Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1874-08-15


10 question Russell In detail
about himself and his past, at the iiTsl
opportunity. When the opportunity
came, however, the mans modest dignity
and evident gentllity 30 Impressed me
that | could not bring myself TO do anyi
thing so rude and discourteous. cor
tented myself with saying,
"Why, Russell, I did not know you
wore a surgeon"
s'f can hardly claim TO be that" he
replied, "lhopgh gave some little attent
ti0n 10 the subject while l was abroad.n
II then occurred TO me 10 suggest tho
propriety Of his atkiug for a surgeon's
commission, a. II really pity that a man
90 accomplished as he should remain
private In q company made up almsst
entirely Of illlterate mountaineers, but he
Iefusedto entertain the idea for mo;
ment, saying
"i am entirely cOntented with my loti
captain" '..'.
One day, not long after this oceurrences
I was playipga at chess with Russell, and
apropos Of something or other, | told
hlm an anecdote Illustrative Of Japanese
character.
"Psrjon me-" he replied, "but you arc
mislnformed," and stralghtway he prot
ceeded to tell me many Interesting facts
with regard to the orentals, all OF which
were evidently the result Of personal
observation. II came QUIT presently, that
Russell had been an officer In the United
States Navy, aud thst he had gone TO
japan with Commodore Perry's expedi1
tiOn. In subsequent conversations hq
told mo many anecdotes Of the expedition
and Of sea life generally, with which no
was apparently very familiar. '.
Wheu, a month or two later, was sent
with my command TO Blunlon, little
place immediately an the water, and q
good deal OF water service In open boats
was expected Of me, my fret care was to
train my monntaineers in the use OF oars
and sails. With the exception of RUSSELL
one sergeant and myself, not man In the
battery knew the difference between =
mast and keel, and 40 l determined 10
divide the company Into boats crews for
dill, and make of Russell my drill ser
geant. When the order providing for
| this was read on parade, Russell said
nothing, but | had hardly reached my
quarters before he came, cap In hand,
asking to see me In private.
'sCaptain, !" sad he when we were alone,
81 must beg you 10 excuse me FROM this
boating duty. really can't DO t."
"But you must,'' returned, 'the men
must be taught to handle the boats, and
your skill and experience are quite indts-
4 peneihe."
"Bm | have no skill or experience In
| the matter, captain" he replied. The
truth Is, | do not know even tue nomen-
clature of II boats several parts. do
I know the how from the rudder, but that
4 is tho extreme limit Of my knowledge OIL
the subject"
This from an ex-nAvAl olllcer was Ger
taiuly rather ODD, bat, Will thc raadel
believe II, / could not bring Inyseif u
question the qBiet gentleman further oI
4 the subject, or even TO suspect his yer
4 acity, in which had learned 20 have th'
most Implicit confidence. He was not a
oil ayerse 10 boating duty IL Itself, Oi
the contrary, when an oar was pnt In Nh
hand, his supple muaelta lont thcmselvel
/ with a Will W the severe physical toll
4 The men seemed to rejoice in the oppcr
tunlty thus given him 10 bring his strength
and hie spirit into play. When his fel
Iowa Ouitled the hoats in utter weHrlness
no would betake himself TO my little shel
and row her about for hours In meT
wantonnesa Of uneXpended vitality. bu
he knew nothing Of boating. lie was Al
awk ward ~ possible a. first, though h
learned rapidly and soon become graca
iul oarsman and an excellent sailor.
n Az frat / wss pu zzlnd. could No
reconcile The mans stories OF naval sei
u vice With his evident iguorance.o of every
4 thing pertaining TO boating, and yet
could not possibly doubt tho lruthinlnes
{, his statements, Nobody who knew hl
gontleness, his modesty and his intogrn
d as | did, could possible entertain dout
4 OF his truthlqlness. The mans face wa
A OF itself certificate Of bis entire tius
worthlness. llis conduct and hismanner
; wero unexceptionable always and lh
man himself was the embodiment {
truth. Accordingly, when observe
ONE tattoo marks on his arm one day
W hIch be told me were put there Will
. he was In the navy, II did not occur
: me to question him "a TO tha truth OF ths
t story. On the contrary, l thought al 70
) moment Of possible explanation oil u
, whole matter. Perhaps be had been
( surgeon in the service, and II 30, b
/ technical Ignorance OF boating was nc
} altogether uneccOuntRble, | was sui
/ prlsed, however, n see that the letters
} his arm were not "W. r." but "W. W.,
fact of which he volunteered a
: HMy name Is not Russell, eaptaln," b
! said, "but Wallace, though for goo
many years | have preferred 70 use a
{ mothers rather than my fathers name
, As u matter OF course asked him
! rude questions. He WAS altogether to
much 4 gentleman for ne TO think
r such a thug. 1 accepted his explanation
aud respected his wish 10 be called ku
; soil still. lie imposed no pledge
0 secrecy upon me, but 1 kept his seer
0 saeredly, respecting II as conhdenti
. communication from one gentleman
! another. ."'-
4 had hardly settled Il In my own mil
/, THAT Russell's connections with the nav
I had been in the capacity OF surgeo
9 Wnen he came to Iae one day Win VI
o request that he might be allowed TO 70
n Charleston for the purpose OF standli
3 an examination for Admission TO The na'
1 as a L,leutauaut Thle time, | couiesn,
i, was astonished, aud so went with hl
i. tbefore the Board, where 10 my surprls
!, he passed his examination so successful
/. thai he WAS commissioned at once, al
mt. in command OF Dewly butt "
Ie boat. Shortly afterwards he handled
# vessel 80 we'll in a flght of the haTbor
TO secure an official compliment ana
sr promotion. =,
l. As / was ordered TO Virginia short
1t afterwards, l lost sight Of Russell, al
d until. August. 1878, beard no more
It him. | was editing Hearth dad non
1t and slngularly enough Iwas jast beHl
At ming 70 write this sketch OF my slngul
y, acquaintance, when. Russell hlms
e. walked into my Broadway oihee, q
ID asked me II remembered him. he 7"
well dressed in q quiet .ylolet, snii,
>. Inc was married and living at No. w
lg Eorty-third street that he Nas prae1lei