Michael Cashen, Corporal, USMC

was among the many members of her company who lost their lives when Vandalia was sunk in the very destructive Apia, Samoa, hurricane of 15-16 March 1889.

USMC muster rolls show service on board or at the following:

U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1798-1958about Michael Cashen
Name: Michael Cashen
Muster Date: Nov 1884
Enlistment Date: 28 Oct 1881
Rank: Corporal
Station: On Board Uss Lackowanna 2nd Rate

The first USS Lackawanna was a screw sloop-of-war in the Union Navy during the American Civil War.

Lackawanna was launched by the New York Navy Yard on 9 August 1862; sponsored by Ms. Imogen Page Cooper; and commissioned on 8 January 1863, Captain John B. Marchand in command. She was named after the Lackawanna River in Pennsylvania.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Lackawanna_%281862%29

U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1798-1958about Michael Cashen
Name: Michael Cashen
Muster Date: Dec 1887
Enlistment Date: 5 Nov 1886
Rank: Corporal
Station: Usrs Franklin Norfolk VA

The fourth USS Franklin of the United States Navy was a screw frigate.

The ship was laid down at the Portsmouth Navy Yard in 1854, and built in part of materials salvaged from the previous Franklin. For a time housed over, she was launched on 17 September 1864, commissioned on 3 June 1867 at Boston, and on 28 June sailed from New York as flagship of Admiral David Farragut who assumed command of the European Squadron. Relieved by Ticonderoga she arrived back in New York on 10 November 1868.

Her second European cruise, beginning on 28 January 1869, was as flagship for Rear Admiral William Radford. She served with the European Squadron until 30 September 1871 when she sailed for the United States. On 13 November 1871 she was decommissioned at Boston.

Recommissioned on 15 December 1873, she sailed on the North Atlantic Station. On 11 April 1874 she stood out to sea to join the European Squadron as flagship until 14 September 1876. On 9 January 1876, while Franklin was at Lisbon, Portugal, Ordinary Seaman Edward Maddin and Seaman John Handran jumped overboard and rescued a shipmate from drowning, for which they were later awarded the Medal of Honor.[1]

Franklin was placed out of commission at Norfolk, Virginia on 2 March 1877 and recommissioned the same day as receiving ship for the Naval Station Norfolk, continuing in this service until 14 October 1915 which marked her final decommissioning. She was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 26 October 1915 and sold.

U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1798-1958about Michael Cashen
Name: Michael Cashen
Muster Date: Mar 1888
Enlistment Date: 5 Nov 1886
Rank: Corporal
Station: On Board The Uss Iroquois 3d Rate

The first USS Iroquois was a sloop of war in the United States Navy during the American Civil War.

Iroquois was launched by the New York Navy Yard on 12 April 1859 and commissioned 24 November 1859, Commander J. S. Palmer in command.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Iroquois_%281859%29

U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1798-1958about Michael Cashen
Name: Michael Cashen
Muster Date: Dec 1888
Enlistment Date: 5 Nov 1886
Rank: Corporal
Station: Marine Bks Mare Isl Cal

U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1798-1958about Michael Cashen
Name: Michael Cashen
Muster Date: Feb 1889
Enlistment Date: 5 Nov 1886
Rank: Corporal
Station: On Board Uss Vaudalia 2nd Rate

While Vandalia lay at Mare Island, relations between American and German officials at Apia, Samoa, became increasingly strained. Late in the winter of 1889, at the behest of the American consul in Samoa. Vandalia, Trenton, and Nipsic sailed for Samoa and reached Apia Harbor early in March to balance the presence of the German vessels Adler, Olga, and Eber. The British were ably represented by HMS Calliope. On 15 and 16 March 1889, each of these vessels suddenly became trapped in the harbor when violent, hurricane-force winds roared out of the northeast, driving mountainous waves before them in the 1889 Apia cyclone. Adler, Olga, and Eber were all either sunk or hopelessly grounded and torn apart on the sharp reef, and together lost a total of 150 officers and crew killed. The powerful engines of Calliope barely enabled the vessel to get to sea in a dramatic performance that drew cheers from the crews of the American vessels. However, despite heroic efforts by the officers and crews of Vandalia and Trenton, the two vessels tore their bottoms out upon the reef on 16 March. Vandalia struck at about noon and sank until her decks were completely awash, forcing her crew to scramble into the rigging. Trenton grounded alongside Vandalia at 2200 that evening, but enough of her main deck remained above water to allow Vandalia's crew to climb on board. After the hurricane began, Nipsic was driven ashore on a sandy beach and was later salvaged.

American casualties totalled 52 killed, 43 from Vandalia alone. The survivors from Vandalia, Trenton, and Nipsic soon sailed for Mare Island on board a chartered steamer, but Vandalia and Trenton themselves were so battered that they were soon dismantled and their scrap

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