Spiro V. Bennis, born 23 December 1837, Bochhe di Cattaro, Dalmatia, Austria; died 26 January 1916, buried York Hill Cemetery, Sullivan Elizabeth Hannah Simpson, born 2 June 1840, died 1929, buried York Hill Cemetery, Sullivan Children: Rosa V. Bennis, born 26 Aug 1870, Sullivan, married Saunderson; buried York Hill Cemetery, Sullivan Fred V. Bennis, born 10 June 1874, Sullivan; died 8 June 1954, Lakeland FL; ashes buried York Hill Cemetery, Sullivan Carl V. Bennis, born 21 March 1877, Sullivan; moved to CA Ida V. Bennis, b. 18 Oct 1881, Sullivan; died 1961; buried York Hill Cemetery, Sullivan
In the meantime he (Spiro V. Bennis) became an American citizen, and on election day just before sailing he cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. On his return to New York he found the southern states on the point of secession and in a short time, with the firing on Fort Sumter, the war began. Capt. Bennis at once volunteered and took examinations for the rank of acting master in the United States Navy, and received his appointment on August 26, 1861, and was assigned to the U.S.S. Gem of the Seas. After a comparatively short service his eyes began to give him trouble and he was ordered back to New York for treatment. Upon recovery he was assigned to the U.S.S. Connecticut and arrived at Fortress Monroe the day after the famous battle between the Monitor and the Merrimac. Shortly after this he joined the West Gulf squadron under Admiral Farragut and served on various ships in command and as executive officer. His eyes gave his some further trouble necessitating a trip to New Orleans for further treatment. During this time he was on blockade duty for the greater part of the time but was in numerous minor actions, one of which he has related as follows:
"It was getting quite dark. The river was very crooked with several bends in it. In one of these the channel was so intricate we could not get around it without stopping the engines and turning the ship by lines. Not a sound was heard anywhere except our own men talking. Just as I gave orders to lower the boat to take the line ashore, a volley of rifle balls whistled over and among us. I had one gun crew at quarters and twenty-five men armed for precaution ready to answer any firing that might be done by unseen Confederate soldiers. We instantly answered the fire but they had the best of us for they were on a high bluff on the opposite side of the river. In trying to turn around the bend, the current took the ship and we ran the bow into the mud on the opposite side where the rebels were. We hit a huge yellow pine tree and both our smoke stacks fell. Meantime the rebels tried to board us and they succeeded, but they could not get into the enclosure, so I ordered the hot water hose direct from the boiler, and commenced to play on them. It had very good effect as those who were not scalded left in great haste. Our gun was kept firing steadily as well as the squad of men with their rifles. Meanwhile we managed to got out of the mud and slowly steamed to the mouth of the river, where we anchored for the night. On reaching the anchorage I reported to Admiral Farragut. Fleet Captain Drayton standing next to Admiral asked in a half smiling way if the dew had raised the river so high that I had to steam in between the yellow pine trees. Later the Admiral sent for me and formally thanked me."
Presented is a certificate of membership dated 10 November 1890 in the name of Capt. Spiro Bennis. It is signed by Austin Jayne as secretary and James Parker as president. The Marine Society of New York, which is still active today, was formed in colonial times, and chartered by King George III in 1770 to "...improve maritime knowledge and relieve indigent and distressed shipmasters, their widows and orphans..." is a charitable and educational organization, the regular membership being composed entirely of seafarers, all of whom must be, or have been Captains or Officers of merchant vessels under the United States flag. Among the early honorary members of the Society was President George Washington.The engraved document has a border of scrolls which frames and defines the four corners. In side corners are engraved scenes. The left corner shows a group of three ladies dressed in Grecian gowns, one of whom is holding a chart of Manhattan Island. There is a single male dressed in colonial garb joining the group. The right corner shows four survivors of a ship wreck being welcomed ashore in New York harbor,welcomed by two ladies dressed in Grecian garb. In the lower left corner is a single Indian chief holding a bow and arrow. And the right corner shows four ships of various sizes in the placid waters of New York Harbor. CAPTAIN SPIRO V BENNIS was a Civil War Navy veteran and sea captain who saw service in the Civil War as acting master of the USS Antona, USS Aroostook & USS Stockdale, all of which operated mostly in Mobile Bay. He also took part in the Fish River expedition of 1864. Afterwards he served as captain of the New York & Cuba Mail Steamship Co's., SS Niagara before she was requisitioned by the U.S. Navy to serve in the Spanish American War. In August 1885, Captain Bennis rescued the crew of the German Bark Caroline Suzanne during a violent storm off the coast of Florida. He was awarded a gold watch by Emperor William for his heroic serviced. After this he was put in charge of building two steamships for the Ward Line in Delaware. The NY&CSC was a subsidiary of the Ward Line whose operations dated back from 1840 to 1954. He died in 1892 in California.
SPIRO VUSCASSOVICH BENNIS Death of a Prominent Citizen of Sullivan Harbor
Bar Harbor Record (1916) The death of Captain Spiro Vuscassovich Bennis, at his home last Wednesday removes from our midst one whose place can never quite be filled; one whose keen interest in the affairs of the town, and whose daily intercourse with its people will be more and more missed as the months and the years go by, for seldom is it the good fortune of any small town to have such a man as one of its adopted citizens.
