On the day after his death, the President also sent his aid-de-camp to
manifest his regret at the loss of so distinguished a person to the United
States Navy.
I passed a circular note to the foreign ministers resident at Lima, and also
to the members of the cabinet, all of whom attended the funeral.
A special train had been prepared for the friends of the deceased and the
foreign residents at Lima by Mr. Henry Meiggs, to which was attached the
government or state car for the diplomatic corps and the cabinet. On the
return of the train to this city, I gave thanks to all, in the name of the
United States Navy and Government, for the manifestation shown to the memory
of the deceased.
The funeral was attended by a large number of the Peruvian naval officers in
full uniform; and, by order of the minister of war, two batteries of
artillery, a battalion of infantry, and a large number of lancers. Full
military honors in salute were given at the cemetery by the Peruvian
troops.
Inclosed please find articles from the “South Pacific Times,” descriptive of
the funeral; also, a communication from the minister of foreign affairs and
my answer. The communication from the minister of foreign affairs is
translated and embodied in communication No. 6 to Captain Johnson.
[Inclosure 1 in No. 14.]
funeral of admiral collins, u. s. n.
[From the “South Pacific Times,” Callao, August 12,
1875.]
In our last we mentioned the almost sudden death, on the night of the 9th
instant, on hoard the United States flag-ship Richmond, of Rear-Admiral
Napoleon Collins, who was in command of the United States naval forces
on this station. Admiral Collins was a native of Philadelphia. He first
entered the naval service of his country on the 12th January, 1834, and
his commission as rear-admiral was issued on the 9th August, 1874, one
year to the day on which he died. His full length of service, therefore,
exceeded forty-one years. Those of the public on this coast who enjoyed
the pleasure of his acquaintance could not fail duly to estimate the
many excellent qualities that formed a perfect character. Highly
respected in the very distinguished position he filled, and honored by
those who had the privilege of serving under him, he was, at the same
time, noted for his great social virtues, and for a courtesy that was
nothing short of amiability. His hospitality was unbounded, and it was
impossible to know him without being captivated by the striking
qualities which marked his character—qualities that elicited admiration
quite as much as distinguished rank inspired respect. Quite a gloom has
been spread over the communities of Lima and Callao by his sudden
demise, and the heart-felt sorrow occasioned is sincere and not-confined
to lip-expression. It is seldom that regrets have been more deep at any
event occurring here, however sad, or grief more poignant at the death
among us of one comparatively a stranger. In these remarks we embrace
the sentiments of the community on whose behalf we pay the tribute of
justice to departed worth.
The following correspondence consequent on the sad event has taken place:
“United States Consulate,
Callao,
August 10, 1875.
“Sir: I have to fulfill a painful duty,
and inform you of the decease of Rear-Admiral Napoleon Collins,
commander-in-chief of the South Pacific naval station, which
unfortunate event took place yesterday, the 9th instant, at 8.45
p.m.
“His remains will be interred to-morrow afternoon, in the English
cemetery, and I therefore have the honor to request from you the
necessary permission, in order that the United States marines
belonging to the same vessel may land to take part in the
funeral rites, and to perform the customary salutes.
“Very respectfully,
“P. CUAYTON, United States
Consul.
“To the Prefect of Callao.”
“Callao, August 10, 1875.
“The writer has read with deep regret the note of the consul of
the United States in this port, in which he communicates to him
the lamented death of Rear-Admiral Napoleon Collins,
commander-in-chief of the United States naval forces in the
South Pacific, which event took place on board the “Richmond,”
on the evening of the 9th instant. In consequence of this
regrettable circumstance, and that the funeral will take place
to-morrow afternoon in the British cemetery, the consul solicits
the necessary permission from this prefecture in order that the
marines from the ship may land to assist in the funeral
ceremonies and perform the usual salutes.
[Page 1004]
“While freely granting this permission, the undersigned begs to
be the faithful interpreter of public opinion, and to express to
the consul the deep sorrow felt in this province at the decease
of the illustrious rear-admiral.
“For this sad cause the undersigned offers to the consul, and to
his noble country, his profound regrets, and repeats the sincere
assurances of esteem and appreciation with which he has the
honor to subscribe himself the consul’s very obedient
servant,
“MANUEL VELARDE,
Commander-in-Chief of the Marine Office.
“Callao, August 10, 1875.
“To the Adjutant-in-Chief:
“At 2 o’clock to-morrow the funeral will take place of
Rear-Admiral Collins, commander-in-chief of the United States
squadron in the South Pacific. Consequently you will issue all
necessary orders that the boats of the squadron at anchor in the
bay may assist in the ceremony of removing the remains from the
Richmond to the shore. All commanders and officers not on duty
will also attend. On the arrival on shore of the funeral
cortege, it will be followed to the place of sepulture. The
staff will be presided by the subscriber, in half-dress, with
blue waistcoat and white gloves.
