29, 30 July. 
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■: .. # 
Our Mascots 
from tke Galapagos 
Thirteenth day out 
Early morning underway for Seymore Island. 
To students of Naval History, Seymore Island is perhaps best known 
as the burial place of Lieutenant John S. Cowan, of the U.S. Frigate Essex, 
who was buried here more than a century ago. In Admiral David P. 
Porter’s “Journal of a Cruise Made to the Pacific Ocean in the Years of 
1812, 13 and 14” appears the following terse statement regarding his 
death — 
“I have now the painful task of mentioning an occurence which gave 
me the utmost pain, as it was attended by the premature death of a 
promising young officer, whereby the service at this time has received 
an irreparable injury, and by a practice which disgraces human nature. 
I shall, however, throw a veil over the whole previous proceedings, and 
merely state, that without my knowledge they met on shore, at daylight, 
and sit the third fire Mr. Cowan fell dead. His remains were buried the 
same day in the spot where he fell, and the following inscription was 
placed over his tomb: ‘Sacred to the memory of Lieutenant John S. Cowan, 
of the U.S. Frigate Essex, who died here anon 1813, aged 21 years.’ ” 
The remainder of the day was spent fishing. At the request of the 
President, a searching party was organized and all preparations for a 
thorough search for Lieutenant Cowan’s grave were made. 
Fourteen days from home 
During the morning hours the searching party made a futile effort 
to discover the grave of Lieutenant Cowan. James Bay was combed from 
end to end and inland about one-third of a mile. Evidently the passage of 
time — one hundred and twenty-five years of continuous erosion by wind 
and waters, had obliterated all evidence of the resting place of the Naval 
Lieutenant. 
Had the search been successful as the President hoped it would be, 
the President (with the approval of the Ecuadorian Government) planned 
to take the remains to the United States Naval Academy for internment 
there with many of America’s Naval Heroes. 
FIRST SMOKER A SUCCESS 
During the morning the quarterdeck had been rigged with the box- 
ing ring. Promptly at 1930 the President appeared and shorty there- 
after the first bout of the evening was underway. 
It was obvious that the committee had spared no effort to make the 
smoker a success. With three wrestling bouts, four boxing bouts, one free 
for all, and music by the Hill Billies and the Ship’s Orchestra, the evening 
slipped by £nd the Smoker came to an end much too soon. The Welfare 
Fund provided smokes and the Supply Officer contributed much to the 
occasion with sandwiches, do-nuts, ice cream and coffee. All hands were 
unanimous in the opinion, “Smokers should be staged more often”. 
Fifteenth day 
Underway in the early morning for Tower Island. On arrival it was 
discovered that the water was much too rough for fishing, so the Houston 
changed course and headed for Cocos Island. 
Divine Service was conducted on the quarterdeck. 
Information that mail would be received and despatched at Cocos 
Island led all hands to catch up on their homework. The crew was paid at 
0800, and after seeing the line in front of the post office purchasing 
money orders, it was surmised that the letters being written would contain 
at least “one thing of interest”. 
<3 
& 
Buried Treasure Beckons 
at Cocos Island 
