The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-06-18
CAPTAIN GALLAGHER
PRAISES RELIEF WORK
Army Subsistence Officer
Makes His Report,
Citizens Of Martinique and St. Vincent
Truely Grateful to America for
Timely Aid.

/
! The War Department has made public
/ the following report from Capt. Hugh
/ J. Gallagher, the officer Of the army
who had charge OF the commissary sup
plies sent to Martinique on the United
States steamer Dixie:
In obedience to paragraph Is of
special orders 1I2, proceeded on May
Y to New York city and on the 14th
proceeded on board the United States
steamer Dixie with 5000 in cash and the
subsistence stores shown in invoice at
tached- The Dixie sailed about 9 O'Clock
P. n, May Il, aud reached Martinique
on the morning Of May q. In company
with Captain Berry. OF the Dixie. an
Official cai was made by Captain
Sewell. DR.. Clayton and myself upon the
governor, during which tenders of as
sistance were made and gratefully ac-
cepted by the governor. One-haif of the
stores aboard the ship were put ashore
a. Martinique On behalf Of the Govern
menC I offered to employ a gang of la
borers 20 handle the stores. with the
object Of fastening the unloading and
to put money in the hands of the
refugees who might need it. The offer
was declined with thanks The stores
were placed in lighters by the sailors of
tie Dixie and Cincinnati. and .hen
taken charge of by a French naval Off
Ger detailed for that purpose. Receipts
for the stores vera signed for by the
governor, N. L'HeuTre, who likewise
sends q letter OF thanks. On May % the
Dixie proceeded to St. Vincent. and on
the 25d an official call was made upon
the governor and assistance offered as
at Martinique and gratefully accepted.
The remainder of the stores were IN
loaded here and receipts therefor
given by the governor, Sir Robert /
Llewellyn
Delay IN Unloading.
There was some delay in unloading
at St. Vincent. due to rain and a shortage |
of lighters. I offered. as at Martinique. |
to employ gang Of laborers. and the |
offer was accepted in z letter sent by
the governor. I employed a gang Of us
men for two days. These men were ref /
ugees. and the money was very accept |
able
The total amount expended for labor, /
transportation and kilograms was 3527.29- /
"On May % the Dixie proceeded to St. /
Lucia 20 take on coal, and on the goth
TO Fort de France, sailing therefrom On 1
the 5lst for home She reached New /
York on the evening Of June S.
Praises Sailors Work.
81 wish to invite special attention to /
the willing and energetic manner in /
which the sailors aboard the Dixie /
labOred in loading and unloading the
stores on this expedition They Iabored /
increasingly when there was anything to /
do. without murmur, and the rapidly /
with which the stores were handled was
due to their energy ard willingness.
Their hearts seemed to be in their work. /
and, encouraged by their splendid officers.
nothing seemed to tire them
Stores Well Selected.
The stores were well selected and
met the needs of the people. By the
destruction Of St. Pierre. Martinique. /
the great stoTehouse and source of sup /
plies of the island was lost; conse-
Iuently many of the necessaries OF life !
were not available for the people. and
nothing could have been more opportune
than the arrival OF the Dixie The
wants Of the needy people we're promptly
and sufficiently relieved, and on ali
sides I heard the people murmur their
blessings on the American Government
Tor sending assistance to them in this
emergency. The same can be said of |
ST Vincent. where, perhaps. there were !
ncre people thrown upon the public be-
,ause many in the area Of devastation
escaped with their lives, while but few
escaped at ST. Pierre.
From its conception TO its conclusion
he expedition was one of which the
American people may feel a pardonable
Jride: II Vas a noble and generous
hCught that conceived it; II was timely
n reaching its destination: il was most
received by both officials and
people. and I hope I viii be pardoncd
Fhen l say that the officers appointed
% carry out the will OF the Govern
nent on this occasion, while perform
ng their duty as ordered, could not help
icing filed with an extraordinary pride
n the fact that they had been chosen
o perform duty in connection with this
successful and most humane
l.