I have thought it no more than an act of justice to Mr. Dabney to forward
this letter and article unofficially to the Department for its information.
Mr. Dabney’s heroic and humane conduct must meet with applause wherever it
is known, and I am sure that the Department will have as much pleasure in
learning, as I have in communicating it. He is not aware of this proceeding
on my part, as I have thought it best to write you on the matter without in
any way leading him to suppose that his gallant behavior has been the
subject of a dispatch to you, and for obvious reasons I make it
unofficial.
[Inclosure.—Unofficial.]
Dear Sir: As I had the honor of but a
presentation to you in 1875, I feel that some apology may be requisite
for my venturing to address you, although the invariable tenor of the
remarks of our countrymen upon your urbanity and kindness during your
long official residence at London would encourage me to speak on the
subject of this letter, even had I never met you.
[Page 857]
I beg to premise that I write now purely in the enthusiasm of an American
who feels proud of the exhibition of marked gallantry on the part of an
official representative of his country, and not, I conscientiously
believe, through any bias occasioned by my connection with Mr. Dabney;
and I think that I am safe in believing that you will be gratified to
learn of the heroism of any of your countrymen, especially of that of an
official in your diplomatic jurisdiction, directly and without having to
gather information from newspaper reports.
Mr. Dabney is not called upon as American consul, to report the
occurrences which I am about to relate, and modesty will seal the lips
of himself and his son. As I am the only other male American here, I
take upon myself to give you a statement of the facts, and I beg to say
most explicitly that I do so without Mr. Dabney’s knowledge or suspicion
of my intention.
On Sunday, the 30th of November ultimo, the French bark Jacques Cœur, of
Brest, entered this port in ballast, coming to fetch the cargo of
another French vessel condemned here some months ago. A strong easterly
wind became a gale from the southeast soon after she anchored, and by
nightfall, was fearfully violent, blowing directly on shore, with
driving torrents of rain and a rapidly rising sea.
I will not weary you with descriptions of localities, of necessities of
moorings, of the other vessels in the bay, &c., but will only say
that this French bark and an English one, which entered the same day,
had, perforce, merely their own chains and anchors to depend upon, and
had taken their positions too near the shore for vessels without
moorings during an easterly wind. The consequence was that they dragged
during the gale; the Englishman cut away his masts and was saved, the
Frenchman hopefully kept his taut spars and was driven ashore.
This occurred at about 1 a.m., and the storm was then truly terrific,
while the surf upon the beach was of fearful and most unusual force, as
the great damage done to the breakwater, which is in process of
construction here, testifies.
Unfortunately, neither the Portuguese Government nor the local
authorities have created an organization or provided appliances for
saving life in cases of shipwreck here. Some years ago an English
life-boat was sent hither, but as it is too heavy for launching at such
times when it might be of service, and is not really what is required at
this locality, it has never been used. In all the cases of wreck, the
Dabneys have provided Sftpes, grappling-hooks, tar barrels for giving
light, &c., from their own stores, and Mr. Samuel Dabney, during the
past 35 years, has ever been on the spot in an emergency, directing
action and setting the example of saving life. Many a mariner has owed
his life to him.
On this occasion no professional duty or national feeling summoned Mr.
Dabney from his bed to the storm-riven shore. But noting, by the
vessels’ lights, that some were dragging, he and his son Herbert, a
young gentlemen of twenty-six years of age, hurried to the beach at
midnight. A small steamer of some 20 tons, belonging to the place, had
already parted her chains and was beiug knocked to pieces against the
sea-wall by the surf. The French vice-consul, the director of the
custom-house, and some other Portuguese gentlemen, were there; and a
knot of boatmen, custom-house guards, &c., were also gathered in an
expectant group near by as the French bark gradually approached her
doom.
