The Washington times., 1912-01-31
WATCHES FOR TWO
AMERICAN HEROES
FROM CANADIANS
Congress Asked to Permit
Captain and Assistant to
Receive Gifts.

Capt. Preston H. Uberroth, assistant
to the commandant Of the United States
Revenue Cutter Service, and Gunner
Karl Johannsen, OF the cutter Gresham,
have been offered gold watches by the
Canadian government for heroic service
- saving the officers and crew of the
Canadian schooner 8. A. Fownes, when
that vessel was wrecked on Nantucket
shoals, December 18, 1910 Each of
eight men of the Gresham's crew, who
manned the surfboat in tempest
tossed sea with Ice caked boards and
clothing, have been presented with a
check for $50.
The rescue Of the men was one of
the most thrilling in the history Of the
Revenue Cutter Service. Letters of COM
mendation were shewered upon Captain
sUberroth and the other officers and
crew of the Gresham at the time. and
II was largely on this account that he
was called to the Treasury Department
in Washington.
Knox Has Watches.
The gold watches now are in the
custody Of Secretary of state Knox,
who sent a letter to Congress today
asking permission for their presen-
tation. Under the law no officer Of
the American Government can re-
ceive such a gift without Congresslon-
ei approval The enlisted men. re-
warded in a monetary way, will get
the check destined for them as soon
as the sum can be distributed.
While the presents ostensibly are
from the Canadian government they
were were sent personally BY t the pSR Duke q q
who was in Washington a few days
ago, being forwarded through the
British foreign office to Ambassador
James Bryce. who took them to Sec
retary Knox. Accompanying the pres
ents were long list of commenda-
tory letters from the Canadian gov
ernment. the British marine office,
Ambassador Bryce, and Secretary
Knox.
'rhe men who will receive $50 are
Coxswains C. Hornsen and M. Matson.
and Able Seamen C. Miller, I. Kask,
A. Johnson. F. sarnow, Q. Anderson,
Captain Uberroth has been many
times commended for heroic service.
John A johnson. and Senator Knute
timoniais from the towns and VII
lagos along the Great Lakes, for the
work Of himself and men in lighting
forest Ares. and saving lives ashore,
Wnen ne n0Iu n COHIdHu ou tuo
Great Lakes in 1907.
Made Heroic Rescue.
In May. 1909. ne was commended by
the department and the President for a
heroic rescue on the Carolina coast,
three weeks after he had received his
first command of a sea cutter, the Bout
we'll. ,..
The rescue Of the crew Of the Fownes
was only an incident in two days
siege of rescue work, according to the
official report OF Cantain Uberroth,
made to the department at the time.
During two days of a blizzard the GTes-
ham was cruising about Nantucket
shoals in zero weather, with heavy
northwest blizzard blowing, taking
crews from vessels caught In the storm.
When the Fownes was found she was
nothing but q hulk, and had been tossed
over oneAof the shoals The only way
to effect a rescue was with surf boats,
and one Of them was put into the sea
that had lifted the coai-laden schooner
over a bar. The boat was In the water
but a few minutes when the men
manning II were caked with ice. They
stuck to their task, and took of
ali of the crew, just before that vessel
plunged to the bottom of the ocean.