Among the passengers on the Cunard Steamer LUSITANIA which was
sunk off Kinsale, Ireland, on May 7, was
James Blaine Miller, of the Coast and Geodetic
Survey. He had taken passage on the Cunard Steamer CAMERONIA which
was requisitioned by the British government at the last moment,
and her passengers transferred to the LUSITANIA. No information
in regard to him has been received since that disaster was announced,
his name is not among the list of survivors, and there is practically
no doubt that he went down with the vessel.
Mr. Miller was one of the most active and efficient young officers
of the Survey. Last summer he was in command of the Survey Steamer
PATTERSON on the coast of Alaska which made a remarkable voyage
of 1,600 miles to the rescue of the crew of the Revenue Cutter
TAHOMA, wrecked on a hidden reef in the Behring Sea. The PATTERSON
was the first vessel to start to the rescue of the TAHOMA, although
two other vessels, the CORDOVA and the KODIAK, arrived at about
the same time. For this service he was presented with a handsome
medal by the rescued officers and crew of the TAHOMA. This voyage,
undertaken late in the season, was attended with considerable
risk, the PATTERSON being one of the old vessels that the Survey
is now trying to replace.
James Blaine Miller was born in Erie County, Pennsylvania, October
30, 1883, and was therefore in his 32nd year. He graduated from
Oberlin College, Ohio, in June 1903, with the degree of Bachelor
of Arts. He was appointed an Aid in the Survey June 18, 1903,
was promoted to Assistant September 1, 1906, and during his
12 years of service was employed chiefly on hydrographic and
leveling work in various localities. In 1904 he was engaged
in surveys in Puerto Rico. In 1906 he was in command of the
Steamer ENDEAVOR in the survey of Chesapeake Bay; in 1906 he
was placed in command of the Steamer RESEARCH in the Philippine
Islands; in 1909 he was transferred to the command of the FATHOMER;
in 1911 he returned to the United States and in the fall of
that year he was placed in command of the Steamer PATTERSON
for surveying work in the Hawaiian Islands and on the coast
of Alaska. He was detached from the command of the PATTERSON
in March of the present year, and had been granted leave for
several months to take a vacation trip abroad, leaving Washington
April 28.
He was a hard and indefatigable worker, devoted to his profession
and during his 12 years of service completed a large amount
of valuable work. His reports and descriptions were remarkably
full, clear and concise. He maintained excellent discipline
on the vessels under his command. Of a quiet and reserved disposition,
he was much liked by those who knew him best.
His father is Thomas C. Miller, Attorney-at-law, in Erie, Pennsylvania.
It is understood that he had a sister living in Chicago; a brother,
a cadet in the employ of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company,
and other relatives in Pennsylvania. On July 20 a body which
has been positively identified by articles found in the clothing
as that of the late James B. Miller, formerly with the United
States Coast and Geodetic Survey, who was lost with other passengers
of the Cunard Ssteamer LUSITANIA, was washed ashore at Rineen,
Ireland. The remains were interred at Ennistymon.
A notebook was found on the body containing among other addresses
that of R. G. Harrington, care of Navy pay office, San Francisco.
In reply to an inquiry, Mr. Harrington wrote from Shelbyville,
Kentucky, stating that from the description given and for other
reasons he was positive that the remains were those of James
B. Miller, who had shortly before sailing secured his address
and entered it in his notebook. He was the only person on the
LUSITANIA with whom Mr. Harrington was acquainted. Mr. Harrington
was also able to identify another address found in the notebook
and other objects found in the pockets.
A passenger on the LUSITANIA who survived was talking to Captain
Miller when the torpedo struck the vessel. They had been looking
at the shore of Ireland; both saw the torpedo, and when the
shock came went to secure life belts. Miller remarked that the
situation seemed desperate, and requested if he should not survive
that his sister in Chicago be notified. They were separated
in the confusion and shortly afterwards the vessel went down.
Paper, 5/28/1915
C&GS BULLETIN 8/1915
