United States Navy officer. Commander Dennis Walbach Mullan was born in Maryland where he died at Annapolis on 17 December 1928. Completed Naval Academy training 1860 to 1863. Commissioned as Lieutenant in 1867 and Lieutenant-Commander in 1868. Served as the captain of the USS Nipsic at the time when it was wrecked by a cyclone in Pago Pago harbour in March 1889. Note that some sources appear to use the spelling "Mullin" with reference to this same individual. See Lewis Randolph Hamersly, 'The Records of Living Officers of the U.S. Navy & Marine Corps', 1878, page 192.
Mullan, Dennis Walbach, 1843-1928
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Manuscript
Lyon, Henry Ware, 1845-1929 : Letter and booklet
Date: 1889
By: Lyon, Henry Ware, 1845-1929
Reference: MS-Papers-11986
Description: Collection features a letter from Rear Admiral Richard G Davenport to Lieutenant Commander Henry Ware Lyon regarding the performance of Commander Dennis Walbach Mullan and his crew during the Samoan Crisis of 1889. Includes printed eight-page booklet with the title, printed on cover and repeated on title page: 'The Shipwreck at Samoa, March 15th and 16th, 1889, by J Blumenbach, Ship's Writer, U.S. Flagship Trenton'. The imprint page features the following printed dedication: "To Lieutenant Commander Henry Ware Lyon, U.S.N., who, on the lower decks of the Trenton, where the battle with the elements raged fiercest and hardest, inspirited the men with his own courageous bearing and loyal determination to persevere in their efforts to save the ship, this tale is respectfully dedicated. Apia, Samoa, June 12, 1889." This is followed by the poem "The Shipwreck at Samoa", consisting of 35 four-line stanzas, relating the events of 1889 at Samoa including the stand-off between the German and United States naval vessels and the cyclone event of 15th and 16th of March, and closing with an expression of gratitude to the "King of Samoa" Paramount Chief Mata'afa and his subjects. Also includes typescript notes and transcription of letter by Bob Minnocci of RJM Autographs & Antiques (Boston, Massachusetts). Source of title - Title supplied by Library Quantity: 1 folder(s). 0.01 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Mss, holograph and printed matter - holograph letter, ink on single folded sheet of wove paper watermarked "L L Brown Paper Company" (Adams, Massachusetts), 25.5 x 39 cm; bound printed booklet, pink paper covers, 14.5 x 12 cm.
Online
Manuscript
Letter from Dennis W Mullan to John C Klein
Date: 6 July 1889
From: Klein, John C, active 1870-1890: Papers relating to Samoa
Reference: MS-Papers-12538-1-9
Description: Letter from Commander Dennis W Mullan of the United States' gunship 'Nipsic' to John Klein after his return to the United States. Title supplied by library. Physical Description: Holograph on paper, 21.4 x 12.5 cm.