The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1883-11-24
An Energetic Boy.

Capt. belongs childhood showed the
man, When q mere boy he exhibited
the same persistneDt energy in securing
q cadetship in the Naval Academy as
he did while commander of the unfor-
tunate polar expedition in which ne lost
his life.
When scarcely twelve years old he
read the naval exploits of the war Of
1912. The heroism Of the young Off
GERS kind}ed his ambition, and ne begged
his parents to let him enter the navy.
They refused, and he yielded, for a
time, to the authority Of these he loved.
But three or four years after, during the
civil war, he surprised his father, one
day, by saying
You say you will not assist me; but if l
obtain an appointment myself, will you
give me your consent and allow me to
enteT?"
every we'll" answered the father,
laughing at what he thought a boys
hopeless scheme, "ifyou can accomplish
such a feat, | will make no further OBJ
lection"
TIE mother also gave her consent,
thinkiDgthat the best way to cur Lam Of
his passion was to let him fail in trying
TO crafty it.
Encouraged by his success with his
parents, the energetic boy wrote to
Washington and learned that his Con-
gressional district already had its full
quota Of navel cadets. A few DAYS later,
he heard that a cadet. appointed by the
Hon. Benjamin Wood, the Representa-
tive of the district, had been obliged by
illness to leave the academy.
Immediately he enlisted the service
of several friends to back his request,
and going himself to Mr.. Wood, gave
that gentleman no rest antil he ap-
pointed him to the Yacant place.
The boy fastened TO Newport, where
the academy was then located, passed
the examination, and then was shown q
dispatch from the Secretary of the Ma
Wv, which said, "DO not accept Mr..
Wiod's appointment for the Navy"
Back to New York rushed the boy, to
learn that the cadet whose place he was
to fill had recovered his health and been
reinstated.
$50 that ends the matter" said Mr..
Wood.
The boy did not think so. He in
sisted that the Congressman had been
imposed upon and deprived Of hi8
rights. His zeal 80 moved Mr.. Wood
that he said,-
"You write what you like me to say %
the Secretary and l will sign the letter.
and you a take it to Washington
yourself"
The letter was written and the boy
started at once for Washington. The
cars were SO packed with soldiers that
he bad to stand most of the way. He
presented himself to Mr.. Wells, the
secretary, handed him Mr.. Woods let
ter, and watched his face as he read it.
"And you are Mr.. De Long? Well,
this is a strange state of affairs. Mr..
Wood seems very much excited; but he
is laboring under a delusion. We have
no intention of sighting him in any way
You can return to the academy. | Will
give the necessary orders for your re-
ception there, and please to say to Mr..
Wood that he shall not be deprived even
of his imaginary right"
The boy entered the academy, and so
applied himself Ia its work as to gradu-
ate with distinction, just as the war
closed.
In his subsequent career in the arctic
regions, where he lost his life, he
showed the same indomitable spirit as
characterized him when he forced his
appointment by sheer pluck and energy.