The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-03-12
FATHER JOHN II, CHIDWNK, OF
THE MAINE, A HEROIC FIGURE.
uNFlINcHINe IN The HOUR OF NEEu.
ONE OF THE LAST TO LEAVE THE
VICINITY OF THE WRECK.
But THREE CATHOLIC CAApLAlAs
IN THE NAVY, ALTHOUGH FORTY
PER CENT ARR; OF AT FAITH.

After Capt. Sigsbee, the one man who
seems to have attained a heroic figure in
the incidents of the tragedy of tho de-
struction Of the Maine, Is the chaplain,
Father John p. Chadwick, says the New
York Herald. All accounts agree that
he showed himself fully equal to the
most eXacting demands of the cmer-
gcncy. He was one of the last to leave
the vicinity of the wreck, and only
sought the shore when there was appar-
emily no further possibility or rcscuing
another Of his we'll loved "boys." In
the hospitals he was tirelcss in comfort
Ing and helping the wounded, and in
consoling and making ready for their
last voyage the gallant men whose lives
We're sacrificed in the awful calamity.
His was the central figure Of the impos-
Ing obsequies of the honored dead. He
saw to 1t that each body received the
proper marks of identification md that
each grave could be hereafter specially
located.
In addition to all this, the remainder
Of Father Chidwicks time was chiefly
spent ut the Machina dock, where tho
manglGd and battered bodies of the dead
We're drawn ashore, seeking, amid the
most repulsive and forbidding cnviron-
ment, the smallest sign for identification,
and the last sad menlGntos for the loved
ones far away. He has, indeed, proved
himself an ideal "sky pilot" to give him
the familiar sea title Of his calling.
But in this there is no surprise for the
legion of the clergyman's friends and
admirers in this, his native city. The
record only realizes the estimate they
long since formed of him and predicted
OF his career when he accepted his COM
mission in the navy at President Clcvc-
! lands appointment in March, 1895
Although more than 40 per cent OF the
mon In the service are Catholic, OF the
| twenty-ninc chaplains in the navy only
| three are ministers of that church. The
majority of the chaplains are Baptists
The navy department takes no togni-
Zancc of religious belief. According to
| an assured and anomalous custom, 1t as
signs the chaplain to his station without
any regard for the doctrinal bias of the
men. The chaplain Is merely one of the
ships company just as there must be
engineers, licutcnants, ct al, in 1t. Hence
the place was generally used to give fat
bcrths to ministers Of the denomination
most in favor during the current admin
istration.
A chaplain ranks as lieutenant. For
the first five years he draws 81, 800 Il
year for shore duty, 81 500 a year for sea
pay and $1,000 while waiting orders. His
rank and pay increase with his years OF
| service. After five years he gets $500
a year, and he can retire with the al
! lowancc of his rank at the legal age
| limit.
A glance at the naval register would
| seem to show that many of the chap
lains had long terms but very little sen
| service. Those who have families are
naturally avcrse to the separation 1t
would involve and the monotony of tho
very trivial duties life on board ship
would mean to them.
One chaplain's name, for instance, was
on the pay roll for twenty-five years,
with only three years sea service; an
other, ranking as captain, with 1850 a
| year pay, had six years at sea during
twenty-seven. A third, retired us COM
modorc at $3,700 year, had only seven
| years scagoing in the total of fifty Of his
service while a luckicr fifth had no sea
record at all during thirty four years
term.
| The injustice Of denying to Catholic
| sailors, who form SO large portion OF
| the navy, the ministrations of priests of
| their own faith was seen In 1887 by Pres
| ident Cleveland, who appointed the Rev.
Charles Parks as the first Catholic priest
to receive q chaplains commission in
the navy. He was the chaplain of the,
Vermont at the navy yard for three
years; then he was detailed to the Phila-
delphla, and is now abroad on the San
| TIduClotO. uc ScCoIu DiItoL lDlUJlIlLc'l
was the Rev. w. II. /. Rainey, whose
| father had also served in the navy. He
went to sea at once, and was for several
years on the Asiatlc station. He Is now
attached to the Vermont, at the Brook
Iyn navy yard. The third and last Cath
Ole chaplain is the hero Of the Maine
| episode, Father Chidwick. He was
broken into his duties at the navy yard
by Father Parks, and joined the Maine
when she was put in commission and
served with her ever since.
| Father Chidwick was born In St. Ca
briel's parish, East Thirty-seventh
street. this city, thirty-four years ago.
His father, the late John B. Chadwick,
who died short time after his sons
appointment as chaplain, enjoyed the
distinction of serving the Union in both