Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-12-09

lila.
Washington, December S.-The Navy
Department has made public a report
from Capt. Whiting, who commanded
the Monadnock on the voyage from
San Francisco to Manila, in which, af-
ter telling of some of the hardships en-
dured during the trip, he pays we'll
deserved compliment to the energy
and ability of the officers and crew,
which made possible what was without
doubt the most remarkable voyage ever
made by an ironclad vessel in an
emergency. Capt Writings report,
which reached the Navy Department
through Admiral Dewey, is as follows:
Notwithstanding the fortuitous con-
sequence to myself attendant upon the
cruise of this vessel to the relief of
the Asiatic fleet at Manila. l should
consider myself derelict in my duty as
commanding officer, now that the war
is over, if failed to call the attention
of yourself and the department to the
highly meritorious service rendered by
this ships company of officers and men
under the most trying and difficult
circumstances.
"The ability, courage, zeal and en-
durance shown by them in crossing the
Pacific Ocean in vessel of this type,
practically raft, with only 16 inches
free board in her overloaded condition,
certainly deserves some recognition.
A cruise of over 1000 miles in the trop
les, in excessive temperatures, with
what small deck room there is in the
ship packed with coal, so that sleeping
places and sleep were almost unattain-
able luxuries for the 40 days spent at
of fresh water, struggling with appur-
tenances, and engines never designed
for such overloaded service, continual
Iy breaking down and as continually
being repaired, no war duty has been
more onerouS or more dishearten-
ing.
anticipating a fight to the death
with the enemy'S heaviest force afoat,
the voyage has been for all forlorn
hope from the beginning, recognized as
such by all who participated, heartily
Joined in without fiinching, happily
ending without incident, yet only need
ing disaster to emphasize what
write.
81 commend to the department for
such reward as may be deemed proper
the executive officer, Lieutenant Com
mander C. P. Perkins; for meritorious
services during the war. He has ably
and zealously assisted in keeping the
ship in the most advanced state of
readiness for action from the very out
set to the present day. His ability,
close attention to duty and loyalty are
beyond all praise. l commend, also,
the chief engineer, T. F. Burgdorff,
who has stubbornly fought the inner
thL WCdhuCSo VI Cueii1Co QCoi SLCu LII
harbor use, and successfully forced
them through such a prolonged voy-
age at sea. l commend, also, the sur
geon, j. NJ Steele, whose unremitting
care and attention has carried the
ships company through the trying Or
deal without a single fatality, though
men were continually failing from heat
exhaustion.
"All the officers of the ship have re-
sponded most zealously to the unusual
calls made upon them, and the ships
company have been enthusiastically
ready and willing for whatever duty
might be demanded of them. They
volunteered by delegation to coal ship
day and night at Guam, although
nearly Frustrated by the heat and con-
finement to which they were subjected
both there and while en- route. Too
much praise cannot be given the en-
gineer force below, who have been in
cessantly occupied. at times day and
night. under the most arduous cor
cumstances that can be imagined on
board ship in the tropics, doing their
utmost to keep the machinery in run
ming order.
"That I have succeeded in safely
bringing this monitor so far from her
intended field of action in such COM
paratively short time, with the Nero
for a consort, is wholly and entirely
due to the most patriotic and energetic
support of this ships company of Off
GERS and men, There is no better ships
company a1oat, and all who can show
upon their records that they took part
in the cruise of the Monadnock from
San Francisco to Manila during the
war with Spain deserve all the favors
that the navy department and CRATE
full country can bestow upon them,
either now or in the future
Secretary Long yesterday wrote letter
to Capt Whiting. in which he said:
at is exceedingly gratifying to the de-
partment that, notwithstanding it's hard
ships. the vessel was brought safely TO
distant port. The department fully
realizes that the cruise of the Monad-