Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-18
THE DIXIE'S MISSION
RELIEF CARRIED TO THE WEST
INDIES.
Report of the Trip Made by Capt. Gal
lagher-Gratitude OF the
Succored.

Adjutant General Corbin has received a
report from Captain Hugh ]. Gallagher, the
commissary officer, who went on the Dixie
to the relief of the sufferers from the vol
canic eruption in the West Indies. Captain
Calls CHER says that he employed 11S natives
of ST. Vincent for two days in unloading
stores and that the money was very accept
able to the refugees. He pays high COM
pliment to the sailors Of the Dixie, who la
bored increasingly without a murmur to
handle the stores. Captain Gallagher says:
Their hearts seemed to be in their work,
and. encouraged by their splendid officers.
nothing seemed to tire them.
THE stores were we'll selected, and met
the needs of the people. BY the destruction
of St.~Pierrc, Martinique, the great store
house and source of supplies of the island
was lost, consequently many Of the neces-
saries of life were not available for the peo-
pie, and nothing could have been more OPP
perfume than the arrival Of the Dixie. The
wants of the needy people were promptly
and efficiently relieved, and on all sides
heard the people murmur their blessings on
the American government for sending as
s!Stance to them in this emergency. The
same can be said of St. Vincent. where, per-
haps, there were more people thrown upon
the public because many in the area Of dew
astaton escaped with their lives, while
but few escaped at st. Pierre.
From its conception to its conclusion,
the expedition was one of which the Amer
lean people may feel pardOnable pride ::
1t was noble and generous thought that
conceived it; it was timely in reaching it's
destination; 1t was most gratefully received
by offlcialS and people, and I hope l will be
pardoned when I say that the officers ap-
pointed to carry out the will of the govern
ment on this occasion, while performing
their duty as ordered, could not help being
filled with an extraordinary pride in the
chosen n
duty in connection with this completely sue
cessful and most humane expedition
Unloading the Stores.
Captain Gallagher says: THE Dixie SAIL
ed about o'clock pm, May "A. and reached
Martinique on the morning of May u. In
company with Captain Berry of the Dixie
an official call was made by Captain Sew
ell. DR.. Clayton and myself upon the gov
ernor, during which tenders Of assistance
were made and gratefully accepted by the
governor. One-half of the stores aboard
the ship were put ashore at Martinique
On behalf of the government I offered to
employ a gang of laborers to handle the
stores, with the object of fastening the I'M
loading, and to put money in the hands Of
refugees who might need it. The offer was
declined with thanks. The stores were
placed in lighters by the sailors of the
Dixie and Cincinnati and then taken charge
of by French naval officer, detailed for
that purpose. Receipts for the stores We're
signed by the governor, NJ. L'Heurre who
likewise sends a letter of thanks which is
hereto attached.
Arrival Off St. Vincent.
ION May % the Dixie proceeded to ST.
Vincent. and on the 23d an official call was
made on the governor, and assistance Of
Tered, as at Martinique, and gratefully ac-
cepted. The remainder of the stores We're
mi Io1 Le~1
by the governor, Sir Robert Liewellyn.
There was some delay in unloading at
st. Vincent, due to rain and a shortage of
lighters. l offered, as at Martinique, to
employ a gang of labOrers. and the offer
was accepted in a letter sent by the gov
ernor. l employed a gang of rs men for
TWO days. These men were refugees, and
the money was very acceptable. The tot al
amount expended for labor transportatio
and kilograms was $J27 %.
"On May % the Dixie proceeded to San
Lucia to take on COAL and on the Goth to
Fort De France, sailing therefrom on the
31st for home. She reached New York on
the evening of June g.
Il 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
anything to do, without a murmur and
the rapidity with which the stores were
handled was due to their energy and will
ingness.
Attached to the report are letters of
thanks from the governors of Martinique
and st. Vincent for the relief extended bv
the United States government.