New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-14
MEN RI7H CLAIMS FOR GLORY.


ONE OF TIE NOBLE SIX HUNDRED"-HIs
CLAIMS DIsPUrED-TALK WITH ONE WHO Is
KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN IN THE CHARGE.
Slowly dying of a wasting disease, there now
lies at the Presby Hospital In seventiehst,
FOurth.ave John Brown. an Irshman, soldier OF the
Crimean war, who the hard fought field Of BGla-
kava, where the widest, most audacious but utterly
frutless cavalry charge ever recorded In the worlds
history occurred-the charge Of the Light Brigade the
Noble Six Hundred" Brown s suffering with cancer
on the liver and longer speak but the supern-
tendent of the hospital makes the following claims for
him:
"He WAS for ten years in the Ennisken Dragons.
He asked for discharge and received It, He undoubt-
edly part in the famous charge at Baakava and
he wore the Crlnean medal with the Baaklava aud In-
herman clasps. He received lancethrust just below
the kneecap but not conscious Of the wound until
he took off his boot at night"
Brown had discharge parchment, he says, but
received pension. his wound wasno enough
to warrant It, He for six years a member OF the
New York police force. He seemed always to regret
having left the Royal Army and it is said attributed
his discharge TO the work Of his enemies.
AZ has been understood that only survivors Of
the Light Brigade known be in America. Cort.
v. r. Quincy, an employo Of weekly
paper published iu this city, and Charles
H. Mckenzie, member OF the police force,
stationed IN Harlem. a TRIBUNE reporter sought
Mr.. Quincy on Saturday, for confirmation OF Browns
story. From his statement it appears that although
Brown probably participated In the glory of Baaklava
he was uotin the charge Of the Light Brigade.
"The Enniskillen Dragons" SAID Mr. Quincy,
in heavy brigade which Charged at morning
and SO signaly defeated ths Russian cavalry. This
brigade consisted of the 4th and 9Th Royal Dsagoon
Guards the 9th Eaniskllen Dragons the Scots CIR
and one other regiment which l cannot now recall
The Light Brigade composed OF what left Of the
4th Light Dragons, sh Hussar-, 11th Hussars 18Th
Ii,,,tI and1 Ian I wao "a
Mckenzie a Lancer. We were much stronger at first
but by battle and disease in Turkey before
we went to the Crtmea and Balacava
duced TO COZ"
"D Do you know how many OF the survivors OF the
charge there in this city I"
"Ony two-McKenzie and myself l did not know
Mckenzie then, but knew bIs brother who Ia tho
brigade But sometimes appears to me that there are
leIt than went into the fight. Pvc had good
many come to me claiming aid on account OF having
shared IN the charge"
But surely is easy 70 detect the mpostors as so
few men survived, and all received metals 2"
"Ycs. They can't pass me. Sull 1t has been good
deal of annoyance"
On being asked for "reminiscences Mr. Quincy gave the
reporter description of the battle which he had written
parts Of which are as follows:
"To the left front OF the light brigade there was hos
tile artillery to their right front there was hostile art-
ery they had along the rife range OF three
redoubts still IN the hands of the enemy Straight
before 600 riders the whole OF the Russian cavalry
now reunted massive divisions. 5000 strong.
Before the Lght BRIGADE squarey In front OF them,
frowned thirty heavy guns along regular Hue OF SIX
e rear murdered the great position batteries from the
hills-a whole army IN short OF $4,000 men, Dprtgnany
the six Hundred could attempt to take aseail.
Before the little band could make one stroke
OF the sabre, thrust OF the Rnce,
they mad to clear a mile and half Of ground. The
troopers broke away npCn hG sppaS eF 5 aSr
menthrst with wonder aud even incredulty, then win
absolute eonster1aoa ana oouIhess mOrTor ,h in
camp, The two commanders in-cnef were lost in awe
None could cooperate with hose hOrsemen or protect
The letter then describes how the OF muskcry
upon the charging horsemen. thluning their Iangs
and SreaSng their ,ndern e t emt 6 mot cp3nS
charge which swept DOWN the whole OF these detences
aud fell IKE spent n1ON On s 1ns uE egT
had been e mUssans %I navS
their steps they were 10y double hurricane OF
shot which. coming from opposite quartetf seemed 10
is6ei on the spot" Their way was Intercepted by
cloud OF CoSSeek lancers plrty hidden by the smoke
which, battering ram, open the centre OF
the Cossack line aud faIS It's folds IN shyered frag,
Light Brigade cut avenue through their foes aud
bring their psrious ride to an sn IL was indeed the
nloent few minutes before Al bloody, lacerated |
grim with sweat aud smoke of battle they came strag
10 the face Of such terrible Odds" said tho re-
tanty Of aUnatiOn, how did yOufeel as yOn went INT"
on we didn't care u - snap; IL was ali glory
then"
You O single man with only your horse to care
forp
Yes, ard had one well worth IT, We were all we'll
mounted In coming out my horse was killed by
piece OF she'll had left foot laid open with the
same piece fell with my horse" -
Amid such terrible slaughter how did You escape
fortunate enough TO eaten another horse. as he
dashed by He bud lost his rider caught the bril-
die which was flying loose, and checked him. and some
how got into tue saddle Some others did the same.
There % good many horses that came In without
riders went home cruches but afterward served
Indis. No. did not IN the war OF the Rebellion,
but Mckenzie dlt. did not get here carly enough.
have been here ten years."
The losses that charge given officially, fol-
lows: Fourth Light Dragons 20 out OF IL men 9Th
HussarS SO out of 104 11th Hussar6, So TO-
18th Light Dragons 80 OF 130 l7th Lancers. ITO Of
I45 Total. 400 out OF 0O7 meh.
Mr.. Quincy draws pension the British Govern
ment
RASE.RALL CRLCKET IND ELCYCLE