Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-01-05
NAVAL PRIZES BRIToNS WON
Rich Hauls in Marine Fights of Cen.
fury Ago.

The amount of the prize money
CLEANED by America from the recent
war with Spain is comparatively trif-
ling. AdmiraI Sampson is the one to
be most congratulated from pecun-
larry point of view, his share OF the
receipts" Of the Cuban blockade
amounting to the respectable sum Of
$4,000, to which can be added a mat
ter OF $4,000 as the result of his eff
Though Admiral Dewey gained such a
complete victory at Manila, the yield
in bounty only provides him with
$4,000, while Admiral Schley will have
to be content with $4,000. The COM
manders of the various American
ships engaged will get about $4,000
each, while the lower grades will re-
ceive from $50 to $500 each.
Compared with what our irresistible
jacks Of old used to get, the above
sums, in certain instances, fall into
absolute insignificance. 1t is curious
to note that the loser of the greatest
treasure in the past was Spain. There
was nothing that our seamen liked
more than war with that Inflated
country, because prize money was sim
ply waiting to be picked UP. Perhaps
the argest amount of prize money
which one ship has ever obtained was
that which Admiral Arson brought
home after his voyage around the
world during 1740-43 Arson cap
tured the far-famed Manila galleon
which used to sail once a year for
Spain laden to the matches with treas
ure. The value of this find was
6 100000 and the division among one
ships company must nave left the
lowest boys with fortune, though no
particulars of that kind are available.
The reception OF the admiral and the
seamen, it Is recorded, was most cor
dial, and they had more friends than
they knew what to do with. The
treasure was drawn in triumph
through the city of London in thirty
two wagons, which, according to an
old naval chronicle, were preceded by
a band Of military musicians and
guarded by detachment Of the ships
company. Arson was often in luck's
way as regards prize money. Only
few years afterward, in lathe cap
tured French fleet with upward of
100000 in money aboard, which was
carried from Portsmouth to London
in twenty wagons and conveyed to the
bank in great state
oh In,
prlze money from poor Spain at the
capture of--curiouS cuincidence!--
Havana, which was assaulted by both
land and sea. Altogether .Ae army
received G36S, l5o lis Id and the navy
y 3oo,Uy2 lis 4d. The earl OF Able
his second in command received the
same sums respectively as Admiral
Pocock and Commodore keppel, but
the 21,l00 private soldiers who took
part in The affair got "a Is Sd each.
The Glorious First OF june fought
ON Sunday did not yield much in
the way OF prize money. Each OF the
sailors received guineas, which does
not sem adeQ uate for the gallant work
while each of the petty
officers received E10 and each of the
warrant officers f25.
There is no record of the amount
which Lord Howe secured, but it is
known that the victory earned him an
earldom, a 3,000-guinea sword with a
gold chain and medal from the king,
and thanks of both houses of parlia-
ment and the freedom Of the city of
London in gold box. Lord Howe
was 70 when he gained this great VIC
tory over strong French feet.