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principal hatchways, yet, between decks, the air was too foul and heated for the sick. The officers affected, two-thirds of all on board, were under an awning abaft the mizzen-mast, while the men were beneath the hurricane deck, (extending between the wheel houses,) and near the hatchways upon the berth deck. These places, affording cover from the sun and night dews, as well as the best ventilation it was possible to obtain, were the only spaces in the ship at all suitable for her suffering crew. These were crowded to a degree that greatly aggravated the disease. A foul and pestilential miasma rose from them, and, spreading over other parts of the vessel, poisoned the atmosphere and rendered it even offensive, while its effects were alike disastrous to the well and sick, accelerating the ratio of new cases, and increasing the violence of the disease. Men just taken were, of necessity, placed in the already crowded spaces occupied by those in more advanced stages of the disease, and where there was no escape from witnessing, upon every hand, distress, danger, and death, effects of the disease of which they themselves now suffered. Under such circumstances a large portion were rapidly approaching the last stage, the terrible "black vomit."

The "Susquehanna" anchored at Port Royal at 8 p. m. on the 5th instant, having on board 103 cases, in every stage of the yellow fever. The officer of the visiting boat, from Admiral Sir Houston Stewart's flag-ship, was told of the condition of our ship. He returned to inform his commander, who was in the midst of a ball on board, given as a parting entertainment to friends in Kingston. At once every assistance it was possible to render us was most generously extended by the admiral, by those under him, and by the surgeons of the hospital. A portion of this fine establishment was cleared of their sick, and prepared for the reception, at an early hour in the morning, of ours. Nurses and watchmen were procured to care for our people, while barges were got in readiness to remove them to the shore. In the morning boats came from the different vessels to tow to the point those in which our sick had been placed. Fifty-seven men and six officers were removed to the hospital. Subsequently, of new cases occurring in port, twenty-two others were sent; those cases more easily treated being retained on board.

Of the eighty-five left in Port Royal, it may be safely affirmed that one-half would have perished had they remained on board ship; but, under the skill and watchful attendance of the English surgeons, the excellent nursing, the comforts and conveniences of that fine hospital, and, in short, the unremitting care of every one about them, but few had died when we sailed, and a large portion were in a fair way of recovery. Water was sent to us by the admiral, that the benefit of a change in this might be tried. A wharf at the coal depot, Kingston, was cleared, in order that our ship might at once be taken there to get in the supply of fuel needed. It would have been impossible for the authorities to have manifested greater solicitude, or to have rendered more prompt, efficient, or genercus aid. Only those who have been thus situated can fully understand how such kindness and sympathy can be appreciated. Without the aid thus promptly and generously afforded, it is my opinion that the Susquehanna could not have

been brought to the United States, unless by sending out another steamer to tow her.

Every exertion was made by us to stay the ravages of the disease. Things that had come in contact with the sick or dead were burned, disinfecting agents used, and all means adopted likely to be of service; but the epidemic progressed. Twelve and fourteen cases daily occurred among a number, less than two hundred, remaining well after the removal of the sick to the hospital; so that, after a few days, none were likely to remain well to guard the ship. The surgeon had the fever, and the assistant surgeon was in delicate health. Under such circumstances Assistant Surgeon Frederick H. Rose, royal navy, himself enjoying no immunity from the disease, volunteered his services on board for the passage to the United States, and the admiral expressed himself happy that he could permit one of his officers to follow his generous impulse and be useful to us.

It is only necessary that I should state these facts for you justly to appreciate his merit, as well as the kindness extended to us by the English officers at Jamaica; whence, favored by cool breezes and auspicious weather, we were enabled to bring the vessel into port under more favorable circumstances than could have been ordinarily anticipated.

I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,

S. LEDYARD PHELPS,
Lieutenant United States Navy.

Hon. J. M. MASON, United States Senate.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.

APRIL 28, 1858.-Ordered to be printed.

Mr. THOMSON, of New Jersey, made the following

REPORT.

[To accompany Bill S. 298.]

