River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-11-22
An Energetic Boy.


Capt. belongs childhood showed the
man, When mere boy he exhibited
the same persistnent energy in securing
cadetship in the Naval Academy as
he did while commander of the unfor-
tunate polar expedition in which he 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 kindled his ambition, and he 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
II want to 20 to the Naval A Academy.
You say you will not assist me; but if /
obtain an appointment myself, will you
give me YOUR consent and allow me to
enter%'
'Verv we'll" answered the father.
laughing at what he thought a boys
hopeless scheme, ''ifyou can accomplish
such feat, will make no further OBJ
lection"
TIE mother also gave her consent,
thinking that the best way to cure him 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 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 until he APP
pointed HIM to the Tacant place.
the boy FASTENED to Newport, where
the academy was then located, passed
the examination, and then was shown
dispatch from the Secretary of the Ma
w, which said. 'Do not accept Mr..
Wlod's appointment for the Navy"
Back to New York rushed the boy, to
learn that the cadet whose place he was
to till had recovered his health and been
reinstated.
80 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 his
rights. His zeal SO moved Mr.. Wood
that ne SAID
You write what you like me to say to
the Secretary and | VIII sign the letter.
and you can 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 had to stand most of the way. He
presented himself to Mr.. Wells, the
secretary, handed him Mr.. Woods let.
ter, ana 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 delusion. We have
no intention of sighting him in any way
You can return to the academy. L VII.
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 to its work as to gradu-
ate with distinction, just as the war
closed.
In his subsequent career in the arctic
regions,s where he lost his life, he
showed the same indomitabe spirit as
characterized him when he forced his
appointment by sheer pluck and energy.