Newark native Ewing Israel Thrapp served in the US Navy aboard the USS Boston
On Oct. 13, 1869, Ewing Israel Thrapp was born in Newark to lumber bookkeeper Marcus Thrapp and his wife, Hannah Ewing-Thrapp. In addition to Ewing, the couple had four sons and two daughters. The family lived on South Fourth Street near Walnut Street.
In June 1886, Ewing enlisted with Company G of the Newark Guard as a private. A few months later, on Sept. 25, 1886, he enlisted in the United States Navy, just a few months shy of turning 18.
In Coasters Harbor, Rhode Island, he received training on board the USS New Hampshire. Upon transfer to the USS Portsmouth, he sailed for Europe and the West Indies. The death of his father took place while he was at sea in August 1887. Ewing was then assigned to the U.S. steamer Minnesota in New York Harbor. His next duty station was aboard the armored cruiser USS Boston. When the Haitian government seized the American schooner, William Jones and the United States steamer Haytian Republic in November 1888, the Boston was ordered to Haiti.
A letter from Ewing dated Nov. 9, 1888, was published Nov. 24 in the Newark Daily Advocate. The letter was sent to his family from Port-au-Prince:
'We were ordered here to release a steamer and schooner that the Haitian government had captured. We have had considerable trouble in regard to the matter. The Haitians released the schooner but say they will fight before they release the steamer. Mr. Ramsey the commander of the Boston, endeavored to go on board the steamer this morning to consult with the captain of her, but the guard over her swore that they would shoot him if he did. This made him pretty angry, and he said if he did not get word from Washington in a day or two, he would steam right up to her, give her a line and tow her out to sea. He also said if their ship fired at us, he will blow every ship Haiti has to hades. We can do it too, for Haiti has only four men of war and they are quite small. We do not know how long we will remain here. Give my regards to all Newark friends.'
It was only two days later that The Advocate published the sad news that Boston had arrived at the port in New York carrying a dreadful yellow flag signifying yellow fever aboard the vessel. As a result of the disease, four men had died, including Ewing, who died four days before the publication of his letter.
A letter from Captain Ramsey of the USS Boston informed Ewing's mother that her son had died of yellow fever and was buried at sea, as reported Dec. 1 in The Advocate. Moreover, the captain stated that her son's "dearest hope was to return home and provide some assistance to his widowed mother. He looked forward to his return with the keenest delight and never tired of talking about the comforts of home.'
It was later reported that 19-year-old Ewing Israel Thrapp had been buried at sea 30 miles off of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. However, if you are walking in Section 6 at Cedar Hill Cemetery, you may notice his memorial tombstone, which has the inscription, "Buried at Sea, USS Boston."
Doug Stout is the local history coordinator for the Licking County Library. You may contact him at 740-349-5571 or dstout@lickingcountylibrary.org. His book "Never Forgotten: The Stories of Licking County Veterans" is available for purchase at the library or online at bookbaby.com.
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: 'Buried at sea,' Newark native Ewing Thrapp served aboard USS Boston
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