A Well-Deserved Recognition.
An interesting ceremony took place at thei Mercantile Marine Officers' Association at noon on Sunday, when the Captain, officers, and crew of the German str. Albenga were presented with handsome souvenirs of their gallantry in rescuing the officers and crew of the Pechili. The large billiard room on the Association's premises was filled with members and their friends, and among the guests present were: Vice-Consul Stengel (Germapy), Mr. F, Hagberg, Consul-General for Sweden and Norway, and Captain Willbrandt of the German gunboat Toguar.
Mr. Tippin, President of the Association, who presided, said that on behalf of the members, present and t, he had great pleasure in extending a cordial and hearty welcome to their guests. They met there to do honour to men who had proved themselves well worthy of the name by the good work they had done in rescuing valuable lives at the risk and peril of their own. (Hear! Hear!) When the circumstances of this gallant Toscue were remembered they felt proud that such men should be members of the Mercantile Marine. He had made the fullest enquiries with regard to the rescue, and it was marvellous how the captain and officers and crew could have done such good work under such trying circumstances. By reason of the storm prevailing at the time the Albenga was in practically helpless condition. Half of hor propeller had gone through racing in the high sea, and the steering gear being carried away they wore practically help-Joss throughout the night. They never Imew but that any moment might be their last. Those who witnessed the Shanghai itself found it quite bad enough. When day broke on the 2nd of September a high sea was still running, and dawn was no doubt welcome toall, Atdaylight a vessel was sighted in dire trouble, flying signals of distress, The captain had to decide whether assistance could be given, and when ho asked his officers and crew if they were prepared to man the: boats they came forward like one man. The officers and mon who went in the hosts behaved like good follows, though they had groat difficulty in pro-venting their boats from capsizing when they wont alongside the Pechili. Ho felt quite sure that in the name of hu-inanity Capt. Peterson and his officers and crow were worthy of the praise and everlasting thanks due to them. He was very sorry to have to say that the second officer met with an accident, one of his logs being badly crushed. ' The latest accounts from the doctors reported, he was sorry to say, that the leg could not be saved. This meant that the injured officer would be unable to follow his vocation, The Association wished to extend their deepest sympathy to him and hoped things would be bright for him in the future, The Association also wished to present the officers crew with souvenirs of this memorable occasion. Ho had great pleasure in stating that Mr. von Stengel, German Vice-Consul at this port, had very kindly undertaken to make the presentation, The honour was very much appreciated. and in asking Mr, von Stengel to make the presentation, he expressed the gratia tude of the Association to him for doing Mr. von Stengel thanked the President for his kind remarks and sad it gave him very great pleasure to hand over these souvenirs.
Capt. Petersen for himself and on behalf of the officers and men thanked the Association for their handsome gifts and said that if a similar position ever Addressing the officers and crow in! arose og in they would do all they could. German he added his commendation to The toast of "The Kaiser" was then that of Mr. Tippi th ted drank ind the ceremony terminated with affeers with gold pendant the officers with handsome gold pendant ockers, and the crew with s cheque, all] three lusty cheers for the officers and men of the Albenga.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.