Morning journal and courier., 1889-10-08
BRAVE BROTHER DATE.

once Lieutenant Sullivan of the Brit
ish Army, He Took His Victoria
Cross Into a Religious Brotherhood.
From the San Francisco Examiner.l
eyes, 1t Is true that Brother Datif received
the Victoria Cross and several other medals,
besides written testimonials for the valuable
services rendered by him when in the Brit
ish army. But he is by no means proud of
such honors, because they were won in fight
ing for the flag of England. Like many 9TH
sr sons of Erin, who have been obliged by
circumstances to enlist themselves under
Britain's scarlet banner, he regrets that his
labors could not have been given instead to
the cause of dear old Ireland. There is
Brother Datif now, and does he not look
like soldier stills'
The speaker, who was a member of the
faculty at St. Marys college in Oakland
pointed out of the window toward the col
lege grounds to tall figure clad in the black
robe of the Christian Brotherhood, and tow
ering high over groups OF studeuts engaged
in the great American game of base ball.
The tall parsonage WAS acting IN the ca
pacity of monitor during the recreation of
the students, and while he paced slowly up
and down, reading from devotional work,
1t was observed that he walked with firm,
military tread, which gave him q soldieriy
appearance in spite of the long, dark soutane
and wide cape like collar worn by religieux
of the Order OF Jean de Ia Sale.
$50 you wish to know the history of
Brother Datifa Well, I will go to the safe
and get his papers, where they have lain
since he took the VOWS"
After few minutes interval the speaker
returned with a small package of yellow,
time worn envelopes. The contents of these
showed that Brother Datif's name before be-
coming a religious was Lieutenant James
Sullivan. One of these envelopes contained
the brothers medals, and in the others were
a military discharge and testimonials from
superior officers. A piece of parchment
| dated Dover Castle attested that Sergeant
James Sullivan was raised to the rank OF
| lieutenant and entitled to the Victorian
| Cross for bravery displayed by him during
the Sepoy mutiny.
| The parchment was signed by Gsneral
Cauchmann. Lieutenant Sullivan was, after
| his India service, an officer of the Royal
| listed as private soldier at Waterford, Ire
| land, on December 18th, 1849. His mill.
| tary career lasted nineteen years, and he il
| still in receipt of pension from the Brit
| ish government.
| Although Brother Dattf has already
| passed his sixtieth birthday, he is still
! erect and vigorous while marshaliRg the
| boys of st. Mary's into ranks at recreation's
| close as he was when amid the smoke and
| din of battle he charged on rebellious Se~
poys at Meerut, Delhi and in Lower Bengal.
Besides having four bronze medals and the
! Victoria Cross, Brother Datif is also the pos
SCISSOR of a large silver medal bearing on one
side the arms OF Great Britain and on the
other the inscription, "Fer long service and
| good conduct"
An accompanying paper explains that a
medal of this kind can be given only after
eighteen years of uninterrupted good beha
| vior.
| When Lieutenant Sullivan announced hit
intention to leave the British service he wat
offered captaincy to remain, but declined
simply stating that he had chosen another
vocation. That vocation, which he came
here to embrace, was his present simple ani
| obscure life Of Christian brother.