The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-04-24
BRAVE SAILORS.
Official Report Of Rescue Of Cubana
in Habana Harbor.
MADE BY COMMANDER sToNEY
Ir'ends Prope,

Tho South Cal olina OHlcer Recom-
IDends Proper Rewards For
the Men Who Performed
the Daring Service.
Asked to name the pleasantest in
cident Of his cruise In the West In
dies, Secretary Of the Navy Moody
upon his return to Washington replied
with smile Of genuine satisfaction:
II recall nothing that was so in
spring, so splendid, as that incident
in- Habana harbor when the men of
the Dolphin came to the rescue of a
party Of Cuban sailors whose boat can
sized in the squall. The spontaneity
OF their action was fine, but finer still
was their presentation of the 500 re-
ward given them by President Palma
to the mother OF one the drowned
sailors"
Interesting details Of tho gallantry
OF the Dolphin'S crew, are contained
In a letter received at the navy de-
partment Thursday from Lieut.. Com
mander G. NJ. Stoney, who, by the
way, is a South Carolinian, command
Ing that vessel. In this letter, which
is dated at sea April IL, .9amnandor
Stoney says:
II have the honor to call your at
tention to the worthy conduct Of the
crew Of the Dolphin and the specially
gallant conduct OF Chief Boatswain's
Mate H. p. Rahbusch and Seaman
Dennie Cartin, on the occasion OF a
very heavy rain and wind squall In
the harbor Of Habana, Cuba, on March
10, 1903: and beg that Chief Boats.
wain's Mate Rahdusch and Seaman
Cartin be specially rewarded and that
the other members Of the crew who
were with them be given some recogni-
tion.
My attention was attracted by a
most terrific fall Of rain with no wind.
'IhlS rain coming SO suddenly, l was
positive there was something behind
It and went Immediately on deck and
gave orders preparatory to meeting
what might follow. In about five
minutes after the commencement OF
the rain a strong wind came, struck
the ship and keeled her over un IL she
swung head to.
At the time there was boat with
natives In it under sail short dis
tance away. This boat capslzed and
call for volunteers was made to man
u boat. The entire crow responded,
led by Chief Boatswain;s Mate Rah-
busch. The gig, then ut the boom;
was at once manned and in company
with the steam launch which was also
at the boom, went to the rescue re-
turning With five men, one OF whom
was apparently dead, but was revived
by Passed Assistant Surgeon c. d.
Laaghorne after more than half all
hours work. Surgeon Langhorne
showed great professional skill In re-
suscitating the apparently drowned
man.
Tho violence Of the squall can be
better understood from the fact that a
number Of other boats were capsized
in the. harbor. The velocity Of the
wind was reported at 80 miles an
hour.
Chief Boatswains Mate Rahbusch
was the first man to respond to the
call for volunteers. He was the first
man in the gig and took charge, man
aging the gig In a most seaman-like
manner.
Seaman Cartin wa, one of the gigs
crew. The man in the bow grabbed
at the sinking man but missed him
Cartin Immediately dove after him
brought him to the surface and sup
ported him until he could be pulled
into the boat
The following are the names OF
the boats crews:
Steam launch: Z. iflson, cox
swain; H..A. Harmon, apprentice sec
ond class: w. G. Coe, ordinary sea-
man; G.. G. Miller, oiler; G. E. Smith,
coal passer.
Gig: II. p. Rahbusch, n. ). Sycnd-
sen, A. Liable, +. Spoerr, Il. Watts,
d. Cartin, S. X. Nixon.
In connection with this rescue
also have the honor to report that the
president Of Cuba, the Hon. Thomas
Estrada Palma. forwarded to me 500
in gold to be given to the men who
effected the rescue accompanied by IL
ihOoo HthSiooo tCoCGl VI
money was given to the men and al
most Immediately returned to me
with the request that would return
it to President Palma to be given to
the mother OF the boy who was drown
cd during the squall. This request
complied with"
Upon receipt Of Commander Stoney's
letter the bureau OF navigation at once
made the following recommendations
TO the secretary, who will checrfuily
approve them:
u. That Chief Boatswain's Mate
Herman L. Rahbusch be permitted to
appear for examination for appoint
ment as acting boatswain in the
United States navy, waving the fact
that he Is seven years over the age
limit.
%. That Seaman Denis Cartin be
given permanent appointment as
qunrtcrmastcr, third class, he being a
graduate OF the petty officers school
%. That all The members Of the
steam launch and gigs crew, Chicl
Boatswain's Mate Rahbusch and Sea
man Cartin receive commcndatory let
ters from the department.
There was a British warship in the
harbor at the time Of the squall which
was nearer the Cuban boat than was