ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.
Resolution of Congress Voting Medals to Captain Crandall and others.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled: That the President of the United States is hereby authorized and requested to cause to be made and presented to each of the following persons such suitable and appropriate medals, as in his judgment shall express the high estimation in which Congress hold the respective merits and services of Captain Jared S. Crandall, Albert Crandall, Daniel F. Larkin, Frank Larkin, Byron Green, John D. Harvey, Courtland Gavitt, Eugene Nash, Edwin Nash and William Nash of the town of Westerly, State of Rhode Island, who so gallantly volunteered to man the life-boat and a fishing boat, and saved the lives of thirty-two persons from the wreck of the steamer "Metis," on the waters of Long Island Sound, on the thirty-first day of August, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
Approved February 24, 1873.
Captain David Ritchie to the Secretary of the Navy.
United States Revenue Steamer Mocassin,
Newport, Rhode Island, September 1st, 1872.
To the Honorable
George S. Boutwell, Secretary of the Treasury,
Washington, District of Columbia.
Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report of the services rendered by this vessel, her officers and crew to the passengers and crew of the wrecked steamer Metis on the morning of August 30th, 1872.
On the evening of August 29th, while cruising to the westward, weather threatening, ran in for a harbor behind the Stonington breakwater, where we anchored. My glass falling and there being every indication of a storm, I prepared my vessel for it.
At 8 p.m. the gale began, and continued to increase throughout the night from southeast with heavy sea and blinding rain.
At daylight the gale moderated and it stopped raining, the wind hauling by south to westward.
At 9.20 a.m. the first officer of the steamer "Stonington" of the New York and Stonington Line, came alongside, and reported that the steamer "Metis" of the New York and Providence Line, was wrecked off Watch Hill, Rhode Island, the fate of which, together with her one hundred and fifty passengers and crew, was unknown.
I ordered steam as quickly as possible, and at 10.15 a.m. got under way and proceeded to the scene of the disaster, stationing lookouts aloft and upon the house.
I soon descried two boats loaded with helpless men, women and children, near the edge of the surf at Watch Hill Light House, and with great difficulty and danger, on account of the heavy sea, succeeded in getting them on board of the "Mocassin."
I then stood down for the wreck, lowered boats and picked up the living and dead, continuing this sad duty until 3.45 p.m., when night coming on and medical aid being required for those of the rescued who were exhausted, I put the vessel back for Stonington, the nearest port, having no hope of finding any more living persons and seeing no dead bodies remaining afloat. I reached Stonington at 6 p.m. with forty-two rescued persons and seventeen dead bodies which we had recovered from the deep.
Being a stranger in Stonington, I was at a loss to know what I should do with my precious cargo, but at the wharf I met with unexpected aid in the person of Mr. J. P. Bigelow, chief of the Loan Division of the Treasury Department, who, upon my wants being made known to him, procured proper relief, obtaining through Mrs. Bigelow and ladies in the town, clothing and proper care for five women who were rescued in a state of entire nudity. The men rescued were taken charge of by the citizens, who did all in their power to relieve their distress. All the rescued were greatly exhausted, having been in the water several hours.
I take great pleasure in informing the Department of the noble and untiring exertions of 1st Lieutenant Joseph Irish, 2d Lieutenant A. D. Littlefield, Chief Engineer Whittaker, Pilot Joseph Case, Boatswain E. F. R. Denison, and each of the crew in saving life, recovering bodies of the drowned and caring for the sick and wounded.
In the cases of several of the shipwrecked life was apparently extinct, but by the efforts of those on board they were resuscitated. The women were rolled in blankets, and all in our power was done to make them comfortable. Many of the rescued were very weak, and I doubted my ability to get them into port alive.
I was ably seconded in my work of boating by Captain Crandall, light house keeper at Watch Hill, and his noble crew, they having picked up fourteen living and dead.
After the last body had been taken on board a sea caught their boat under this vessel's quarter and split her open.
The boat was the private property of Captain Crandall, who, on beholding her destruction, simply remarked, "She has well paid for herself."
Five of the dead bodies were identified by those saved on board, and when the living women were clothed and brought to identify their friends, a sad scene presented itself, one recognizing a lost husband, another a sister, two men their wives, and one man his two children.
The corpses were all numbered, and together with a description list, were delivered to the authorities of Stonington, a copy of said list being retained on board.
On the morning of the 31st ultimo at daylight, kindly accompanied by J. P. Bigelow, Captain George B. Hull, Superintendent of New York and Providence Steamship Company (one of the rescued), and John McGuire to assist my worn-out officers and men, I again stood for the scene of the wreck and cruised in that vicinity, with lookouts stationed aloft, extending my cruise as far as Block Island. The wind was blowing strong from the northwest and constantly increasing, with a heavy cross sea from the southeast, breaking over and completely covering this vessel.
There being no signs of any bodies floating about, with decks full of water, I stood for Point Judith. Still finding no signs of the wreck, and the sea getting too heavy to lower a boat, I stood for Newport and anchored.
Having found a jewel and pocket-book on board (the property of one of the dead), I turned the same over to Mr. Bigelow, to take them to Stonington for the purpose of identifying corpse marked No. 4.
Trusting that the conduct of the Mocassin, under my command, and the acts of her officers and crew may meet the approval of the Department,
I remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
David Ritchie,
Captain United States Revenue Marine.
Resolution of Congress Voting Thanks to Captain Ritchie.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled: That the thanks of Congress are due, and are hereby tendered to Captain David Ritchie, commanding the revenue steamer Mocassin, and to the officers and men under his command, for their heroic and humane action in saving the lives of forty-two persons from the wreck of the steamer "Metis" on the waters of Long Island Sound, on the morning of the thirty-first of August, eighteen hundred and seventy-two.
Approved January 24, 1873.
1876.
These United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States. ℞. In commemoration of the hundredth anniversary, etc.