May 3, 1884, Bath Independent
Bath, Maine, U.S.A.
SHIP RANIER
The Navy Department's Provisions For the Rescue of Capt. Morrison and Party.
Since the letters from Capt. Morrison and daughter, which were published a few weeks ago in the Independent, Capt. P.M. Reed of this city has been taking earnest interest in the rescue of the wrecked people of the Ranier, and has, through congressional friends, urged the need of action by the Navy department. Brief telegrams Irom the Secretary of the Navy were received last week by Capt. Reed, supplimented the last few days by letters from Washington, which, published under, give full particulars of the governmental action:
NAVY DEPARTMENT.
Washington, April 24, 1884
My Dear Sir: Referring to your earnest inquiry of yesterday as to whether some steps cannot be taken by this Department for the rescue of tiie crew of the ship Ranier, wrecked on a coral reef off the coast of Japan, whose crew is supposed to be on the Island Ujune of the Marshall group, I have to say that under date of February 29th, Admiral Davis, Commanding the U.S. .Forces on the Asiatic Station cabled the Department from Shanghai the following: "Shipwreck; Marshall Islands: shall I send Essex?" To which the Department replied: "Exercise discretion about sending ship to Marshall Islands."
The Department has no reason to doubt that the Essex or one of the other vessels of the Squadron was ordered by Admiral Davis to visit the Marshall Islands and if possible find and rescue the ship-wrecked party, and that this has probably long since been done.
The letter of Mr. P.M. Reed to you is herewith returned.
Very respectfully,
WM. E. CHANDLER,
Secretary of the NavyHON. PRILETES SAWYER,
U.S. Senator.NAVY DEPARTMENT.
WASHINGTON, April 26, 1881
Sir: In reply to your telegram of this date you are informed that on the 29th., of February last the Commanding Officer of the Naval Asiatic Station cabled "Shipwreck, Marshall Islands, shall I send Essex": to which a reply was sent by cable, same day, "Exercise discretion about sending ship to Marshall Islands".
As Commodore Davis was well aware of the situation, and suggested the U.S. Steamer Essex, it is presumed that he sent her to the relief of the vessel.
Very respectfully,
ED. T. NICHOLS,
Acting Secretary of the NavyMr. P.M. REED,
Bath, Maine
R.D.M.These letters seeming to give only presumptive information, Capt. Reed then desired Representative Dingley of this district to ask the Secretary to cable Commodore Davis to see whether or not any ship had actdually been sent; in reply came, Wednesday, this telegram.
WASHINGTON, D.C. 30th.
P.M. Reed: Essex sailed from Nagasaki March 20th for Marshall Islands.
NELSON DINGLEY, JR.
Some Captains think the Essex has, on account of the prevailing head winds, used steam, by this time reached Ujane, and having taken the Rainer's people on board now is returning to the nearest steamboat port connectingn with America.
IN SOUTH SEAS
Harry Swinton Concludes the
Marshall Group.
NEXT PAPER ON THE GILBERT
Morning Star Has Many
Experiences.
Teachers and Their Work Among
Natives-Chiefs and Their
Sterling Qualities.
So far there have been two papers on
the subject of the Marshall Islands
from the pen of Mr. Harry Swinton
who was first officer on the missionary
packet Morning Star during her last
cruise in the South Seas. In the paper
given below will be found the conclusion
of the cruise among the islands of
the Marshall group. The next paper
will deal with the Gilbert Islands. Mr.
Swinton concludes the Marshalls as follows:
Arriving at the passage, on the way out, we found, as already stated, seas breaking clean across. Concluded to luff up and come to anchor, thinking of course it would moderate sometime during the day. After waiting until 6 o'clock that evening we found it necessary to stop there that night on account of the weather.
About 11 o'clock next day, notwithstanding it was not much better, we got under way, set all sail, and, steaming at the same time, managed to get out of the lagoon, bound for Warto, another one of the new islands we had to visit.
Found after getting out into the open sea, bad weather, heavy seas running and strong wind dead ahead. Under the circumstances Dr. Rife who had some authority as to the Star's movements in this group with the Captain of course concurring, concluded to keep off for Ujae, leaving Warto out until the next year. I must admit it suited me to a dot, and if I am not mistaken, the Captain himself felt pleased at the change of program.
Two hours and fifteen minutes after we sighted the north end of Ujae, some 18 miles away, bearing SW by S by the compass. Came up to it at noon, ran along the land towards the entrance into the lagoon.
