On
the occasion of the retirement of Chief Engineer G.
W. Hutchison on May 31, 1938, his associates tendered
him a banquet at the Far Eastern Hotel in Manila and presented
him with a 12-gauge Winchester shotgun. Rather than retire to
a life of ease, he immediately accepted an appointment in the
Philippine Commonwealth Service and was assigned to the Ship
PATHFINDER for the same duty as he was performing before retirement.
"Hutch," as he is affectionately known to his shipmates, was
appointed chief engineer July 1, 1905, and has served aboard
the Ships ROMBLON, RESEARCH, MARINDUQUE, FATHOMER, and PATHFINDER.
During his 30-odd years of service, he has been associated with
a generation of Coast Survey officers, including the late Rear
Admiral R. S. Patton and the present Director. Gifted with a
pleasant and sociable personality, Chief Hutchison, whose duty
had been exclusively in the Philippine Islands, has made friends
throughout the length and breadth of the Islands. He experienced
many hazards in connection with his service and for his attention
to duty and courageous conduct during the typhoon of August
15, 1936, when the FATHOMER's anchor cable parted and the vessel
stranded, he was especially commended by the Secretary of Commerce.
It is with profound regret that we learned of the death of Chief
Engineer George W. Hutchinson in Manila on June 19,1950, after
47 years of service in the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey in
the Philippine Islands. Mr. Hutchinson was first employed as
Chief Engineer aboard the Ship RESEARCH in 1903, and from then
on until the Japanese invasion in 1941 served on various survey
ships throughout the Philippine Islands. His knowledge of the
Islands, weather conditions, bases of supply, and familiarity
with American and Filipino residents increased as time went
by and he unselfishly contributed his time and wealth of knowledge
to all new officers who were unfamiliar with the Islands. By
choice, he learned to stand bridge watches on the ships, to
handle the ships, and to execute ship and launch hydrography--duties
not expected of a Chief Engineer. His knowledge of the weather
in the Philippines, especially of precautionary measures necessary
during the typhoon season contributed greatly to the safety
of the vessels on which he served. Every member of the Bureau
who knew "Hutch" loved and admired him and all profited from
knowing him. Mr. Hutchinson was born May 23, 1875, and it is
a coincidence that his span of life covered the entire service
of the Coast and Geodetic Survey in the Philippines and his
death occurred just 11 days before the termination of operations.
Commander Charles Pierce attended the funeral as pall-bearer.
C&GS BULLETIN 8/31/1938
THE BUZZARD, Vol. 18, No. 35, 8/29/1950
