to cause to be conveyed to Captain Terry and to the government of the United States the thanks of this government for the valuable services promptly rendered on the occasion.
Thomas C. Scanlon."
The report of the Port Captain concluded, "I have much pleasure in bearing testimony to the very hearty and enthusiastic manner in which the work was carried out by Captain Terry, officers and crew; nothing was spared, no suggestion of my own but was carried out at once with cheerful good will, showing how pleased they were to be of assistance, and as a sailor of nearly thirty years experience I have never seen work carried out in a better manner than was done on the 23d February on board the United States corvette Marion under Captain Terry's command."
This letter was addressed to the secretary of state by the British Minister in Washington, dated April 17, 1882.
"I have the honor to inform you that her Majesty's Government has received a report from Cape Town in which mention is made of the services rendered by Captain Terry of the United States ship Marion, on the occasion of the stranding of the Coolie Emigrant ship Poonah, near that town, and that Earl Granville has now instructed me to convey to that officer the thanks of Her Majesty's government for his assistance in floating the vessel in question. In requesting you to be good enough to cause a communication to this effect to be made to Captain Terry, I have the honor to be with high consideration sir,
Your obedient servant,
L. S. Sackville West."
In this connection it is known the British Admiral at Simonstown nearby had been appealed to and declined to render assistance. The British steamer City of Liverpool was engaged to endeavor to pull the stranded ship off the beach, but owing to bad weather and the many difficulties encountered, she remained only fifteen hours, collected sixty pounds an hour, and steamed away, leaving the Poonah to her fate.
Rear Admiral Terry's naval career is interesting in the fact that it includes service in the old time sailing vessels, the sail and steam