“DIEGO DE LA HAZA.”
Directly President Pardo was informed of the serious illness of
Rear-Admiral Collins he sent an adjutant to the Hon. Richard Gibbs, the
minister of the United States, offering at once to send the most
celebrated physicians in Lima in consultation, but it was,
unfortunately, then too late for their services to be valuable, in
consequence of the extreme rapidity with which the disease had already
developed itself. On being informed of the unfortunate demise of the
admiral, the President acted in the same courteous manner, and by his
private aid-de-camp expressed his regret to the minister at the loss
experienced by the Navy of the United States.
The funeral took place yesterday. It would be impossible for us to give
an account of the demonstration of respect that was made by all classes,
both native and foreign, in honor of one who had in so short a time
earned the esteem of the public. The time appointed for the solemn
ceremony was 2 o’clock p.m. Long before that hour thousands of persons
crowded the mole and other places from which it was known a view could
be commanded. A gun, at a few minutes after 2 o’clock, announced that
the procession of boats had left the flag-ship. In all, it consisted of
upward of thirty boats, which left the ship in the following order:
- First boat, containing band and the tiring party.
- Second boat, with chaplain and surgeon of the flag-ship
Richmond.
- Third boat, with coffin and bearers.
- Fourth boat, with pall-bearers.
- Fifth boat, with officers of flag-ship, in full-dress
uniform.
- Sixth boat, with officers of the United States steamship
Onward.
Then followed several boats from Peruvian ships-of-war, and eight
belonging to steamships of the Pacific Steam Navigation Company; a few
belonging to merchant-vessels brought up the rear. They all carried the
flags of their respective nationalities at half-mast. The Richmond’s
boats were towed by the steam-launch belonging to the ship. The
procession moved very slowly, and took upward of twenty minutes in
reaching the shore, where it was met by thousands of persons. The
blue-jackets lined one side of the mole and the marines the other. The
hearse in attendance received the corpse, and then the procession,
according to programme, was to move off in the following order to the
cemetery at Bellavista:
Band of Peruvian regiment; firing party of marines; chaplain and surgeon
of flagship Richmond; hearse, followed by pall-bearers; men from the
Richmond, commanded by their officers; officers of flag-ship, juniors in
advance; Hon. Richard Gibbs, United States minister, and Captain
Johnston, of the Richmond; officers of the Onward, juniors in advance;
followed by the several consuls and ministers plenipotentiary.
The members of the Peruvian government present were: Captain Garcia y
Garcia, minister of government; Señor Freyre, minister of war; and Señor
A. V. Torre, minister of the interior.
Two special trains arrived from Lima, one with about four hundred
soldiers, who attended in the procession; the other with the ministers
of government, foreign ministers, and other gentlemen of distinction.
Among the private gentlemen present we noticed Messrs. Henry Meiggs,
John G. Meiggs, Guillermo School,. E. G. DuBois, Fred. Ford, M. P.
Grace, Noel West, C. A. Westphal, W. F. Beart, G. M. Bowen, Charles S.
Rand, Henry Meiggs, jr., W. H. Cilly, L. Mawlinoski, John Dawson, H. W.
Isaacson, A. Robertson, Walter Shaw, Norman Evans, W. P. Young, S.
Crosby, Edward Dartnell, W. B. Colville, William DeCoursey, C. H.
Bodeker, J. C. Thorn dike, and Dr. Watson, Dr. Ward, and Dr. Phillips.
The naval gentlemen prominent as representing the Peruvian navy were
Admiral Haza, Captain Grau, Captain More, and Captain Miro Quesada.
[Page 1005]
The service was performed by the chaplain of the Richmond in a most
impressive manner. There were also present the Rev. Mr. Weatherhead and
the Rev. Mr. Mackinnon.
The commanders of the Pacific Steam Navigation Company who attended were
Messrs. Mills, Conlan, Barber, Clampitt, and Potts.
During yesterday and the day before flags at half-mast were hoisted at
the different consulates on shore, at the various public departments,
and by the shipping in the bay. Guns were fired from the Richmond, at
intervals of fifteen minutes, from the time the corpse left the ship
until the mournful ceremony of interment was over. The several officers
of the United States Navy wore crape around their arms; the national
flag was also draped in the mournful emblem of sorrow, and some of the
Peruvian officers likewise wore crape. While the ceremony was proceeding
within the cemetery a salute was fired outside from the guns that had
been taken up in the procession, and three volleys were fired over the
grave by the marines of the Richmond, under command of Captain
Meeker.
Few, if any, residents in Callao have witnessed a greater concourse of
persons than attended to do honor yesterday to the memory of the gallant
admiral, whose name will long be remembered here with happy
recollections of his presence among us, and sorrowful memories that he
has been taken from us forever.
