The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-05-19
A WATERLOO VETERAN.
He Was Proud Of His Medal and
His, Son.

How fate drifted the old veteran int
| our little Canadian Lake Erie village
! never new. Drifted him? No; he evel
marched as if under the orders of hi:
commander. Tall, thin, white-haired
| close-shaven AID always in knee
! breechcs and long stockings, he was az
antique and martial figure. Fresh
whitefsh," was his cry, which he de
livered as if calling all the village tc
fall in for drill.
So impressive was his domeanor tina;
he dignified his occupation. For years
after he disappeared. the peddling OF
wbitefsh by horse and cart was re
gardcd in that district as highly re-
spectacle. 1t was d glorious trade
when Old John Locke held the steel,
yards and served out the glittering fish
with an air of distributing ammunition
for long days combat.
believe l noticed on the first day
saw him how he tapped his left breast
with a proud gesture when he had done
with lot of customers and was about
to march again at the head of his horse.
|. That restored him from trade to his sol
diership-he had saluted his Waterloo
medal.
There, beneath his threadbare old
blue coat, it lay, always felt by the heart
of the hero.
''Why doesn't he wear it outsider I
once asked.
He used to-" said my father, "till
Hiram Scudder, the druggist, asked
him what he'd take for the bit of pew
ter"
what did old John say, sir?''
Take for the bit Of pewter said
he, looking hard at Scudder with scorn.
I've took better mems lives nor ever
yours was for to get it, and I'd sell my
own for it as quick as ever L offered it
before
More fool YOU said Scudder.
You're nowt,' said old John, very
calm and cool, you're nowt but walk
ing dirt From that day forth he would
never sell Scuddcr fish; he wouldn't
touch his money"
1t must have been late in 1854 or
early in 1875 that | first saw the medal.
Going home from school on bright
winter afternoon [ met old John walk
ing very erect without his usual fish
supply. 4 dull, round white spot was
clasped on the left breast of his coat.
Mr. Locke" said the small boy,
staring with admiration, is that your
glorious Waterloo medal"
You're good little lad,'
lot ~, I
pewter.
Wars declared against Rooshia,"
went on the old man, ''and now's right
to show it. The old regiments sailed,
and my only son is with the colors."
Then he took me by the hand and led
me into the village store. where the
lawyer read aloud the news from the
paper that the old veteran gave him. In
those days there was no railway within
fifty miles Of US. 1t had CHANGED that
some fisherman brought old John a
later paper than any previously received
in the village.
LAY, but the duke S gone" said he,
shaking his white head, and it's curious
to be fighting "a the same side with an
other Boney."
All that winter and the next, all the
long summer between, old John dis
played his medal When the report
of Alma came his remarks on the French
failure to get into the fight We're severe.
What was they ever without Boney?'
he would inquire.
But a letter from his son after mixer
man changed all that.
Half Of Us was Killed, and the rest
Of us clean tired with fighting" wrote
Corporal Locke What with a bullet
through the flesh Of my right leg and
the fatigue of using the bayonet so long,
l was like to drop.
The Russians were coming on again
as if there was no end to them, when
strange drums came sounding IN the
mist behind Us. With that we closed
up and faced halfround, thinking they
had outdauked US and the day was
gone. 50 there was nothing more to 90
but make out to die hard. like the sons
Of Waterloo men. You would have
been pleased to see the looks of what
was left of the old regiment, father.
Then all of a sudden . French
column came mp. the rise out of the
mist. roaring 'Nive I Empereur" their
drums beating the charge. We gave
them room, for we were too dead tired
to so first. On they went like mad 4.
the Russians, 50 that was the end Of
hard mornings work. I was down.
tainted with loss OF blood, but I will
soon be fit for duty again. When l
came to myself there was 2 Frenchman
pouring brandy down my threat and
talking in his gibberish as kind Is anv
Christian. Never word win say asia
them red-legged French again"
SHOW me the man that would"
growled old John. 1t was never in
them French 10 act cowardly. Didn't
they beat ali the world, except Us and /
the dulie?"
With The ending of the Crimean war
our village was illuminated Rows OF
tallow candles in every window, FIRE ,
works in vacant field and torchlight .
procession! Old John marched Ct its .
head in full regimentals. straight rs d
the hero Of the night.
His son had been promoted sergeant
for bravery on the field We bows
though: the old army Of Wellington
kept rhostly step with John Locke. while .
aerial drums pcaled and beat with re-
joicinG az the new glozy Of English
speaking Ilen-