Each month, an interesting aspect of the world’s oldest continuous maritime service will be highlighted. The men and women of the United States Coast Guard follow in the fine tradition of the brave mariners who have served before them. As sentinels and saviors of the seas, the United States Coast Guard proudly continues its commitment to honor, respect & devotion to duty to maintain their vigil – Semper Paratus.
Rescue Run of the Roger B. Taney
The sleek bow of the United States Coast Guard Cutter Roger B. Taney sliced through the crystal blue Hawaiian island waters. Launched eleven months earlier, the Treasury-Class cutter’s first few months had seen her transition from her commission at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, through the Panama Canal and arrival in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii in January of 1937. A stark contrast to the chilly waters of the Atlantic, the coastguardmen quickly adapted to the warmth of the Pacific. On the early morning of May 29th, in addition to her normal compliment of officers and crew, Dr. D.J. Zaugg and three nurses from the Public Health Service had hurriedly joined to assist in the cutter’s rescue mission. As the cutter reached her full speed, the U.S.C.G.C. Roger B. Taney and its medical team were racing against time to assist a banker named Baker, George F. Baker, Jr. to be exact.
George F. Baker, Jr. was the son of George F. Baker. Born on March 27, 1840 in Troy, New York, George F. Baker, Sr. became arguably one of the true titans of banking. Amidst the early stages of the American Civil War, Baker, age twenty-three, along with John Thompson and his sons, Frederick and Samuel, co-founded the First National Bank of the City of New York. The bank was the first national bank that had been established in the city under the National Currency Act of 1863. The bank grew significantly in the following years and by 1877, Baker was named the bank’s president. At that time, his twenty-thousand shares were worth nearly twenty million dollars. He remained in the post until 1909 when he transitioned to serve as the chairman of the board. Baker, a behind-the-scenes manager, had invested his wealth well and was the director of twenty-two corporations, the largest stockholder in the Central Railroad of New Jersey, and was, in the early nineteen twenties, the largest stockholder of U.S. Steel. During his rise in fortunes, Baker married and had several children including his son George, who would continue the tradition of not only his father’s name but also the family business.
In February 1936, George F. Baker Jr. coordinated a voyage for the ages with some of his closest friends and confidants aboard his yacht, Viking. The Viking had been built by the Newport News Ship Building and Dry Dock Company in 1929 at the cost of one and a quarter million dollars. She was two-hundred and seventy-two feet in length and thirteen hundred tons burden. Aboard his yacht, Baker and the “boys” were bound for the Pacific Ocean and various islands in the South Seas. Similar to his father’s renown for reclusiveness, Baker’s only comment to the press regarding the trip was that it was “a stag cruise – the first vacation since I was married thirty years ago.”
And for over a year, the stag cruise continued in earnest. In late May 1937, the Viking was moored in Suva, Fiji. Several of the guests aboard departed the cruise to meet their requirements and responsibilities. Henry P. Fletcher, the former Republican National Chairman and J. Gordon Douglas, a New York Stock Broker thanked Baker for his generous hospitality. He took passage on the S.S. Niagara, of the Canadian Pacific Line, which was bound for North America. Others, including Baker’s own namesake, George F. Baker, III, disembarked along with a friend, Robert Walker. For Baker, the party was going to continue onward to Honolulu.
After a stop-over in Suva, Fiji, the Viking set out for Honolulu, Hawaii. While underway, Baker began complaining of stomach pains. Dr. Alfred S. Ambler, Baker’s physician, examined Baker in his stateroom. Ambler was convinced that Baker was suffering from peritonitis. Underway, Dr. Ambler was limited in his abilities to treat the condition. When the Viking spotted a steamer on the horizon, a request for assistance was hailed over the radio. The steamer was quickly identified as the S.S. Niagara which had also left from Fiji. Once formalities were completed, the officers of the Viking queried the steamer’s officers – Was there a doctor aboard who could assist Dr. Ambler in potential surgery? After a consultation with the passengers aboard, Dr. Johan A. Newell, an Australian specialist, and a nurse were identified as willing to assist. Slowing to bare steerage, the two vessels coordinated a transfer of Dr. Newell and the nurse to the Viking. The S.S. Niagara continued on her voyage while preparations were made for emergency surgery aboard the yacht. An additional request was made by the Viking – could word be passed to Mrs. Baker regarding her husband’s situation? The radio message was flashed ashore for transmission to the east coast.
Meanwhile, in the wake of the S.S. Niagara, Dr. Ambler and Dr. Newell prepped Baker for surgery. The surgery was quickly completed and the Viking returned to her original course with her engines full-speed ahead for Honolulu. The assessment by Dr. Ambler and Dr. Newell, however, was short-lived. A few hours after the surgery, the Viking hailed the United States Coast Guard. Further medical assistance was needed as soon as possible. The United States Health Service and the United States Coast Guard quickly sprang into action and launched the U.S.C.G.C. Roger B. Taney.
As the cutter raced through the tranquil waters of the islands toward the inbound Viking, word was received that the serums requested by Dr. Zaugg were ready for transport. Working with the United States Navy, the serums would be flown from Pearl Harbor to the cutter so that upon rendezvous with the Viking, Dr. Zaugg would have the necessary items to assist Baker. A few hours later, the U.S. Navy aircraft dropped the parachuted serums for retrieval by the coastguardsmen aboard the cutter. Shortly after, the cutter spotted the Viking in the distance. Transferring Dr. Zaugg and the three nurses aboard, the Viking, trailed by the U.S.C.G.C. Roger B. Taney continued to race toward Honolulu. In the early morning hours on Friday, the Viking had finally arrived in Honolulu Harbor.
Alerted to her husband’s plight, Mrs. Baker had left the East Coast and upon arrival in San Francisco, had boarded the Philippine Clipper for the flight to Hawaii. She arrived on Saturday morning and immediately boarded the Viking to support her ailing husband. While the initial medical procedures had gone well, late the previous evening, Baker had taken a turn for the worse. Despite additional efforts by Dr. J.R. Judd which included a blood transfusion, Baker was not responding well to the surgery or the treatments of stimulants. Baker slowly drifted off into unconsciousness and later succumbed to his condition. George F. Baker Jr., aged 59, had an estimated wealth of fifty million dollars at the time of his death.
While the attempted surgery underway did not bode well for George F. Baker Jr., the medical emergency aboard the Viking did highlight the preparedness and professionalism of the United States Coast Guard and its ability to work with various agencies and government services to ensure that the mission, getting health professionals and necessary medications to someone in need, was accomplished. While in this specific mission, the results were less than had been hoped for, the Coastguardsmen, working alongside and in unity with members of the United States Navy, the Public Health Service, and the Merchant Service, coordinated their efforts to ensure that a stricken soul was provided any assistance in his fight to survive on the seas, in their committed dedication as sentinels and saviors of the seas.
About the Author – Adam M. Grohman is the researcher and author of over thirty-six books which capture the rich history of our maritime environs and United States Coast Guard History. For more information about scheduling a lecture or to purchase any of his available titles, please visit www.lulu.com/spotlight/adamgrohman or email grohmandive@hotmail.com.