Mr. Buck to Mr. Hay.
Tokyo, Japan, September 7, 1899.
Sir: I have the honor to confirm my telegram of date the 2d instant, as follows:
Secretary State, Washington:
Commander transport Morgan City telegraphs struck rock Inland Sea; beached 90 miles Kobe; probably disabled; soldiers landed.
Buck.
Soon after receiving the news from the commander, who desired me to cable it to Washington, I received a telegram from Capt. Onofre Befbeder, commanding the Argentine training ship Presidente Sarmiento, reading as follows:
United States Minister, Tokyo:
I have the honor to communicate to your excellency that this morning on entering the northern passage with my ship I found the United States transport Morgan City aground on Innoshima. Immediately on seeing her I anchored and sent an officer to offer my services; but the captain answered that though the ship had a big hole in her bottom, caused by running on a rock an hour before, he needed no immediate assistance, and had already telegraphed to Nagasaki. The troops and crew were in no danger at all. Captain Argentine training ship President Sarmiento.
I have addressed a letter to Captain Befbeder expressing high appreciation of his kind offers and courtesy.
The next telegraphic intimations, received on the 3d, from Mr. Wittich, in command of the troops who were on the Morgan City, and from one of the quartermasters, were to the effect that they needed provisions, and that they desired “the Japanese Government to permit the purchase of food on credit.” Accordingly, by my direction, Consul Lyon, at Kobe, sent supplies early the following morning, and supplies were also sent from Nagasaki, until I was informed by the commander that a sufficiency had been received. Also, the foreign office, at my request, wired to the governor of the locality, Hiroshima Prefecture, to endeavor to facilitate the extension of credit. It appears that both money and provisions were lost on board.
Soon after the accident the governor of Hiroshima sent police and medical attendants from the local branch of the Red Cross Society to render assistance, and, it appears, provided communications by steamer between Miura village, on the island of Innoshima, and Onomichi, near by, the nearest telegraphic and railway point on the mainland, and acted throughout with great kindness.
I am informed that on the 3d the Japanese cruiser Yoshino, especially sent from the naval station at Kure, visited the Morgan City, asked if she could render any possible assistance, and received the reply that none was needed. The navy department here also expressed to Lieutenant Key, who chanced to be there on other business, their anxiety and willingness to do anything further that might be desired. I shall not fail to acknowledge with thanks their gracious offers, as well as the services of the governor.
On the 4th Governor-General Otis telegraphed to me, requesting the facts about the Morgan City, and offering at once to send a transport to convey the troops to Manila. I communicated this offer to the commander [Page 481] and recommended to him and to General Otis that they consult together by telegraph, which was done, I being convinced that arrangements concerning the troops could be best adjusted by an understanding between those officers.
General Otis, he informs me, sent on the 5th the transport Ohio to convey the troops to Manila from Nagasaki, for which place, I learn from the commander, the troops are embarking by a Japanese steamer to-day.
I have, etc.,