John Hay, our present (1900) Secretary of State, and recently
United States Ambassador to Great Britain, was born in Salem,
Indiana, October 8, 1838. He has long been connected with the
diplomatic service. During the Civil War he was a private secretary
to President Lincoln, and in conjunction with John G. Nicolay is
the author of the most complete biography of Lincoln published.
Jim Bludso was Oliver Fairchild, the engineer of the steamer _Fashion_.
Mr. Hay is unable to fix the date of the disaster to the _Fashion_.