The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1900-05-01
TALES OF PLUCK
and ADVENTURE.
The Hero of Samoa,

The Hero of Samoa.
TTEW people who may have
H chanced to read the brief Of
fetal announcement of Com
mander Carlin's death on
board the City OF Pekin between Ma
Mia and Yokohama, December 30,
1899, remembered that he as but a
little deca., ago the p emdgurs and
! hero of the 4l7a1r4eican" ,t,,evy-tLe sub
| ject for eulogy from people AMI press.
Carliu played gallant part in the
terrible time OF the great Samoan wind
storm. On the morning of March 16,
1899, ships Of the English, German
and American navies were in the port
of .Apia. The storm came swiftly, and
found them unprepared to meet it in
the shallow waters of the bay. Every
energy was bent toward getting to the
open sea. The Englishman succeed
ed, and Englishmen and Americans
will remember always with thrill
how the doomed American sailors
cheered the English vessel as she
stood ort to sea and safety while they
themse$es remained to face and fight
DEATH That death came quickly to
many, and in all 14j German and
American officers and men found their
end that day.
Carlin was executive officer OF the
Vandalia, aud practically in command
even before the death Of Cap tain Scoon-
maker. The lattor was an old man,
and so Aeshy that he was unable to
handle himself with ease. He was
killed and washed overheard in the
early part Of the storm, but not before
his executive officer had made gal
liant attempt to save him. The men
hal Aeen ordered into the rigging as
the Jnly place of safety, and Carlin
was about to follow when, /" saw the
Captain lying on the forward R~-s OF
the deck, with his arms clasped about
stanchion. Making his way to him
between the hinge waves that wer e
pounding over the deck, Carliu clasped
his arm around the commanding Of
LIfcer's 'aist and told him that he in
tended to help him into the rigging.
Don't try to help me, JIM" said
Scoonmaker; "I'm as good as dead
now. You save yourself"
While he lay Oh the deck by the
Captains side, Carlin felt one Of the
ropes that held n gun in place slip,
and to an old sailor this meant that Ill
few minutes the gun would be loose
and pounding around the deck. He
resolved to secure rope anna, and
hanging near by in the riggs
! with it help Scoonmaker up the lad
der. Twice as he made the rush, be-
tween waves, for the rope, he was
forced to clasp brass railing to pre-
vent being washed overheard. On
the return trip he was again compelled
to hold to the rail for his life while
two waves of unusual height and VIC
lence rushed down upon the deck
and when he arose and looked for the
Captain both man and gun were gone
Then he looked out for himself. BacE
to the rigging he went, but every
place on the yard arm was occupied
by the men, and in that time there
was no rank. Death stood at their
face and levelled rank. Carlin was
too brave to order men to give up
place of safety to him, but they IN
sisted on pulling him up to them.
The slip seemed doomed. Mel
were being washed overheard at every
wave, and to make death more certain
the vaudalia was drifting down upor
a coral reef. Then the Trenton, an
chored near by, began to drag he,
anchor and bear down upon the fatet
shin. 1t seemed certain that thF
Trenton would cut the Tapdalia II
two before either struck the cora
reef. Officers and men bade one an
other farewell aud stood there waiting
for death, but when it seemed mos
certain a stronger gale than usua
struck the human sails IN the rigging
of the Vandalia and showed her 81
far ahead that the Trenton'S prov
struck her stern, and slowl = warped
around alongside. Instantly Lieu
tenant Carlin saw his opportr- nity ant
the mems, and ordered them to rul
along the yard arms and jump upol
the deck OF the Trenton. Every mai
reached the Trenton, and that shiI
steamed away to safety-having b.
that time got her engines into work
ing order. For his part Carlin wa
recommended to Congress.-St. Loui
GlobG-Democrat.