The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-02-04
JIM LANE, HERO.

tween the barren and wind swept sand
hunes of the far eastern end of Long Island,
nearly under the shadow of the tall tower
from which the light of Montauk point
nightly affords the voyagers of the sea n
beacon by which they may steer into safe
haven, with the Atlantic's mighty pillows
rolling up almost to its door, stands the
home which has sheltered four generations
OF the Lane family. 1t is n modest struc-
turc of wood, and the paint which has been
placed upon it annually in the springtime
is now almost worn off by the fierce easterly
gales that have beat upon it since Septem-
Der brought in the season of storm
But there has been great rejoicing in that
little homestead since Jim Lane came back
TO the father, brothers and sisters from
whom he had been separated for fifteen
years. 1t was n story worth the telling
that jim had to give them, and in testi-
mony of the truth of which lie displayed
his medals and his papers. \ reporter was
introduced to him by n mutual friend, and
while Jim was modcstly loath to speak
about himself, the friend supplied the mis-
sing links i'll the narrative of his heroism
and his honors.
The scene and the time shift from New
York i'll the closing days of 1892 to Apin.
the chief town of the Samoan islands, in
March, 1889, II week after the fierce Pacific
hurricane had wrecked two United States
and three German warships upon the coral
reefs. Toward the end of the week jim
Lane, captain of the foretop and coxswain
of the captains gig of the United States
sloop-of-war Nipsic, sat a-straddle of the
low fence surrounding the traders store at
Apia, waved his hand defiantly at the bull
lets OF the niarine guard of his ship, then
spranB over to the outer side of the palings
and was soon swimming off to his vessel
with necklace of bottles of gin hanging
upon his sturdy shoulders.
During the hurricane n gigantic wave had
swept the Nipsic upon the beach, and it's
recession had floated her free again, and she
was the only vessel of the international
fleet there assembled, except the British
corvette Calliope, that ever plowed the seas
again Lane and n squad of his shipmates
mad been granted II days shore leave by
captain Mullen, the commander of tho
Nlpsic, and when they did not return Mt the
appointed hour n detachment of the marine
guard, with n lieutenant in charge was
sent ashore to look them up They were
found i'll the traders bar, all carrying heavy
cargoes of liquor. To the summons of ar
rest every man except Lane surrendered.
He ran for the fence, jumped astride of it,
coolly sat there for several moments. while
the marines, under instructions from the
lieutenant, were firing at him, safely es-
capped all their Shots and in the quick gath
er:ng darkness of the tropics made his way
to the ship.
The lieutenant followed with his prison.
ers. He was furious ut the contempt which
Lane Ind manifested, and demanded that
Captain Mullin should report the fractions
sailor man for court martial to Admiral
himberly, who was present ut Samoa and
in command of the Pacific squadron. But
MnlIpu rafp Snl to Il t.
lasting remembrance of Lanes services on
the day of the fateful hurricane, when Lane
had stood at the wheel of the Nipsc for eight
long hours, he having been selected for that
important duty by the captain because he
was the strongest seaman and the best
helmsman i'll the ships company. Through
that tremendous storm, when vessel after
vessel was pounding upon the reefs or sink.
ing, Lane had remained stcadfast at his
post, and Captain Mullen decided that his
faithfulness then should condonc his later
dereliction.
But the lieutenant was firmly resolved
upon indicating his outraged dignity and
the discipline of the naval service. He
caused to be conveyed to Admiral Kimber-
ly, without Captain Mullins knowledge.
information of the affair OH shore, and the
admiral summoned court martial. That
Judicial body promptly found Lane guilty.
ana their sentence was that he be deprived
OF all the medals that he had won by gal
liant service in the past; that he should for
felt the pay due him, and that he be con-
Veycd to tho nearest port in the United
States and there be dishonorably dismissed
from the ranks of the navy. This harsh SEN
tence was promptly carried into effect. The
convicted man was sent 10 San Francisco,
ana mt the Mare island navy yard his med
ais were stripped from his breast and his
uniform from his body, and i'll suit of
civilians clothes he was drummed out to
the gate of the yard, the drummers and
filters playing the 'Rogucs' March, and he
was turned loose upon the world without u
dollar in his pockets.
But the disgraced sailor was too plucky
TO fear TO face fortunes bullets. Strolling
up the streets of San Francisco he entered
the office of the California Navigation COM
pany, which runs line of steamships down
the Pacific coast to Mexican and South
American ports. lie was at once accepted
as an able seaman, and when the next of
the companys ships left port he stood upon
her deck. Another opportunity of distin-
gushing himself CALAMITY was not long i'm
coming. The next day the vessel was pitch
ing and rolling In Il stormy sea 4 woman
passenger was standing at the rail near the
stern when al unusually heavy lurch of the
steamer into the trough of the sea sent her
overheard Lane was over after her in n
second, without waiting even to grasp a
life preservcr.
The ship was running at the speed of flf-
teen knots an hour, and before boat could
he lowered she was five miles away from
the scene of disaster. 1t was nenrly might.
and in the gloom the boats crew could sec
nothing of Lane and the woman Still the-
rowed st eadily in their supposed direction,
sending up rockets and burning signal
lights the hope that they might be guided
by them Meanwhile the steamer lay to
and also burned signals.