The morning call., 1893-11-19


drilling in the square and would exclaim
| to a bystander. There they are; they are
nv Eien, aud they VII keep that flag up at
| the masthead, never iear!'
To those who were not acquainted with
| the captain, this bonbastc talk seemed
| more than ridiculous. To his officers II
was painful. for they law in 1t the signs
| # mental derangemen-wba they ha0
| long feared. But nobly did they support
| their senior officer and not word of COM
| ment was heard from them. Only now,
| after his death, do they sIeak; now when
! his memory is being furnished; now it is
| coming to light that the sayings were not
| those of the old commander, Gilbert Y.
| Wiltse, with his years OF gallant service
| back of him. but the utterings from
| brain where a terrible sickness had found
| lodgment and was working havoc.
The veteran commander had become
| m opomaniac-a mOnOmaniac Oh the sub
| iect of hosting the flag at Honolulu. His
| years of service counted as naugnt 10 MN.
| be never spoke of the terrible hours on
| the old Congress. when the deati-deallDg
| shot " as being hurled from the Merrimac;
| he never told how he had braved the ter
| rors at Sumter and Mouitrie. NO, ne
| spoke only of the Hawaiian incident.
Never a word about his deeds OF vaior
| during the war f the rebellion; only one
| iOric was in his mind and found voice.
| Stopping newspaper correspondent on
the street he would say: "Well, we'll.
| what's new, my boy? Nothing, ave?
Well. what can there be until the news o.
annexation comesP And by the way, don't
| you think voe of thanks by Congress
will be in order?"
| So he would go about the streets. laugh
ing and chatting. perfectly rational on
| every subject-save one. To new arrivals
| he would say: II raised that flag Pretty
| big thing, wasn't it? The American peo-
pie know now that the right man was In
| the right place, en- 2"
So it went the disease that had eaten
| into his brain caused that one little act 10
be hugely magnfed; the act of obeying
| his su perior officer was changed. 10 him,
into an act involving his personality and
| casting glory around his individuality.
The early news from home was filled
with praise of Stevens action and of
course Wiltse's name was men toned.
These newspaper articles he would read
aloud and wind up with, by Jove, sir! l
raised that flag l did III"
| Some one suggested that the incoming
| administration might have different view
| OF the affair-might possibly haul the flag
down. l will never forget the few moments
| that followed these unwise remarks. The
naval officer grew purple with rage, great
veins swelled out on his forehead. One of
| his officers rushed TO his side. 1t was
| thought he did so to prevent personal
encounter, bul his reason was to catch his
commander should second of those
strokes fell him.
Haul that flag down!" thundered
Wiltse; "that proud flag. The man who
would do that would be bastard, sir. He
would be cur! While l am on these
islands that flag shall not come down uD-
less over my dead b0dy-no. not even if
the President of the United States orders
it!'
There he stood in front of the Hawaiian
Hotel and he waved his arms wildly as he
| alked. Some turned away and smiled;
others whispered: why does he make
such an exhibition OF himself" We WON
derec at the silence of the Boston's off,
cers, but their reticence is now explained.
| In February his time was up, his three
years service ended and the last of the
| month he was relieved by Captain Day.
A grand ball and reception was given and
Captain Wiltse received cOngratulat1on
after congratulation. He took all the
| honor, all The glory to himself.
$50 different is he." remarked Lieu
tenant Moore. from the man who sailed
| from New York"
The Australia was due to sail and friends
| of annexation crowded the pier. Accord
ing to The custom of the Country the de-
parting officer was decorated with leis of
flowers On the dock was stationed the
band. and the glorious strains of "The
Siar-spangled Banner" rang out as the
hawsers were loosened. On deck s God
Captain Wiltse, and tears were flowing
from his eyes. TO his distorted imagi"a-
ton he was leaving a scene of conquest,
of victory; leaving place where lie had |
won immortal fame. There were sad |
hearts on the Boston that night.
I'VE will never see the old man again." |
said one, and many glass was raised to
wash down that lump which would rise IN |
the throat.
So the Australia sailed eastward. There
were those on board who did not know |
Captain Witse save for few days in |
llxr, lsrlrr E1 hnD IN Hsz -
mirth. he seemed we'll and strong and |
thew thought he was only making fool |
of himself" He was an amusing instru- |
ment to while away tedious sea-voyage |
with. and they twanged the one string that |
answered their touch; they harped upon |
the flag incident.
"Do You think they will have band at |
the dock ?" he asked.
"a band p' exclaimed the man cues.
toned. Only a band! Why, man alive, |
think what you have done. There will be |
a coDcourse OF people there. procession
and feastng. Members of Congress will
be ,h-re."
Of another he asked: do you think it
probable that Congress will pass vote Of
thanks?"
"a vote of thanksI Why that's the least
they can do. Why not promotion? / |
shouldn't wonder but you will he made
commodore or rear admiral. Why, England
would give title to an officer who did as
much for her,"
That's so-that's So" he would muir
muir, and walk away.
Some noticed that he would press his
hand to his head. HE has been drinking
too much" they said.
But Captain Wiltse was not a tippler,
1t was that old pain which was bothering
him again.
And SO he arrived at San Francisco.
Here he received his first blow. His
dreams came to naught. Slowly he left the
ship and went tn hotel. perhaps they
will surprise me at Washington" he said
to friend.
He went East. From tropical Hawaii
he was ST fitted to Washingt on cold.
bleak March day. From u country where
his deed had been magnified and false
praise bestowed upon him he entered the
capital OF the United States. The Cleve-
land administration had just entered upon
us term and cold shoulder was turned
toward annexation.
Captain Wiltse called at the White House
and was refused admittauce. He went IN
the Navy Department and there was CEN