Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-06-08
JIM LANE, HERO.

tween the barren and wind swept sand
dunes 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 voyagcrs 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 II modest struc
ture 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 Il story worth the telling
that Jim had to give them, and in testi-
mony of the truth of which he displayed
his medals and his papers. A reporter was
introduced to him by mutual friend, and
while Jim was modestly loath to speak
about himself, the friend supplied the mis-
sing links in the narrative Of his heroism
and his honors
The scene and the time shift from New
York in the closing days of 1892 to Apia,
the chief town of the Samoan islands, in
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 deiiantly ut the bull
lets Of the tlarine guard of his ship then
sprang over to the outer side of the palings
and was soon swimming Off to his vessel
with II necklace of bottles Of gin hanging
upon his sturdy shoulders.
During the hurricane a gigantic wave had
! swept the NipsiC upon the beach, and its
recession had hoated her free again, and she
| was the only vessel of the international
/ feet there assembled, except the British
! corvette Calliope that ever plowed the seas
again. Lane and squad of his shipmates
| had been granted a days shore leave by
! Captain Mullen, the commander of the
/ Nipsic, and when they did not return at the
appointed hour detachment Of the marine
guard with lieutenant in charge, was
sent ashore 10 look them up. They were
found in 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, We're firing at him, safely es-
capped all their shots, and in the quick gath
ering darkness of the tropics made his way
TO the ship.
The lieutenant followed with his prison
I ers He was furious at the contempt which
Lane had manifested, and demanded that
Captain Mullin should report the fractions
sailor man for court martial to Admiral
{ L. ,b,
in command of the Pacific squadron. But
Mullen refused to do so. He had vivid and
lasting remembrance of Lanes services on
the day of the fateful hurricane, when Lane
lad stood at the wheel of the Nipsic 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 III the ships company. Through
that tremendous storm, when vessel after
vessel was pounding upon the reefs or sink
ing, Lane had remained steadfast at his
post, and Captain Mullen decided that his
faithfulness then should condone his later
dereiction.
But the lieutenant was firmly resolved
upon vindicating his outraged dignity and
the discipline Of the naval service. He
caused to be conveyed to Admiral kimber-
", without Captain Mullins knowledge,
admiral summoned a court martial. That
judicial body promptly found Lane guilty,
and 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
veyed to the nearest port III 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 to san Francisco
and at the Mare island navy yard his med
ais were stripped from his breast and hi.
uniform from his body, and in Il suit OF
civilians clothes he was drummed ouJ t
the gate Of the yard, the drummers and
filters playing the "Rogues' March, and he
was turned loose upon the world without a
dollar in his pockets.
But the disgraced sailor WAS too pluck J
to fear to face fortunes bullets. Strollinl
up the streets of san Francisco, he entere,
; the Office of the California Navigation com
pany which runs line of steamships dowI
the Pacific coast to Mexican and Soutl
,, American ports. lie was at once accepted
as an able seaman, and when the next o
the company's ships left port he stood upoI
her deck. Another opportunity OF distin
gushing himself gallantly was not long il
coming. The next day the vessel was pitch
ing and rolling in IA stormy sea. A woman
/, passenger was standing at the rail near tn,
stern when an unusually heavy lurch of thu
steamer into the trough of the sea sent he
overheard. Lane was over after her in
second, without waiting even to grasp
life preserver.
The ship was running at the speed of fiji
teen knots an hour, and before boat coull
: be lowered she was five miles away from
! the scene Of disaster. 1t was nearly night
: and in the gloom the boats crew could SCI
nothing of Lane and the woman Still the.
rowed steadily in their supposed direction
sending up rockets and burning sigma
lights in the hope that they might be guidet
by them. Meanwhile the steamer lay T.
and also burned signals.
> Two hours had passed and the men il
. the boat were about to give up the searcl
, and head for the ship, when feeble voic
came out Of the night and waves and OF
the crest Of billow u dark object was seen
: Give way, men; that's him." shouted tn
3 boatswain, and in n moment more Ian
and the rescued woman were hauled owe