The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-11-23
"L,ke Alexander, 1 will reign,
'.And I will reign alone"
An Energetic Boy.

Capt. belongs childhood showed the
man, When a mere boy he exhibited
the same persistnebt energy in securing
cadetship in the Naval Academy az
he did while commander of the unfor.
tunate polar expedition in which he lost
his life. .sS
When scarcely twelve years old he
read the naval exploits Of the war Of
1872. 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
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 10 to the Naval Academy.
You say you will not assist me; but if 1
obtain an appointment myself, will you
give me your consent and allow me to
enter?n
Every WE'LL" answered the father.
laughing at what he thought a bows
hopeless scheme, ''ifyou can accomplish
such feat, will make no further OBJ.
lection"
The 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, tho energetic boy wrote to
Washington and learned that Ills Com
gressi0nal district already had its full
quota of navel cadets. A few DAYS later.
he heard that q 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 an.
pointed him to the vacant place.
The boy hastened to Newport, where
the academy was then located, passed
the examination, and then was shown a
dispatch from the Secretary of the Ma.
Wy, which said. "Do not ACCEPT Mr..
WiOd's appointment for the Nayy,"
Back to New York rushed the bow. to
learn that the cadet whose place he was
to ill had recovered his health and been
reinstated.
$50 that ends the inatter.s said MIR.
Wood.
The boy did not think so. He in.
sisted that the Congressman had been
imposed upon end deprived of his
rights. His zeal so moved Mr.. Wood
that lie said,-
"You write u hat you like me to saw to
the Secretary and will sign the letter.
and you can take it to Washington
yourself"
The letter was written and the boy
started ct 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, and watched his face as he read it.
And you are Mr.. De Long? Well,
this is 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. / 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 gradr,-
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 lie forced his
appointment by sheer pluck and energy.