Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-05-17
TALES OF PLUCK
and ADVENTURE.


nc iieio VI
! TEW people who may have
II Glanced 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 80,
1899, remembered that he was but a
little decade ago the chief figure aud
hero of the American navy-the sub
ject for eulogy from people and press
Carlin 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 a thrill
how the doomed American sailors
cheered the English vessel as she
stood out to sea and safety while they
themselves remained to face and fight
death. That death came quickly to
many, and in all las German and
American officers and men found their
end that day.
Carlin was executive officer of the
Vandalia, and practically in command
even before the death of CAPITA Scoon-.
maker. The latter was an old man,
and SO feshy that he was unable to
handle himself with ease. He wa.
killed aud washed overheard in the
early part of the storm, but not before
his executive officer had made o gal
laut attempt to save him. The mon
had been ordered into the rigging as
the only place of safety, and Carlin
was about to follow when he saw the
Captain lying on the forward part of
the deck, with his arms clasped about
a stanchion. Making his way to him
between the huge waves that were
pounding over the deck, Carlin clasped
his arm around the commanding Of
ticer's waist 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 on the deck by the
Captains side, Carlin felt one OF the
ropes that held gun in place slip,
and to an old sailor this meant that in
a few minutes the gun would be loose
and pounding around the deck. He
resolved to secure rope and tackle
hanging near by in the rigging, and
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 yio-
lence rushed down upon the deck,
aud when he arose and looked for the
Captain both man and gun were gone.
Then he looked out for himself. Back
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 ship seemed doomed. Men
were being washed overheard at every
wave, and to make death more certain
the Vandalia was drifting down upon
n coral reef Then the Trenton, an
chored near by, began to drag her
anchor and bear down upon the fated
ship. It seemed certain that the
Trenton would cut the Vandalia in
two before either struck the coral
reef. Officers and men babe one an
other farewell and stood there waiting
for death, but when it seemed most
certain a stronger gale than usual
struck the human sails IN the rigging
of the Vandalia and showed her so
far ahead that the Trenton's prov
struck her stern, and slowly warped
around alongside. Instantly Lieu
tenant Carlin saw his opportunity and
the mems, and ordered them to run
along the yard arms and jump upon
the deck OF the Trenton. Every mau
reached the Trenton, and that ship
steamed away to safety-having by
that time got her engines into work
ing order. For his part Carliu was
recommended to Congress. Louis
Globe-Democrat.