[AMERICAN NAVAL] Commander John Mitchell Hawley - a native of Northampton, Mass., a descendant of one of the oldest and most prominent families of the town. He made his home here until he was appointed to the Naval Academy, from which he was graduated in 1868. In 1869 he was made an ensign, in 1870 a master, and in 1874 a lieutenant, and from the time of his graduation until 1887 he rendered valuable service in several coast survey expeditions and in the hydrographic office. From 1887 to 1890 he was executive officer of the Nipsic, one of the United States fleet sent to Apia, Samoan islands, during the uprisings in 1889. The American, British and German fleets in the bay were overwhelmed by a fearful hurricane which swept the islands in March, 1889, and the Nipsic was one of the two or three vessels that escaped total destruction. Commander Hawley received a vote of thanks from the Legislature of Massachusetts for rare courage and ability displayed during the hurricane, and was commended to the Navy Department by Rear Admiral Kimberley, '"for zeal and energy in getting the Nipsic afloat after -she was beached. He had entire charge of this work, and to his efforts, in a large measure, is due the fact that the Nipsic is now afloat without more serious injury." In 1894 he was promoted to be lieutenant-commander and in 1896 was ordered to duty as assistant to the chief of the Bureau of Navigation, having charge of enlisted men. During the Spanish-American war, he was engaged in recruiting men from the west for the navy, having charge of three parties who secured nearly two thousand men for the service. He was promoted to commander March 3, 1899, and in May was ordered to the command of the Hartford, Admiral Farragut's old flagship, which is to be used as a practice-ship. Offered is is a 1p. typed letter, undated but c. 1889, from John M. Hawley [signed only in type], sent to Lieut. Henry W. Lyons offering his testimony if desired. The dockets in pencil are in Lyon's hand. VG..

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