Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-07-25
CURBSTONE CRAYONS.


II was present not long ago." said the
Colonel, Eat banquet where an old army
officer of English antecedents was on the
programme TO speak TO the sentiment,
The Irish in the Union Army-cour-
ageous and loyal Americans, they were as
true as the truest, as brave as the brav-
est This puzzled me greatly. Why
should an American Of English descent
be called upon to compliment the Irish
Americansf I did not understand the
situation until my friend, one of the hard
fighters of the war, arose to speak. His
speech was simply little story, and yet
it stirred me as few speeches ever did.
***
"My friend of English antecedents sat
near the center of long table. Almost
opposite him sat stOutly-built man who
would have been handsome but for the
fact that his eyes were sightIess. This
blind man received little attention ex-
cept from the men who sat on either side
of him, both of whom were Irishmen and
strangers to the majority of the guests.
When the toast was read, speaking in
such enthusiastic terms of the Irish SOL
diers of the war, their faces flushed, and
the man who was to respond.
***
"My first surprise was in the manner of
the speaker. l knew him to be one of
the coolest and least excitable of men,
but as he rose to his feet I saw that he
was controlled by strong emotion. He
stood for minute looking down the line
at the table, as if studying the thoughts
of every man present. Then he began
in a quiet tone saying that when this
toast was assigned to him he was puz-
zled to know why he should be selected
above all others to speak of Irish courage
III the Union army.
***
s'He had said as much to his wife. but
as he said it, there came to mis- mind an
incident of his army life that made the
whole matter clear to him. Then he pro-
ceeded to relate the story Of his expert
ence at the turning point of one of the
fiercest battles of the wal. In the midst
of a hand to hand CONTEST, when every
thing depended on every man doing his
best, he received a blow that sent him
headlong to the ground. When he re-
gained consciousness he realized that a
terrific struggle had beer fought to the
death above him.
***
"Tbe first objects to catch his eye were
two sturdy legs in blue--the legs of some
one standing astride of him. The owner
of the legs seemed 30 be bending this
way and that to shield the PROSTATE Of
ficer from blows that were falling on his
own devoted head. The fight was over
the flag, which was cut in fragments as
the men struck and cut at each other in
the fury of their wild excitement, but,
happen what might, the one man astride
the captain never moved his feet. The
captain did not know who this stout de-
fender was until in answer to a demand
to surrender there came in Irish brogue,
TO hill wild ye!
Xxx
"He realized that Pat Mcbride was
fighting against odds for his flag and
his captain. He realized, too, as blood
came dropping down IN his face, that
Pat was sorely wounded. He knew CHS
when in a few minutes he was dragged
out from the heap of wounded and saw
Pat fall down from loss of blood. They
found wadded into Pats blouse that part
of the flag containing the stars, and Pats
only remark, as they strove to revive
him, was, EB'gorra, saved the stars.'-
stars, alas, that he could never see again.
s**
"This was in brief the story, but it was
told by man VINO felt every word, and
was told so dramatically that at it's close
nearly every man at the table was stand
ing on his feet. As the speaker went on
to pay his tribute TO the man who had
saved his life, aud pictured him as the
ideal of soldierly courage and loyalty, the
blind man opposite stood like one en-
tranced, and as the speaker closed, he
plunged across the table, reckless of
glass and china, and with a howl of
exu.tation, threw his arms about his old
captain.
***
''The scene that followed was simply in
descr1bable. The story called out all the
noisy demonstrativeness OF the Irish
nature. The speaker was overwhelmed
with congratulations and thanks. Listen
ing to what was said, to other stories that
this one story called out, I understood
why the officer of English anteoedents had
been selected to speak of the course and
spirit of the men of Irish descent in the
Union Army"