Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-02-04


each other till they die, will have all the ag
ony Of Noian's, with the added pang that
every one who sees them viii see them 10
despise and to exscrsto them. They will
have their wish, like hin. -.
For him. poor fellow, he repented of bis
folly, and then, like a man, submitted to the
fate he had asked for lie never intention.
ally added to the difficulty or dslicacy ofthe
charge Of those who bad him in hold. Ac-
cidents would happen; but they never hap
pened from his fault. Lieutenant Truxton
told me, that, when Texas was annexed,
there was careful discussion among the
officers, whether they should get hold Of
Nolan's handsome set ofmaps, and cut Tex
as out of it,-from the map of the world
had been cut out when the atlas was bought
for him. But it was voted, rightly enough.
that to do this would be virtually to reveal
to him what had happened, or as Harry
Cole said, to make him think Old Burr had
sue seded. So it was from no fault Of No
lan's that great botch- hsppened at my
own table, when, for a short time, l was in
command of the George Washington cor
vette, on the South-American station. We
were lying 10 the La Plata, and some Of the
officers, who had been on shore, and had
just Joined again, were entertaining US with
accounts of their misadventures in riding
the half-wild horses of Buenos Ayres. No
Ian was at table, and was in an unusually
bright and laxative mood. Some story of
tumble reminded him of an adventure of
his own, when he was catching wild horses
in Texas with his brother Stephen, at time
when he must have been quite a boy, He
told the story with a good deal of spirit
so much so, that the silence which often
follows good story hung over the table for
an instant, to be broken by Nolan himself.
For he asked, perfectly unconsciously,
Pray, what has become of Texas2 Af-
ter the Mexicans got their independence, |
thought that province of Texas would come
forward very fast. 1t is really one of the
finest regions on earth; it is the Italy ofthis
continent. But have not seen or heard
word OF Texas for near twenty years."
There were two Texan officers at the ia
Bile. The reasonh he had never heard of Tex
as was that Texas and her affairs had been
painfully cut out Of his newspapers since
Austin began his settlements; so that, while
he read of Honduras and Tamauipas, and,
till quite lately, of California, this virgin
province, in which his brother had travelled
so far, and believe, had died, had ceased
to be to him. Waters and Williams, the
two Texas men, looking grimly at each 9TH
er, and tried not to laugh. Edward Morris
had his attention attracted by the third link
in the chain of the captains chandelier
Watrous was seized with convulsion of
sneeziDg. Nolan himself saw that something
was to pay, he did not know what. And |,
as master of the feast, had to say
Texas is out of the map, Mr.. Nolan
Have you seen Captain Backs curious &C.
count of Sir Thomas Roe's Welcomed"
After that cruise never saw Nolan
again. l wrote to him at least twice year,
for in that voyage we became even confden-
tally intimate; but he never wrote to me-
The other men tell me that in those fifteen
years he aged very fast, as well he might
indeed, but that he was still the same gem
tie, uncomplaining, silent sufferer that be
ever was, bearing as best he could bis self
appointed punishment, rather less social,
perhaps, with new men whom he did not
know, but more anxious, apparently, than
ever to serve and befriend and teach the
boys to worship him. And now it seems
the dear old fellow is dead. He has found
a home atlast, and country. ~, i,.,...., r..
Since writing this and while considering
whether or no would print it, as warning
to the young Nolans and Vallandighams
and Tatnalls Of to day cf what it is to throw
away country, have received from Dan;
forth, who is on board the Levant, a letter
which gives an account ofNolan' slast hours.
1t removes all my doubts about telling this
story. a..
To understand the first words of the let
ter the non professional reader should re-
member that after 1917 the position OF every
officer who had Nolan in charge was one Of
the greatest delicacy. The Government had
! failed torenew the order of 1907 regarding
him. What was man to do? Should be
let him 60? What, then, il be were called
to account by the Department for violating
the order of 1907? Should he keep him.
What, then, if Nolan should be liberated
some day, and should bring an action fol
false imprisonmet or kidnapping agains
every man who had had him in charge?
urged and pressed this upon Southland, .anc
l have reason to think that other officer,
did the same thing. But the Secretary al
ways said, as they so often do at Washing
ton, that there were no special orders t.
give, and that we must act on our ownjudg
ment. That means, "If you succeed, 70,
will be sustained if you fail. you will b!
disavowed." Well as Danforth says, al
Il Indl 10 ufcE uOWi tuOuBu w uOt hhu" w
4 I expose myself to criminal prosecution OF
| the evidence ofthe very revelation ! am ma
! king. l., ..- = ~ "- ......
4 Here is the letter. wv +,
I ''Lepant, % rs. @lslG W.
l DEAR -FREB,T7I try to find heart AM
life to telF you that it is all over with dea
old Nolan, I have been with him. on thi
voyage more than ever was, and can un
derstand wholly now the way in which 20.
used to speak of the dear old fellow.
! could see that he was not strong but ha'
no idea the end was so near The docto
\ 1had been watching him very carefully, an
. yesterday morning came to me, and toll
t, me that Nolan was not 50 well, and ha'
not left his state room, "a thing | never re
member before. He had let the docto
come and see him as he lay there, e,-the frs
. time the doctor had been in the state room
8 and he said he should like TO see me, oh
T .dearl do oyouremembeIthe mysteries we boy
e1used to invent about his room, in the ol
: Intrepid days? Wei, l went in. and ther,
to be sure, the poor fellow lay in his berth
Q smiling pleasantly as he gave me his hant
Q but looking very frail. / could not help
= glance round, which showed what littl
: Shrine be had made of the box he was lyin