HEALY, Captain M(ichael). A Report of the Cruise of the Revenue Marine Steamer Corwin in the Arctic Circle in the Year 1884 Government Printing Office Washington DC 1889 First First edition. Quarto. 102pp., 2 large folding maps, 4 color lithographic plates and numerous illustrations from engravings. Cloth partially perished at the extremities, dampstain to the bottom corner of the first few leaves, about very good. Healy transmits his report and provides introductions to the reports of his junior officers. Healy was the son of an Irish immigrant father and a Georgia slave mother. Emancipated by his father and sent North, he ran away to sea at age 15. He was brought back by his brothers only to run away again. In 1865 he joined the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service, the forerunner of the present day Coast Guard. He was made a junior officer and eventually commander aboard several cutters, the first African-American to be so named. His most distinguished service came while commanding the Corwin and the Bear, participating in several daring rescues, including the rescue of the Greeley Expedition, and an unusual operation where he transported more than 500 head of reindeer from Siberia to Alaska to save the local Eskimo population from starvation. His career was stormy; at one point he was court-martialed for harsh treatment of his crew (indeed it was rumored that he was the model for Captain Larsen in Jack London's Sea Wolf). He was, however, a talented officer and was later reactivated into service where he distinguished himself again, winning many citations for his performance. Healy was the brother of James Augustine Healy, the first African-American to be made a Bishop in the Catholic Church. This report is scarce, particularly in the original binding. Price: USD 850.00 other currencies   order no. 3427    inquire

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