No. 22.
The Chevalier de
Tavera to Mr. Bayard.
Sir: As it appears by the last official report on the life-saving stations in the United States, several members of the station No. 17, Forked River (New Jersey), have particularly distinguished themselves on occasion of the wreck of the Austrian bark-ship Kraljevica, which occurred on February 11 last.
The names of these courageous seamen are the following: John Soper, Samuel Perrini, Solomon Soper, William Inman, Cornelius Thomson, Henry Reeves, and Joel Ridgeway.
The three first named unfortunately succumbed whilst attempting to rescue the crew of the Kraljevica.
The Imperial and Royal Government, recognizing fully the self-abnegation with which these dutiful seamen tendered their services to the Austrian ship, entirely regardless of their own personal danger, I have been instructed to forward as an acknowledgment of these services the following gratifications to the above-named persons, viz: To W. Inman, C. Thomson, J. Ridgeway, and H. Reeves, $40 each (total $160); $100 to each of the families of the deceased seamen, viz: J. Soper, S. Soper, and S. Perrini (total $300).
I have consequently the honor to address myself to your obliging intervention, with the request to forward the inclosed sum of $460 to the indicated persons, expressing, at the same time, my fullest appreciation of the courage and devotion with which these seamen have been exposing and partially also sacrificing their lives in the accomplishment of their arduous and perilous duty.
I avail myself, etc.,