His commanding presence, his kindly ways, his broad intelligence, his patriotic love for his adopted country, and for his chosen home, and above all his interest in every member of the large family, which one might indeed say he married, when he took the fairest maid in Sullivan for a bride many many years ago, having endeared him to all and given him a lasting place in every person's memory. Capt. Bennis was born more than three quarters of a century ago, amid the vineclad hills and citron groves near Trieste, Austria. He came to America when a boy to live with his uncle, adding that uncle's name of Bennis, to his own family name of Vuscassovich. He served in the US Navy through the four years of the civil war, and not long after came to Sullivan to superintend the building of a ship, which he later commanded. Here he met the four attractive Simpson girls and married the oldest, Elizabeth. From that hour he had no other home and no other ties, although he spent a long term of years in the Ward Steamship service as commander of their steamers and later, his eyesight became impaired was port commander of the fleet in New York. He fought for his eyesight as he fought for everything good, submitting to eleven different operations, the last restoring to him partial sight, which he kept till his death.
As a reward for rescuing a German sailing vessel he has carried ever since William II became emperor, a beautiful gold watch engraved and bearing the Kaiser's vignette. Until this great war the captain was naturally proud of this possession, but his hatred of the Kaiser's methods which was very intense has recently robbed the gift of its significance.
The captain's death is the first break in a family of four daughters and one son of the late Paul and Hannah Thorndike Simpson, descendents of the Sullivan family of Revolutionary fame who, with the exception of Mrs. E.L. Austin all reside in Sullivan. There are four children bearing the Vuscassovich name, Rosa, Mrs. H.H. Saunderson, Fred, Karl, and Ida, all of whom after many years of separation spent this last Christmas with their parents, all but Karl who went back to California, were with their father to the last.
The captain's religious views were broad and liberal. He supported church work of every denomination that made demands upon him but favored the Liberal Christian Society, of which he was an officer and an active member.
He was laid to rest on Saturday in our beautiful memorial cemetery and his last home is marked by a tall marble shaft, which he was instrumental in having placed over the family burial lot. The funeral was largely attended. Old and young were present to pay their last tribute to his memory and bring floral offerings.
A SKETCH OF HIS LIFE Spiro Vuscassovich Bennis was born December 24, 1837 in Bochhe di Cattaro, Dalmatia, Austria, and died at Sullivan, Maine, January 26, 1916. His father followed the sea, and he himself was a sailor from the age of 14. His native language was Servian, besides which he spoke English and Spanish, and was familiar with Italian and Portuguese.
At the age of 14 he left home and sailed for New York where he shipped before the mast in the Havana trade with an English speaking crew, whose language he did not speak or understand. It was characteristic of him that as soon as he had saved some money he stayed over a voyage and attended a private school. When his funds gave out he again shipped and as soon as he was again in funds he stayed ashore over another trip and studied navigation after which he was able to ship second mate and after a year was promised a first mate.
In 1858 he returned to Austria to see his parents and remained a year when to please them he shipped under the Austrian flag. He gave this a thorough trial but his preference for the American service was strong so that he decided to return to New York. Here again he shipped in the Havana trade as first mate, and a few months later, after the death of the captain he brought the ship back to New York at the age of 23 was put in command, receiving his commission from Mr. Moses Taylor in person.
In the meantime he became an American citizen, and on election day just before sailing he cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. On his return to New York he found the southern states on the point of secession and in a short time, with the firing on Fort Sumter, the war began. Capt. Bennis at once volunteered and took examinations for the rank of acting master in the United States Navy, and received his appointment on August 26, 1861, and was assigned to the U.S.S. Gem of the Seas. After a comparatively short service his eyes began to give him trouble and he was ordered back to New York for treatment. Upon recovery he was assigned to the U.S.S. Connecticut and arrived at Fortress Monroe the day after the famous battle between the Monitor and the Merrimac. Shortly after this he joined the West Gulf squadron under Admiral Farragut and served on various ships in command and as executive officer. His eyes gave his some further trouble necessitating a trip to New Orleans for further treatment. During this time he was on blockade duty for the greater part of the time but was in numerous minor actions, one of which he has related as follows:
"It was getting quite dark. The river was very crooked with several bends in it. In one of these the channel was so intricate we could not get around it without stopping the engines and turning the ship by lines. Not a sound was heard anywhere except our own men talking. Just as I gave orders to lower the boat to take the line ashore, a volley of rifle balls whistled over and among us. I had one gun crew at quarters and twenty-five men armed for precaution ready to answer any firing that might be done by unseen Confederate soldiers. We instantly answered the fire but they had the best of us for they were on a high bluff on the opposite side of the river. In trying to turn around the bend, the current took the ship and we ran the bow into the mud on the opposite side where the rebels were. We hit a huge yellow pine tree and both our smoke stacks fell. Meantime the rebels tried to board us and they succeeded, but they could not get into the enclosure, so I ordered the hot water hose direct from the boiler, and commenced to play on them. It had very good effect as those who were not scalded left in great haste. Our gun was kept firing steadily as well as the squad of men with their rifles. Meanwhile we managed to got out of the mud and slowly steamed to the mouth of the river, where we anchored for the night. On reaching the anchorage I reported to Admiral Farragut. Fleet Captain Drayton standing next to Admiral asked in a half smiling way if the dew had raised the river so high that I had to steam in between the yellow pine trees. Later the Admiral sent for me and formally thanked me."
In the spring of 1865 after it had become apparent that the war was drawing to a close Captain Bennis was offered a commission in the regular service of the Navy Department, but declined and received his honorable discharge in May, with the rank of Acting Master Commanding. He at once entered the merchant service in the employ of the Ward Line and was sent to Sullivan, Maine, to superintend the building of the brig Havana, for his own command. It was here that he met and married Elizabeth Hannah Simpson of Sullivan.
He remained with the Ward Line in the command of various steam ships and became superintendent of the line in 1890, in which position he remained until 1894 when the old trouble with his eyes recurred, this time in form so acute as to force his retirement. He then returned to Sullivan where his family had been reared and which had always been "home port" to him from the time of his first visit, and remained there until his death last week, 48 years after his marriage.