"The Tecumseh Disaster"
From various sources we have seen letters which give to prove beyond doubt that Chief Engineer John Faron perished in the Monitor Tecumseh, in the passage of the Forts at Mobile. The following extract from a letter on board of the Richmond gives us some new facts in relation to the destruction of the Tecumseh:
United States Steamship Richmond
Mobile Bay, August 5, 1864
Dear Friend - It is with deep regret that I inform you of the death of your cousin, John Faron, Chief Engineer of the Tecumseh. She was destroyed by a torpedo this morning, as we were passing the forts. It was only day before yesterday that I was talking with him at the hospital in Pensacola, at the place he was suffering with inflammation of the bladder, but he got out of his sick bed at daylight yesterday morning to join his vessel, so anxious was he to be in the fight. She arrived off the blockade last night about sundown, and went into the fight with the rest of the fleet this morning. She was just ahead of us when she was blown up, and if it had not been for us stopping and backing down so soon we would have been right in with her. She went down so soon that there was not time enough to save anyone. But I have heard since that the pilot and four men were saved. She was destroyed by a battery controlled on board the rebel ram Tennessee. But we have captured the celebrated ram since; also another gunboat.
Mr. Faron was one of the most accomplished and skillful engineers in the naval service. He was at times attached to the Niagara - at the laying of the Atlantic telegraph cable; in the San Jacinto when Mason and Slidell were captured; he saved the Weehawken from foundering at sea, and superintended the construction of five iron-clad batteries. He left this port in the Tecumseh, and participated in the advanced upon Richmond, via the James River, in May. He now sleeps his last sleep beneath the decks of the ship he took so much pride in. No one knew John Faron but to love him. He was a great favorite, not only with the Engineer Corps, but with all naval officers who were acquainted with him. He has left a very large circle of friends to mourn his untimely loss. He also leaves a devoted wife and a large family of interesting children wholly unprovided for. But we trust his old friends will not forget those whom he has left behind, but raise a fund, so that they may be placed beyond want. The navy will deeply feel his loss, while the engineer profession will miss him in more than one branch of their art.
