Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-27
SARVTS AND BILLY.

SARVTS AND BILLY.
THE Two Oldest Benenc,ariss Of the Govern
ment ut the Naval As,ium.
philadelphia Timesl
The two oldest naval benefciaries in
the country walked together across the
lawn at the Naval Asylum, on Gray's-
Ferry road yesterday, blithe and quite
10y Gus and lively under the influence
of the SUMS rays. One, a white-haired
man, with rugged face, bronzed and
wrinkled, lighted by bright gray eyes;
the other, . sleek-coated horse, black
as raven, who ambled beside his COM
panion. The first was Nathaniel Sar-
Wis. aged ninety-nine last June, a sailor
of the war of 1912, who fought with
Perry in 1913 on Lake Erie; the Sc
cond, Billy" horse who has been
at the Naval Asylum for twenty-five
years, is thirty-six years old, and has
been pensioner for fourteen years.
MEMORIES or A CENTENARIAN.
81 was born OH the 18th day Of
June, 1885," said Sarvis, Strengthening
his bowed form. shifting his quid and
closing his weather eye, "and Boston
was the place of my nativity. Haven't
been there in fifty years. l was born
in Hanover street. used to play on
the Common when a boy. They pas
tured the Governors COW there then.
My great.grandsire came over on
the Mayhower and my father was
sailor during the Revolutionary
war on the frigate Alliance. He
was a sail.maker by trade and made
the first suit Of canvas for the old war
ship Constitution. worked with him
for awhile, but when the war broke
out listed on the Constitution. lhad
served an apprenticeship as black
smith and entered the service as an
armorer. In the fall Of 1912 | was
transferred to the lakes and reported for
duty aboard the frigate Niagara. which
was commanded by Captain Elliott. |
afterwards served on the Ohio, under
Dobbins, and the General Pike, under
Chauncey. was with Chauncey on
Lake Champlain.
NOT OUR FLEET.
81 did not take part in the great
naval battle on Lake Erie, being ashore
at the time, experimenting the trans
portation of ammunition to the fleet.
We knew that great battle had taken
place, and started on boat with two
others for Putin Bay. Before we
reached that port we met Captain Dob
bins, of the Ohio, in his gig.
60 Boys he said, standing up on the
stern thwarts, there's been big bat
tie and the fleets captured
"'Our heet9" we cried in dismay.
WNo!' he Numbered the enc
my's, and you must give three cheers
for the Stars and Stripes
ave gave the cheers with will,
and continued on our course. In about
an hour we met the fleet, and | saw
Commodore Perry and his little bro
Their. who was a midshipman, as they
pulled away from the flagship in the
Commodore's barge. Perry was fine
man, and the humblest sailor liked him.
lie was very pleasant-mannered, Of
middle height, wore afull black beard.
and his eyes were as keen as an eagles.
AS we passed by him we uushipped our
oars and, standing up, cheered him.
lie rose and, bowling, lifted his cooked
hat. When peace was declared en-
tered the coasting trade and followed
the seas for years. I'm here now, in
my old age, and being the oldest bene-
ficiary, they treat me like baby, AMI
give me everything | want"
THE EVILS OF TOBACCO.
Sarvis, in his prime, was a man of
splendid physique, five feet eleven
inches tall and weighing one hundred
and eighty pounds. lie is still able to
walk about and visits the city OCCASION
ally. For seventy-fve years he has
smoked and chewed excessively and has
never been sick day. He never
touched liquor until about six months
ago. when the surgeon ordered
him to drink bottle of beer
daily. lie has been growing feebler,
and within the last month the beer
has been changed to milk-punch, OF
which his ration is pint. He cast his
first vote for President Madison in 1909,
and has voted the straight Democratic
ticket ever since. Armorer Sarvis' S
companion, as he walked about the
grounds, was not able to tell the story
of his long life, but Sailor James Ma
rion, who has especial care Of the old
beneficiary, told the following anec-
dotes about his charge:
BILLY KNOWS HIS RIGHTS.
"Billy will be thrty-six years old
this fall" he said, "and he's been in
the institution for nearly twenty-four
years. About fourteen years ago he
was foundered, and the Governor had
him placed on the list as beneficiary.
He does nothing but eat and enjoy him
self the old fellows as frisky as a
colt-and he's got a good home here
until he dies. He knows that he's q
beneficiary and he won't work. We
tried it about two years ago aud har.
messed him to lawn-mower
Billy looked at the machine, squealed
with disgust, and laid down. We
! couldn't make him bulge an inch
He's a great friend Of the children, ant
allows them to play about his heels and
ride on his back. He's very fond o
cakes and candy, and watches for thu
bakers cart every day. Once W,
caught his stealing cakes from baby
coach that had been temporarily ne
elected by nurse, and now he watches
all the baby-carriages, and while pre-
tending to make friends with the littl,
girls that push about the perambulator,
secretly steals the cakes and candy tina
have been provided for the babies.
"Billy's a genuine sailor. lie dom
chew tobacco or smoke, but he drink.
whiskey, and goes to the hospital stew
ard every morning for his dram. Abou
two years ago he was taken down will
the collie and the surgeon prescribed
whiskey. We gave him several dose