The Medallic History of the United States of America Part 87

The corpses were all numbered, and together with a description list, were delivered to the authorities of Stonington, a copy of said list being retained on board.

On the morning of the 31st ultimo at daylight, kindly accompanied by J. P. Bigelow, Captain George B. Hull, Superintendent of New York and Providence Steamship Company (one of the rescued), and John McGuire to a.s.sist my worn-out officers and men, I again stood for the scene of the wreck and cruised in that vicinity, with lookouts stationed aloft, extending my cruise as far as Block Island. The wind was blowing strong from the northwest and constantly increasing, with a heavy cross sea from the southeast, breaking over and completely covering this vessel.

There being no signs of any bodies floating about, with decks full of water, I stood for Point Judith. Still finding no signs of the wreck, and the sea getting too heavy to lower a boat, I stood for Newport and anch.o.r.ed.

Having found a jewel and pocket-book on board (the property of one of the dead), I turned the same over to Mr. Bigelow, to take them to Stonington for the purpose of identifying corpse marked No. 4.

Trusting that the conduct of the Moca.s.sin, under my command, (p. 437) and the acts of her officers and crew may meet the approval of the Department,

I remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, David RITCHIE, _Captain United States Revenue Marine_.

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_Resolution of Congress Voting Thanks to Captain Ritchie._

_Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress a.s.sembled_: That the thanks of Congress are due, and are hereby tendered to Captain David Ritchie, commanding the revenue steamer Moca.s.sin, and to the officers and men under his command, for their heroic and humane action in saving the lives of forty-two persons from the wreck of the steamer "Metis" on the waters of Long Island Sound, on the morning of the thirty-first of August, eighteen hundred and seventy-two.

Approved January 24, 1873.

No. 82. (p. 438) PLATE Lx.x.xII.

_1876._

These United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States. [Rx]. In commemoration of the hundredth anniversary, etc.

CENTENNIAL MEDAL.

[_Hundredth Anniversary of American Independence._]

THESE UNITED COLONIES ARE, AND OF RIGHT OUGHT TO BE, FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES.[127] A female figure, personifying the United Colonies, is kneeling, with a sword in her right hand, while she points with her left to a constellation of thirteen stars, emblematical of the thirteen original United States. Exergue: 1776.

[Footnote 127: These words occur in the following resolution of the Continental Congress:

IN CONGRESS.

_Resolved_: That the consideration of the first resolution be postponed to Monday, the first day of July next, and in the meanwhile, that no time be lost in case the Congress agree thereto, that a committee be appointed to prepare a declaration to the effect of the said first resolution, which is in these words: "That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, Free and Independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown; and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved."

Monday, June 10th, 1776.]

IN COMMEMORATION OF THE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE. ACT OF CONGRESS JUNE 1874. America personified as a maiden, coiffed with the Phrygian cap of liberty, girt with a sword, and with the shield of the United States of America by her side, is crowning with laurels two female figures representing Manufactures and Arts. On the platform, 1876.

This medal, though not signed, is by William Barber.

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ORIGINAL DOc.u.mENTS. (p. 439)

_Act of Congress Authorizing Centennial Medals._

_Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress a.s.sembled_: That medals with appropriate devices, emblems and inscriptions, commemorative of the Centennial Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, be prepared at the mint at Philadelphia for the Centennial Board of Finance, subject to the provisions of the fifty-second section of the coinage act of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, upon the payment of a sum not less than the cost thereof, and all the provisions whether penal or otherwise of said coinage act against the counterfeiting or imitating of coins of the United States shall apply to the medals struck and issued under the provisions of this act.

Approved June 16, 1874.

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_Official Notice Promulgated by the Centennial Board of Finance._

United States Centennial Board of Finance, Philadelphia, March 24, 1875.

It being deemed essential "that medals, with appropriate devices, emblems, and inscriptions, commemorative of the centennial anniversary of the Declaration of Independence," should be officially issued, the Congress of the United States, by special act, approved June 16, 1874, directed the same to be prepared at the Mint for the Centennial Board of Finance, subject to the provisions of the fifty-second section of the coinage act of 1873, upon the payment of a sum not less than the cost thereof, and all the provisions, whether penal or otherwise, of said coinage act against the counterfeiting or imitation of coins of the United States shall apply to the medals struck and issued under the provisions of this act. These medals having been prepared and issued are now being sold by the Centennial Board of Finance and its agents, and the profits arising therefrom strictly applied in aid of the preparation for the celebration of the anniversary which the medals commemorate. They are the only medals relating to the great events of 1876, officially issued, and may be readily distinguished from any of the tokens styled Centennial medals and issued by private parties for their individual profit, from the fact that in addition to the designs and other wording, the larger medals have stamped upon them "Act of Congress, June, 1874," and the others, "By authority of the Congress of the U. S."

These official medals are of four kinds: small gilt at $1; large bronze at $2; coin silver at $3; large gilt at $5, or all inclosed in one case at $11. Cautionary notice is hereby given that the Centennial Board of Finance intends to avail itself of the protection and privilege granted by the acts of Congress above mentioned, and that the highly penal provisions for publishing, counterfeiting, or imitating the authorized official medals will be strictly enforced against all infringement and violation.

John WELSH, _President Centennial Board of Finance_.

Frederick FRALEY, _Secretary_.

No. 83. (p. 440) PLATE Lx.x.xIII.

_1876._

These United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States. [Rx]. By authority of the Congress, etc.

CENTENNIAL MEDAL.

[_Hundredth Anniversary of American Independence._]

THESE UNITED COLONIES ARE, AND OF RIGHT OUGHT TO BE, FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES.[128] A female figure, personifying the United Colonies, is kneeling, with a sword in her right hand, while she points with her left to a constellation of thirteen stars, emblematical of the thirteen original United States. Exergue: 1776.

[Footnote 128: See note 1 under No. 82, page 438.]

BY AUTHORITY OF THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES 1876. Within a wreath of laurel, IN COMMEMORATION OF THE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE.[129]

[Footnote 129: The act of Congress in relation to the Centennial Medals, and an official notice promulgated by the Centennial Board of Finance, are given under No. 82, page 438.]

This medal, though not signed, is by William Barber.

No. 84. (p. 441) PLATE Lx.x.xIV.