BRAVERY REWARDED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9255, 8 January 1889, Page 6

BRAVERY REWARDED.

i PRESENTATION OF PLATE TO CAPT. HAYWARD, OP THE MARIPOSA. GRAND BANQUET ON SHIPBOARD. Theke never has been a pleasante* dinner party on board the Oceanic steamship Mariposa than that which took place there on ; December 1(5. The affair was arranged by Mr. John D. Spreckels and the directors of the Oceanic Steamship Company to show their appreciation of the gallant conduct of their officer, Captain H. M. Hayward, of . the Mariposa, and to make an opportunity , for the presentation of a splendid piece of plate which the British Government had forwarded to Captain Hayward for his services in saving the crew of the British ship Henry James, from Palmyra Island, in the Pacific Ocean. This vessel was wrecked on a reef olf that island on April 10, 1887. The crew escaped in open boats to Palmyra, and remained there for six weeks, until picked up by Captain Hayward, who, though under strict contract to make his passage in a certain time, went out of his way into unknown waters to rescue the castaway sufferers. But Captain Hayward did not allow his humanity to lapse after he had succoured these men, for he provided them with suitable clothing, so that they might appear ashore in San Francisco in whole clothes and not in rags. The large dining saloon of the Mariposa was nicely arranged for the occasion, and the tables were models of the stewards' skill and taste. The menu cards were gems in their way, embracing all the known delicacies and a good many others, the mysteries of which are known only to that important person, the ship's .qook. The guests took their seats at seven o'clock, partaking of the good cheer with au appetite which showed that they fully appreciated a dinner on ship-board. Among those present were. Mr. John D. Spreckels, President of the Oceanic S.S. Company ; Captain Douglas, Superintendent; Mayor Pond ; Captain Lagan, United States Army; Mr. Edward B. Jerome, Deputy Collector of Customs, San Francisco; Mr. Geo. H. Collins and Captain Smith, directors; Captain H. M. Hayward ; Hon. William G. Irwin, Honolulu ; Mr. Robert J. Creighton, agent for New Zealand Government; Mr. Charles Mason, British Vica-Consul; Mr. Samuel M. Shortridge, Republican Elector, 1888; Mr. Charles Hugg, manager; Chiet Engineer Wilson, s.s. Mariposa; Purser Smith, Chief Officer Hart, the ship's surgeon, Mr. Kasson (mail agent), and the leading officers of the Oceanic S.S. Company at San Francisco. After dinner, Special Deputy-Collector E. B. J erome rose, and, in the name of Her Britannic Majesty's Government, presented Captain Hayward with a piece of plate, in the shape of a silver punch bowl of huge dimensions, which, nevertheless, it is safe to say, would never contain sufficient to supply all the gallant captain's numerous friends. Mr. Jerome made the presentation with a few appropriate remarks detailing the action which had called forth such a handsome recognition. The bowl is about twelve inches in diameter, richly chased in floral designs, and bearing on a polished oval space the inscription :— "Presented by the British Government to Captain H. M. Hayward, Master of the American ship Mariposa, of San' Francisco. in acknowledgment of his humanity and kindness to the shipwrecked crew of the barque Henry James, of Glasgow, which was wrecked off Palmyra Island on the 16th of April, 1S88." The Captain's health was drunk, and he then arose, and in a few manly words returned his thanks. He said that he did not feel himself equal to bearing such praises of gallantry and bravery, as he thought he had done no more than anyone would have done under the circumstances. He would think very ill of any person who could find it in his heart to pass by forty-two or forty-three persons who were without anything to sustain life on a desert island. There was as much praise due to the owners of the steamer as to him, for it was a great thing if the employees of a company knew what their employers would do on such an occasion. He knew that Mr. Spreckels would have said, if he had been on board, "Go ahead and save those people." He knew that he had. nothing to fear, and Mr. Spreckels on his arrival said " You did quite right." These are the kind of owners that encourage ships' masters to do just such acts as he had done in this case. The present of the British Government only showed once more the good feeling existing between the English and their American cousins. Vice-Consul Mason paid a deserved compliment to Captain Hayward, and said that the British Government highly appreciated the disinterested and humane action of Messrs. Spreckels. They had absolutely refused to take any compensation for the passages and maintenance of forty-two shipwrecked persons, or for rescuing them from their perilous position. It was conduct such as this on the part of American seamen and shipowners which drew England and America closer together. Messrs. Spreckels were intimately identified with England now, being engaged in developing the commerce of Australia and New Zealand, and it was in that capacity they had been able to rescue the lives of so many British people. He regretted the unavoidable absence of Consul Donahue through illness, but on behalf of his superior officer, and for his Government, it became his duty to bear this public testimony to che friendship and liberality of Mr. Spreckels and the Oceanic Company. The piece of plate, medals and cash, although that was not a great deal, expressed the appreciation of the English Government. Mr. Jerome then presented Chief Officer Hart and three seamen, W. Allen, I. Donburgh, and W. Bearpark, each with a gold medal, as they had gone in the boat to the rescue of the shipwrecked sailors. Henry Driacoll, who made the fourth man in the boat, had already received his medal and the 10 dollars which the British Government also awards for such services. Chief Officer Hart returned his thanks in a thoroughly sailor-like fashion. He said his forte lay in actions not in words. He had received two medals before that from the British Government for saving life, but both had been loet in shipwreck. Toasts of " The President," " The Queen," " San Francisco," "John D. Bpreckels and C 0.," and others were proposed, and were answered by Mr. S. M. Shortridge, Vice-Consul Maaon, Mayor Pond, and Mr. John D. Spreckels. Captain George Douglas, Captain Egan, Mr. W. G. Irwin of Honolulu, Mr. R. J. Creighton, and others also made short speeches in response to toasts, and a most enjoyable evening came to a close.