1853 Humane Society of Massachusetts S.S. San Francisco Life Saving Medal. Silver. 50.86 mm. 43.3 gr

1853 Humane Society of Massachusetts S.S. San Francisco Life Saving Medal. Silver. 50.86 mm. 43.3 grams. By Charles Cushing Wright. About Uncirculated.，<strong>Obv:</strong> Rescue scene with the inscription SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS / INSTITUTED, 1785 around the border. <strong>Rev:</strong> Inscriptions HONOR THE REWARD OF MERIT and COURAGE AND PERSEVERANCE above and below the hand engraved inscription TO / CAPT. GEORGE STOUFFER / OF THE / AMERICAN SHIP ANTARCTIC / FOR HIS NOBLE EFFORTS IN / RESCUING THE PASSENGERS & CREW / OF THE / STEAMER SAN FRANCISCO / DISABLED AT SEA / DEC. 24th / 1853.<p>The maiden voyage of the steamer <em>San Francisco</em> began on December 21, 1853, leaving New York City for the long journey, via the Straits of Magellan, to San Francisco. The <em>San Francisco</em> was operated by the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, the dominant player in New York to San Francisco seagoing transport at that time, mostly with two ships connecting passengers and cargo via river and land travel 48 miles across the Isthmus of Panama (in 1855 the Panama Railroad would open and would make the transit routine). The construction of the <em>San Francisco</em> hit New York papers in July 1853 and San Francisco papers a month later. The <em>Daily Alta California</em> noted on August 12, 1853: "The San Francisco, when completed, will be the finest steamship on the Pacific." Unfortunately, just two days out of New York, a piston rod on the steam engines air pump broke, leaving the sidewheel steamer helpless among heavy seas east of the Carolinas. On December 24, a single wave was said by survivors to have taken 150 people overboard. Three ships arrived within a few days, the <em>Kilby</em>, <em>Three Bells</em>, and <em>Antarctic</em>, and each took on some of the <em>San </em><em>Franciscos</em> passengers. The<em> Kilby</em> was unable to handle the heavy seas and extra burden, and her passengers were rescued by another rescue ship, the <em>Lucy Thompson</em>.<p>The maritime disaster made international news. Over 300 people were killed, either lost at sea or felled by the outbreak of cholera that occurred below decks as the <em>San Francisco</em> floated aimlessly, waiting for help. Eight companies of soldiers from the Third United States Infantry were aboard the <em>San Francisco</em>, and the misbehavior of many of the troops was blamed for spreading the cholera. Hundreds of troops were evacuated, while others died. A court martial, overseen by General Winfield Scott and Secretary of War Jefferson Davis, was called to inquire into their leadership in the wake of the disaster. Survivors ended up in New York, Boston, and Liverpool, most far from home, all far from their planned destination on the Pacific.<p>In the aftermath of the <em>San Franciscos</em> loss at sea, the captains of the ships that came to her aid were lauded as heroes. Congress voted gold medals to the captains of the <em>Kilby</em>, <em>Three Bells</em>, and <em>Antarctic</em>, a medal cataloged by Julian as LS-11. The city of Philadelphia also authorized gold medals for the captains, now known as Julian LS-12. The city of New York also authorized medals for the heroes of the day, including the officers and seamen of the <em>Lucy Thompson</em>, the first ship to return survivors back to New York City. The Humane Society of Massachusetts, issuer of this medal, presented medals to officers of all three ships originally on the scene.<p>This medal is an important piece of Americana, issued to the captain of one of the rescuing vessels of one of the 19th centurys most famous shipwrecks. Beautiful prooflike surfaces, the wide open fields of the upper obverse acquiring a few minor contact marks and scratches over the years, as expected, but the rest of the medal in an exceptional state of preservation. Lovely multicolored peripheral toning on the obverse, and especially appealing darker coloration over the entire reverse, which flashes with multicolored iridescence when viewed at different angles.，，