The evening times., 1900-02-01
A CONSULAR PENSION CLAIM.
Mrs. Clare VI. Ashby's Relief Bill Re-
ported FavOrabIy.


| The Committee on Claims Of the HeusS
| of Representatives has favorably reported
a bill for the relief of Clare NJ. Ashby.
widow of w W. Ashby. late United States
! Consul at Colon. Mr.. Ashby was news
| paper correspondent and was well known
| in Washington. The bill authorizes the
| Secretary of the Treasury to pay to Mrs.
| Clare NJ. Ashby the balance of one year S
| salary due the late consul
| On Sunday afternoon, January 16, Mr..
Ashby, accompanied by DIR. F. w. Hafe-
| man, German Consul. and ID. G. Mott, Mas
| ter Mechanic of the Panama Railroad left
| Colon in a small boat to visit Mr.. Mott s
| cocoanut plantation, situated on what q
known as Toro Point, across the bay from
| this point. The trip over was made all
right, but in returning from the shore.
| near Point Toro. the boat was capsized and
all the occupants were thrown out in the
water
| Although moderate breeze was blowing
| at the time of the accident, the sea was
| rough and breaking heavily on the Jagged
| reefs which line the coast. and being un-
able to secure assistance at the time. all
| the occupants of the boat except the cap
tain, who was throwR ON the reef and bad
| ly hurt were either drowned or killed by
being thrown against the coral rocks.
The accident was witnessed by one per-
son only, the assistant keeper OF the Pun
Ia del Toro lighthouse. who. at the time,
was in the lamproom Of the tower prepar-
ing to light the lamp. Being fully half a
mile from the place where the accident
occurred, ard having no means Of render
ing assistance. he was forced by circum-
stanes 10 see the occupants OF the Inflated
! boat drown.
In a letter to the committee, Thomas W.
Cridler Third Assistant Secretary OF State,
said the department does not recall case
where Congress has provided an allowance
to the widow of a consul who died while
in the public service.
MIR Cridier cited the following pTece-
dents to show the action Of Congress In
similar instances where diplomatic officers
have died abroad in the service.
The appropriation act approved March
>. 1879 gave to Mrs. Taylor widow OF Bay
ard Taylor. who died while minister 10
Germany. the sum of 81 900 to compensate
bis estate for the extraordinary expenses
and losses incurred by il in consequence OF
his death so soon after reaching his post.
The Joint resolution approved July %,
1882. gave TO Mrs Hurlbut, widow OF Cen
eraI Hurlburt, he having died while Min
iste- to Peru one years salary and legal
allowances after necessary deductions OF
salary paid.
The Joint resolution also approved July
%. 1882 gave to Mrs. Fitzpatrick. widow Of
General Fitzpatrick who died while Min
lister to Chile. one years salary and legal
allowances, after making proper salary de-
ductiOns.
The joint resolution approved August /,
| 1882 gave 10 Mrs. Garnet, widow OF the
| Rev Henry Highland Garnet, who died
while Minister to Liberia, one years SAL
airy and legal allowances, after deducting
the amount received up to death. Mr. Gar
net had only been in Liberia a few weeks.
The deficiency bill approved Mareh g.
1883 gave to Mrs. Marsh. widow of George
p. Marsh who died while Minister to Italy,
the balance of one years salary, rechoned
from June %. 1882
The act approved December q, 1854,
gave 10 Mrs. Jane Venable, widow of VIII
liam f. VenabIe. who died as Minister 10
Guatemala. the sum Of S5.636.Si. being the
balance OF one years salary. In this case
Mr. Nenabie vas commissioned March IA,
1857, and died at Guatemala August - Of
that year. before presenting mis- creden-
tiaIs Consequently the action of Con-
gress dates twenty-seven years after the
ministers death.
The deficiency bill approved March .,
1885. gave to Mrs. Wing. widow OF +. Rum
sey Wing. who died while Minister TO
Ecuador. and TO Mrs. Hunt widow OF
William II. Hunt. who died while Minister
10 Russia. a sum equal TO six months sal
airy in each case Mr. Wing was commits
stoned minister resident November 10,
1863. shortly afterward Congress discOn-
tiuued tho mission tn Ecuador.