate cruisers cap
tured more prizes than the north did.
This is a mistaken idea, owing, no
doubt, to the extensive depredations
Of the Florida, which destroyed many
merchant vessels. the value of which
amounted, with their cargoes, to sew
eral million dollars, and to the havoc
caused by the Alabama, which took
65 vessels and property valued at
S6,000,000. There were other cruisers
the Shenandoah, the Sumter, the
Nashville, the Retribution, the Talla-
hassee, the Chickamauga-all of which
did much damage to our merchant
marine. All of these cruisers were
more or less assisted and protected by
England, and the consequence was
that the claims for damages against
that country were all punched under
the title of the Alabama claims, and.
as everybody knows, England settled
the bill by paying $15,5Oo,OOo.
During the war there were 1929
prizes brought in by our navy. Two
hundred and ten Of thse prizes were
fast steamers, nearly all carrying val
liable cargoes. There were also 1855
vessels burned, sunk or driven on
shore or otherwise destroyed. The
value of all prize vessels and their
cargoes was $3o,o0O,oo0. They were
condemned in amounts aggregating
s2s,OOO, 900.
The Santiago de Cuba, side-wheel
steamer, was the great prize-taker.
Unassisted by any other vessel, she
captured 13 prizes, aggregating in
value 81, ,404,S47 one-half of which was
awarded to her. No other vessel any
where near approached this record.
The largest single share of prize
money fell to the lot of Lieut.. Budd,
volunteer officer in command of the
steamer Magnolia. While on his way
from New York to join Farragut's
squadron in the Gulf of Mexico he
scooped in the steamer Memphis. out
ward bound from one of the southern
ports, laden with cotton. Strange to
say, the Memphis had been sighted by
another American war vessel, whose
commander failed to take her in Had
he been. aware of the fact that she
was the richest prize of the war, he
40 doubt would have lost no time in
werhauling her. The expense of adj
iudication amounted to -$32,5s1, leav-
ng at net result of S510,914.
The Magnolia also captured, without
assistance, the steamer Matagorda,
the net proceeds from which amount
ed to $353,56s. The nettotal of the
swo prizes was $s64, 4,4S2. The law of
prizes provides that when the prize
Tessel is of superior of equal force to
the vessel making the capture, the en-
tire proceeds shall be given to the
raptorss but if the captured vessel
be of inferior force, then the captors
shall receive one-half, the government
taking the other half.
Under the law, the Magnolia was
awarded one-half the prize money,
amounting to $432,241, which was
ready for distribution in November.
1863. Lieut.. Budd's share from the
Memphis was $Ss,31s, and from the
Matagorda ss6,517, making total of
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