Entered the lagoon 2:13 p. m. with a strong head wind to contend with in the passage. Fifteen mimites before that we had clenred up all our sails. It was as much as we could do to steam into the lagoon. After entering we kept off as the station was away at the south end of lagoon, some fifteen miles away.
The wind now being favorable, we set all fore and aft sails, and steaming at the same time, came to an anchor ofl the Mission station 4:25 p. m., or two hours and fifteen minutes after entering the passage That night it commenced to blow and rain with heavy squalls at intervals; 4:15 that morning (Nov. 5th). let go the other anchor. Paid out 50 fathoms of chain on the port anchor and 30 on the other.
After breakfast, Dr. Rife, Miss Palmer, the school girls and boys, went in to see the teacher and adn have their social gathering, the bad weather notwithstanding. Found her the chief of Warto, the Island we were to visit, but had left for the next trip as previously stated.
It seems that he brought back his own canoe some of the natives of this island who had drifted away, which showed conclusively that he had som Christian feeling. To his delight, the Morning Star sailed in while he was still there waiting for an opportunity to get home.
We left with him the teacher which we ourselves had intended to land on his own island, some 25 or 30 miles to the northward and eastward from here He was very much pleased at this. He might have had to wait sometime be fore getting a chance to go back. The wind must needs be favorable or else he might have drifted away as did the ones he brought back.
After being delayed there a day or two longer than we had calculated, on account of the weather, we weighed anchor Saturday, November 7th, for our next port—Namuick—some 250 miles to the southward and eastward of us . . . After dinner on the day of our arival, Dr. Rife, Miss Palmer, the school girls and boys went ashore to see the people. Found everything satisfactory here and the good work going triumhantly onward.
Next day, 4:15 p. m., November 13th. got under weigh for Namuick; passed out of the lagoon, 4:40, into the open sea. As we wanted to get to the next place bright and early the next mornng, we sailed and steamed; 11 o'clock that night stopped engines; 5:30 a. m., raised land 8 miles away; started engines again; soon we were running long the coast for the Mission station. This was one of the islands vhere we had to lay off and on, as thiere is no entrance into the lagoon. When abreast of the station, lowered oat. Dr. Rifle, Miss Palmer, with her crowd, went ashore as usual to ee the people. This iIs the only Island in the group from which no canoes ame alongside.
We were in luck on account of havng such fine weather. The people ishore told us that it was the first fine ay they had seen for two or three reeks. If we had arrived there the day efore, we could not have landed.
Found the work here as at Ebon, regressing. We left a few passengers horn we had brought from the other slarrls. to help the good work. 6:15 p. m.—Boat returned with Dr. Hife. Miss Palmer and the rest of them. We then braced forward, made all sail* but the royal, and set out for Jaluit, ov last port in this group.
Since the Germans have taken these slands, they have made - imperative that vessels shall enter and clear from Jaluit. This makes it very inconvenient as far as the Morning Star is concerned, for when she leaves Kusaie to go through the Marshall groups with the training school girls and boys on board to see their relations, she will have to pass Namiuoh and Ebon to go Jaluit; wereas if she could call at those two places on her way there, it would shorten her voyage considerably. She would then proceed on her rounds by way of Mille and go the whole circuit with wind and current in her favor, Ujae then being the last island to visit. She could make a bee ine for Jajuit. with a leading wind in her favor . . .
I would like to say right here that when Captain Garland leaves the Morning Star, teh American Board and all those connected with mission work in Micronesia, will miss a man whos position will be hard to fill. In the first place, he is a good navigator, a most careful man correct in his reckoning, obliging to a fault, to all the missionaries . . . mindful always of the comforts of those under his care and possessed of an eye like a hawk, a very necessary quality to have in teh groups through which the Morning Star has to go . . .
To sum up the cruise in this group, I must say, the American Board ought !o be satisfied with the progress thus far made throughout the group. To one, such as myself, who was there some 22 years ago, I must say a wonderful change has taken place, spiritually, showing conclusively to my mind that the labors of the band of Godly men and women who left the comforts of their homes and went out to preach the Gospel to the heathens are not lost. Mighty, through God, have they been in the pulling down of strongholds, the casting down of magination and every high thing that las ever exerted itself against the knowledge of God, withal, the bringing nto captivity of every thought to the ibedience of Christ.
HARRY SWINTON.
