Schuyler Forbes Cumings Papers, 1916-1950

File

Identifier: AP-0031

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This small collection contains some personal items but a large portion deals with the rescue of the Andjik on March 2, 1925, when, as commander of the American Merchant, Schuyler Forbes Cumings towed the Dutch Vessel 500 miles into the Azores. In 1928, rescue of 121 passengers aboard the SS Vestris is recorded in radiograms and other documents.

Dates

Majority of material found within 1916 - 1950

Creator

Forbes Cumings, Schuyler (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Appointments to examine materials must be made in advance. Please e-mail library@sunymaritime.edu for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Conditions Governing Use

Reproductions may be provided to users to support research and scholarship. However, collection use is subject to all copyright laws. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Biographical / Historical

Schuyler Forbes Cumings was born on February 28, 1891 in Manhatten. His ancestors were among the original settlers on the island. He was a cadet at the New York Nautical School (now SUNY Maritime College) aboard the St. Mary's and graduated in 1909. He sailed as deck boy on the three masted barque Von Foong from New York to the Hawaiian Islands, going around the Horn because of adverse winds and tides.

Captain Cumings participated in many major rescue operations. The first, when he was chief officer of the steamship Hudson, occured on New Years Day 1922 when he saved six French sailors, a dog and a puppy from a sinking fishboat. He was awarded a medal of the Life Saving Benevolent Society of New York for directen the rescue work of the steamship Vestris in 1928. As commander of the American Merchant, in 1925, he towed the Dutch vessel Andjik 500 miles into the azores and performed a similar rescue of the crew of the Exeter City years later.

Cumings died on April 2, 1967