The Committee on Pensions, to whom was referred the petition of Catharine Jacobs, have had the same under consideration, and beg leave to report:

That the husband of the petitioner, though acting in the capacity of a waiter, seems to have been regarded by General Washington as a very deserving man, and on one occasion was relied upon as a guide and spy, which duty is the most dangerous that a soldier has to encounter, and on which occasion he received a wound, for which he was pensioned by Congress; and though they feel much hesitancy as to the propriety of establishing the precedent of pensioning those not strictly in the "military" service, yet they are disposed to regard this as an extraordinary case, and willing that the associations which the name of Washington awaken should have an influence, and, therefore, recommend that the prayer of the petitioner be granted.

The facts connected with the case are set forth in the annexed letter (marked A) from the Commissioner of Pensions, dated January 11, 1858, and addressed to J. J. Coombs, esq.

Adopting this letter as a part of their report, they herewith present a bill.

A.

PENSION OFFICE, January 11, 1858.

SIR: The claim of Mrs. Catharine Jacobs, for a pension under the 2d section of the act of February 3, 1853, as the widow of Francis, has been examined and rejected.

Francis Jacobs, the husband of the claimant, served in the capacity of a servant or waiter to General Washington for several years during the war of the revolution, and was wounded while acting as a guide or pioneer to him and his staff the night before the battle of Brandywine, in crossing fields and woodlands to reach a point where an

alarm had been given that the British were making a movement which indicated a purpose to cross the Brandywine.

He applied for a pension under act of 7th June, 1832, but was denied, for the reason that the act did not embrace persons who served in the capacity of servants or waiters. Congress, by special act, dated June 30, 1834, allowed him a pension of $8 a month, commencing January 1, 1832, to continue during the period of his natural life. He died December 27, 1844, leaving the claimant, to whom he was married subsequent to 1800, his widow. She now asks to be pensioned under the act of February 3, 1853, at the same rate of pension her husband received under the special act of June 30, 1834. There is no law of Congress by which the pension allowed to a person who served in any capacity in the war of the revolution under a special act can be granted to the widow of such person, and as service as a waiter or servant is not recognized by any provision of the general pension laws, I am unable to grant the allowance to Mrs. Jacobs she desires. Her husband was a very meritorious person, or else General Washington would not have employed him as his waiter or servant during the arduous struggles of independence, and continued him in that capacity under his administration as President; but however much merit was attached to his character, and however important at times his assistance may have been, Congress has not made any provision by its general enactments which would embrace his case. My duty is to execute the law. The only relief I can see for Mrs. Jacobs is in an application to Congress.

Very respectfully,

GEORGE C. WHITING,

Commissioner.

J. J. COOMBS, Esq., Present.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.

APRIL 29, 1858.-Ordered to be printed.

Mr. HAMLIN made the following

REPORT.

[To accompany Bill S. 222.]

The Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred the petition of Jeremiah Moors, with a bill accompanying the same, having examined the same, report:

That they adopt the report of the committee made January 25, 1855, in the following words:

"That on August 30, 1831, Henry T. Blake contracted with Adam D. Stuart, an agent of the United States, to build a light-house on the outer Thunder Bay island, in Lake Huron; that on the same day that this contract bears date, Mr. Blake assigned it to the memorialist, constituting him his agent to perform the contract, and to receive the pay of the government therefor, and he was accepted by the government agent to do the work, as the substitute of Mr. Blake, the original contractor; that he proceeded with the government agent to the place of location, and commenced the work, upon the site selected by said government agent, prosecuted the same with skill and energy, in strict conformity to the contract, and to the entire satisfaction of the superintendent, until it was nearly completed-only a small amount of labor to be performed upon the lantern-when a gale of unusual violence arose, and a tremendous sea swept over several acres of that part of the island on which the light-house was located, beating against it with great force, and after withstanding the gale for some time it gave way, and fell into the lake, leaving about twenty feet on the land side standing, a perfectly sound wall.

"From all the evidence presented to the committee in this case, they are of opinion that the destruction of the tower was wholly attributable to the injudicious and exposed location of the building, and to the severity of the storms, (for which the memorialist was not responsible,) and not to any defect in the materials or workmanship of the building; and it was no fault of the contractor that it was not entirely finished, for he was directed to place it where it could not stand, and where he was not able to finish the lantern before the tower fell.

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