The Emperor of Japan awarded Nathan Carver of the bark Abbie Carver medal of the red ribbon and a citation for his rescue of thirteen shipwrecked Japanese fishermen on September 12, 1881.. The Emperor expressed his “high appreciation of [Carver’s] humane action toward the unfortunate Japanese subjects who [Carver] rescued so opportunely and treated so kindly.” Medal was awarded on January 13, 1883 "For rescuing Mr. Sasatsuka and 12 crewmen on a fishing vessel that was located in rough waters in the sea, 300 ri/1170 km away from Chiba Prefecture."
Collection of Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport, Maine.
Captain Nathan Carver.
Bark Abbie Carver /circa 1875 painted by Maine artist William P. Stubbs., private collection/.