The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-01-26
The Distinguished Father Of the
Late Lieutenant.
SERVICE TO HIS COUNTRY
Largely Instrumental in the AcQui-
sition of California for the Unit
ed States-Was Commended.

The late Lieut. VIM. Maxwell Wood
who had been we'll known here as an
officer of L. S. S. Philadelphia. had a
distinguished father, also a naval man.
The fame of the sire is preserved in
the papers OF the New York Historical
Society and in histories Of California.
His name was VIM. Maxwell Wood
The following is from Geo. Cumming
Nc Whorter's New York Historical
Society paper entitled Incident in the
War of the United States with Mexico,
illustrating the Services of VIM. Max
we'll Wood, Surgeon U. S. n, in effect
ing the Acquisition of California"
In the winter of 1916, the United
States fleet, consisting of the Savan-
nah, Cyane, Levant and other ships,
under command of Commodore Sloat in
the first, was at Mazatlan, port on the
Pacific just within the trOpic. The
British feet, under Admiral Seymour
in the Collingwood, was at the same
place. The Admiral had ample ar
rangements by which he could re-
ceive early information from every
quarter, and devoted himself especially
to observing ships. He was, if pos
sible, more keenly alive to the i'm
portance of the situation. and the
critical state of affairs, than was
either the United States or Mexico.
Just then a report was circulated IN
Mazatlan, that war had broken out be-
tween the latter countries; but as 1t
was merely rumOr which might nave
grown out of nervousness or some
trif1e magnified, and as the British
Admiral. Notwithstanding his arrange
ments to obtain early information, had
not received any such news from any
reliable source, the report was not
credited by any, and all was quiet on
the Pacific.
DR.. William Maxwell Wood was then
Fleet Surgeon of the United States
Squadron. This officer having obtained
permission to return home, COmmo-
dore Sloat entrusted him with written
dispatches and private advices which
it was thought best not to commit to
L
through Mexico, accompanied by Mr..
Parrot, United States Consul at
Mazatland who was also on his way
| home.
| When the party arrived at Guada-
| laiara, the town was in a state Of agi-
tation arising from rumors of war.
Fortunately, DR.. Wood was well ac-
quainted with the Spanish language.
Very soon he gathered from cOnVersa-
| tons in his proximity, not Intended
| for his ear, that a collision between
! the United States and Mexican forces
| had taken place along the Rio Grande.
| The Mexican papers gave exaggerated
accounts of what had occurred. The
| feelings of the people were excited.
| There was no time for reflection in an
| emergency requiring instant action.
| The Doctor was a peculiarly cool and
| SagaciouS man, and on unf1lnch1ng
courage. Immediately he grasped the
occasion, and decided upon the course
| for him to pursue, and with quietness
and calmness he carried his decision
| into effect. He wrote dispatch re-
counting the intelligence he had re-
ceived, and sent it under cover from
| Consul Parrot to Commodore Sloat.
The courier rode full speed, night and
day, and delivered the dispatch to
Sloat, at MaZatlan, at the earliest
practicable moment. The Commodore,
as soon as he received the important
and exciting information, percelving
the exigency of the case, acted with
admirable decision and promptitude.
He ordered the Cyane and Levant to
sail directly for Monterey. and followed
very soon after in the Savannah. AS
hn az MOntprpV
18th. 1916. he occupied the town, hOisted
the American flag, and took formal
possession of Monterey, San Francisco
and others of the CALIFORNIA; in be-
half of his Government. The posses
sion so taken was never relinquiShed
except in regard to Lower California
a territory of little value. A few days
after the departure of the United States
Squadron from Mazatlan, Admira
Seymour received similar advices tt
those which DR.. Wood had so rapidly
forwarded to Sloat. The Admiral in
stantly fathomed the intentions of thu
Commodore, and without delay sailed
on the same errand, hoping to outsai
the American ship. But the Savannah
was a fast vessel, and being driven tt
the utmost, the Admiral did not sue
. coed in overtaking her. When ht
reached Monterey he found. the Amer1
can flag flying on the soil, and Callfor
mia formally and actually in posses
sion of our country and safe from
English designs. 1t will be readil!
conceived that he was deepl!
: chagrined at being outdone, nOtwith
standing his arrangements for earl!
2 information, by American sagacity
promptitude and pluck, and in seeing
. Her Majesty's Government thwartet
| in its we'll devised and long cherished
l scheme of territorial aggrandizemen
one, too, which, had it been sue
5 cesful, might have changed the politi
cal face of this continent. However
r he stomached the affair with the bes
grace of which he was master, and N
= trouble arose between the American
and British on the Pacific: the latte
recognizing that the former had acteC
legally, and as they would do unde
similar circumstances themselves.
Mr.. Bancroft secretary of the navy