The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-06-21
@sEGoRRA. I SAVED THE STARS
a Story that Made Every Listener
Spring TO His Feet
From tte Chioggo Inter Ocean.

From the Chicago Iater-Ocedn-
i was present not long ago." said the
colonel, ''at banquet where an old army
ofiicer OF English antece1ents was on the
programme to speak to the sentiment,
The Irish in the union army-courageous
and loyal Americans, they were as true as
the truest, as brave as the bravest.' This
puzzled nle greatly. Why should an
American Of E glish descent be called upon
70 com p!lme1t the Irish-Americansz l did
not understand the situation until NV
friend, one Of tie hard fighters Of the war,
arose 70 speak. his speech was simply a
Attie story, and yet it stirred me as lew
speeches ever did
My friend OF English antecedents sat
near the center of long table. Almost oDpo-
site hin sat a stoutly built MAJ. who g51ld
nave been haidsome but for the fact that
MS eyes were sig atless. This blind man re-
ceiyed little attention except from the men
VINO sat Oh either side OF him, both of whom
were freshmen and strangers to the majority
Oh the guests. Wnen the toast was read,
pc Iklng IN such enthu ias.ic terms of the
IRISH soldiers Of tie war, their faces
flushed, AID they sat erect, looking straight
across at the man who was to respond
Sly first surprise was in the manner of
the speaker. knew HIM to be one of the
coolest and most unexcitable Of men, but as
ne rose 70 his feet say that he was con-
troiled by stro. z emotion. He stood for a
minute looking down the line at the table.
as II study & toe thoughts Of every man
present. Then he began IN a O iiet tone
say ~ that when this toast was assigned 10
tim be was puzzled to know why he should
De selected above al others to speak OF Irish
courage IL the union army.
he ha1 said as much TO his wife, but as
ne sall 1t there came to his mind an Incl
dent OF his army life that made the whole
matter clear to him Then be proceeded TO
relIte the story of his experience at the
urnlng point Of ne of the fiercest battles
oT the war. In the midst of nand-to-hand
con t, when everything depended on
every man doing his best, he received a
blow that Sc { him headlong to the ground.
Wne he regained consciousness he realized
tnat ter Inc strugg was being fought 70
the death above i'm
The fist objects to catch his eve were
two sturdy legs in blu9-the legs of some
one standing astride of him The owner of
the legs seemed to be bending this way and
that 70 shield the PROSTATE officer from
olows That were falling on his own devoted
mead. The Tight was over the flag which
was torn in fragme It's as the men struck
anG cat at each other in the fury of their
wild excitement, but, hao open W at might,
the one ma standing astride the captain
never moved his feet. The captain did not
Know who this stout defende was until in
ans yer to demand to surrender there came
in Irish brogue, 40 hill wild your
He realized then that Pat Mcbride was
lighting against odds TOR the flag a ID his
captain. He realized, too, as bold came
dropping down in his face, that Pat was
sorely wou ded. He knew this 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 con-
ami g the stars, and Pats only remark. as
they strove to revive him, was, Be CORA.
| saved the stars'-stars, alas! that he could
never see again.
This was in brief the story, but it was
told by man who felt every word, and
was told so dramatically that at its close
nearly every maa at the table was stand
ing on us feet. As the speaker we on to
pay his tribute to the man wac had slved
his life, and pictured him as the ideal of
s1ldlerly courage and loyalty, the blind
man opposite stood like one entranced. and
as the speaker closed, he plunged across
the table, reckless of glass and china, and
wit howl of exultation, threw his arms
about his old captain.
The scene that followed was simply in
descr1bable. The story called out all the
demonstrativeness of the Iris nature. The
speaker was overwhelmed with congratula-
tons and thanks. Listening to what was
said, to other stories that this one story
called out, | understood why the officer of
English antecedents had been selected to
speak OF the courage and spirit of the men
OF Irish descent in the union army