The full moon gave light, in spite of the clouds, so that tar barrels
were not needed; but, finding that there were no ropes or any other
provision for saving life on the spot, Mr. Herbert Dabney hurried back,
roused some of his employés and speedily returned with a coil of new
manila rope from the Dabney stores. From this, pieces of sufficient
length were cut, to admit of holding, on the shore, any persons who
might venture in the surf to rescue the crew of the bark.
As the Frenchmen did not (perhaps could not) slip their chains when the
vessel struck, she remained anchored at some distance from dry land with
the enormous waves breaking over her. Could she have been freed from her
chains she, light as she was, would doubtless have been driven up on the
beach and all on board might have been saved. As it was, she soon broke
in pieces, being an old vessel, and all her ship’s company—thirteen in
number—were struggling for their lives in the raging surf among
fragments of the wreck. The débris of the little
steamer was also being whirled to and fro in the breakers at that spot
and greatly enhanced the danger to any one who should enter the
water.
None of the brave old boatmen, who, in former years, were ready to risk
their lives to save others, were there present. The Portuguese gentlemen
were unfitted by their want of athletic development and of familiarity
with danger of that kind, to lend physical aid. Among the rollers, and
the fragments of wreck, hurled madly here and there, could be seen the
heads and arms of the unhappy men who were struggling for their lives,
while amid the howling of the wind and the roar of the surf arose the
shrieks of the drowning and the excited cries of the spectators. It
seemed like suicide to venture into the surf, and those who felt too
weak to cope with such fearful forces are not to be blamed for not
attempting rescue. But Herbert Dabney, fastening a rope around his
waist, gallantly dashed in, and, after two ineffectual attempts, by a
[Page 858]
third daring rash grappled
with a Frenchman and dragged him within reach of other hands. The poor
sailor was so utterly exhausted that he had to be carried bodily to a
place of shelter. Scarcely behind his son, Mr. Samuel Dabney rushed into
the surf and rescued another man.
And here, I would call attention to the facts that Mr. Samuel Dabney is
fifty-five years of age, that he has a large family dependent on him,
and that he is the head of an important commercial house to which his
loss would be most disastrous. If any man had cause to hesitate in
risking his life, he had. And risk there was, gravely perilous risk.
Apart from the usual danger of the violent surf, the great quantity of
floating spars and pieces of timber offered fearful danger not only
through blows, but by becoming entangled in the ropes, which, intended
to be means of safety, thus became means of dragging the men to whom
they were fastened under water. Both of the Messrs. Dabney at times had
to cast loose the ropes which were around their waists and then work
gallantly, dependent solely on their own strength and bravery. At one
time Mr. Samuel Dabney was pinioned by a mass of timber on his leg, so
that he was severely bruised and his life was nearly lost.*
Of the five Frenchmen who were the only ones saved, four were rescued by
the Messrs. Dabney. The other eight poor fellows of the crew
disappeared, and, at the time I write, only one of their bodies has been
washed ashore.
It seems to me that the fact that Mr. Dabney is my wife’s brother should
not debar me from expressing my admiration of his and his son’s great
gallantry. I think that the Victoria Cross has been meritedly bestowed
in many cases not so meritorious as this; for in those the soldier’s
duty, esprit du corps, and comradeship were
powerful incentives, while here there was nothing but humanity. Among
Americans there are no decorations, but public respect may take their
place. You, sir, will know, better than I, whether Mr. Dabney’s conduct
should be brought to the notice of our Department of State, and, should
you consider it well to do so, a report from you will come more
fittingly than from a private citizen.
I can assure you that I have under rather than over painted the perils of
the occasion, and that I have endeavored to be exact in my
statements.
In view of my relationship to Mr. Dabney and his sensitive modesty I beg
to insure, by reiteration, your notice of my statement that Mr. Dabney
has not the faintest idea of my thus writing to your excellency.
I have the honor to remain, with the greatest respect and consideration,
your most obedient servant,
To His Excellency Benjamin Moran,
United States Minister at the Court of Portugal,
Lisbon.
