This Day in Navy History - December 19
1870 - After a month at sea in a 22-foot boat, Coxswain William Halford, the lone survivor out of a crew of five, reaches Hawaii to seek help for the crew of USS Saginaw, wrecked near Midway Island. Rescuers reach the 88 Saginaw survivors on Jan. 4, 1871.
For more information about Naval history, visit the Naval Historical Center Web site at www.history.navy.mil