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Frank Mark Dunn
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Frank Dunn was a ship's captain and was involved in supporting the rebels in Cuba during the fight for independence
from Spain between February of 1895 and the during the war between Spain and the U.S. from 2/15/1898 to 12/10/1898. The following
story appeared in a Pensacola newspaper, I believe during the early part of 1898.
"In Pensacola, Florida was launched the Commers N. Smith, which is owned by the pilot’
association of that port, and is a craft so stanch that in her one could make a trip around the world. In the few months
of her existence before filibustering gave the United States so much costly trouble the Smith had made many a night trip into
out of the way harbors in Cuba, and had put ashore for the insurgents hundreds of thousands of round of ammunition that had
helped to prolong the struggle of Gomez and his men until the United States could take the burden from them.
Captain Frank M. Dunn, of Pensacola the master of the Smith, is as coolly daring as any commander of a war ship.
The crisis was fast approaching, and watching it in the Cuban capital were Hamilton Peltz, Ernest
W. McCready and Walter S. Meriwether. Day after day, when the world was waiting, anxious for the news from the centre of
interest – Cuba – they sent despatches across by dispatch boat to Key West, graphic, accurate, that never would
have pass the Spanish censor, because they told the whole truth. Correspondents of other papers sat helpless in Havana.
They could not use the cable for the news they could gather; they had no dispatch boats."
Pensacola Journal (FL)
17 January 1911
Page 6
REMAINS OF CAPTAIN DUNN LAID TO REST
WELL KNOWN AND POPULAR COMMANDER OF THE DREDGE CAUCUS SUCCUMBS TO ATTACK, EXPIRING AT 5 O'CLOCK SUNDAY MORNING
Capt. Frank M. Dunn, one of the most widely known and popular pilots of the gulf coast, died
Sunday morning at 5 o'clock at the sanitarium, where he was operated upon Saturday afternoon, and yesterday his remains were
placed at rest in St. Michael's cemetery in the presence of an immense concourse of sorrowing friends and relatives. Beautiful
floral tributes placed upon the newly made grave attested to the popularity of the deceased.
The deceased had been commander of the dredge Caucus since that vessel was constructed and placed in commission. Prior to
that he was a bar pilot, and during the Spanish-American war commanded the dispatch boat Summers N. Smith, then owned by the
pilots.
The deceased was forty years of age and is survived by a widow, five children, Charles, Louise, Mary Francis, Edward and Frank
Dunn, Jr., the latter but six weeks old. Also, three sisters, Mrs. J. Ed. Williams, Mrs. Lee Middlebrook and Mrs. C. P. Hall
of this city and a brother, John Dunn of Arkansas, and two aunts, Mrs. J. J. McGuire of Pensacola and Mrs. J. J. Pereria of
Mobile.
He was a member of a prominent and old family of Pensacola, his father and being at one time of the best known lumber dealers
of West Florida.
Capt. Dunn after completing his education in the public schools here took to the harbor as a life vocation. He became apprentice
to the bar pilots' association, later becoming a pilot. This was about twenty years ago. Since then he has operated a number
of boats, principally the Caucus, the command of which he retained until the time of his death.
No later than Wednesday Capt. Dunn was aboard the Caucus. After enjoying a hearty mid-day meal at his home he came up town
and complained of feeling ill. Late in the afternoon he returned to his home, soon afterward taking to his bed, from which
he never arose, his condition growing worse. Capt. Dunn was afflicted with paralysis of the bowels. His condition became so
serious that on Saturday afternoon he was removed to the hospital, where an operation was deemed imperative, but this did
not result in any relief and he expired Sunday morning at 5 o'clock.
Capt. Dunn will be missed by a large circle of friends as well as by his immediate family. He was popular and commanded the
respect of every one with whom he came in contact. His death was received with sadness among his fellow workmen and especially
by the members of the bar pilots' association. The flag on the Pilot, that organization's vessel, as well as on the Caucus
and a number of other harbor boats were at half mast Sunday morning, out of respect to his memory and among the many beautiful
floral tributes offered at the funeral was a large floral emblem, from the pilots.
The pall bearers were J. Ed. O'Brien, A. C. Blount, Jr., R. H. Turner, John Christey, I. H. Aiken, A. M. Stillman, and J.
W. Higgins.
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87062268/1911-01-24/ed-1/seq-2/
Pensacola Journal (FL)
24 January 1911
Page 2
THE NEW YORK HERALD ON CAPT. DUNN'S DEATH
HE RENDERED DISTINGUISHED SERVICE FOR THAT PAPER AS COMMANDER OF THE SUMMERS N. SMITH DURING SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR
The New York Herald of Tuesday contained the following from its Washington bureau on the death of Capt. Frank M. Dunn of this
city:
"News was received here today of the death at Pensacola, Fla., of Captain Frank M. Dunn, who was commander of the Summers
N. Smith, the New York Herald's despatch [sic] boat, during the war with Spain. Although Captain Dunn was a young man scarcely
having attained majority, he was one of the most skilful [sic] navigators in the waters of the West Indies and proved himself
not only a daring sailor but a very careful one.
"During nearly six months that the Summers N. Smith was in the Herald's service this staunch little steamer never missed a
trip, first plying between Havana and Key West after the blowing up of the Maine; then between the blockading and Key West;
then circumnavigating Cuba when the Spanish fleet was believed to be cruising; then running between the Cuban coast and Port
Antonio, Jamaica, during the Santiago campaign, and finally serving with the fleet and the army during the entire Puerto Rican
campaign.
"On one occasion Captain Dunn, in order to communicate with Herald correspondents in the field with General Haines at Arroya,
P. R., risked his life in the surf and swam ashore, and his boat was often under fire, notably at Santiago and near Cardenas
and in Guantanamo Bay, when a detachment of Spanish sharpshooters made a target of his vessel.
"The Summers N. Smith was the one despatch [sic] boat which did not cause the navy trouble at night during the blockades which
she was sent to watch. She had been the station boat of the Pensacola pilots and a large black 'P' on her smokestack made
her easily distinguishable when a searchlight was turned on her. The most famous trips of the Summers N. Smith was from Matanzas,
when through a heavy storm she took to Key West the first and only news of the bombardment of the forts at that place for
the Herald, the first great scoop of the war, and when she was caught under the batteries of Santiago but escaped unscathed
to carry the story of the first real bombardment of the Spanish works protecting the harbor that sheltered Cervera's squadron.
"Captain Dunn was a man of refinement and of great physical courage. Although boyish and slight
of figure on one occasion he whipped at one time three mutinous men of his crew. He leaves a widow and several children."
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