Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-06-22

| ed four generations of the Lane family
There was recently great holiday re
jOicing there in that little homestead
when jim Lane came back to the faith
| er, brothers and sisters from whom
| he had been separated for fifteen years
1t was a story worth the telling that
Jim had to give them. and in testimony
Of the truth Of which he displayed
his medals and papers. A new York
Press reporter was introduced to him
and while Jim was mOdeStly lOath tC
speak about himself, friend supplied
the missing links i'll the narrative OF
his herOism and his hOn0rS.
The scene and the time are at Apia
the chief town of the Samoan islands,
III March, 1889, a week after the fierce
Pacific hurricane had wrecked two
United States and three German wal
ships upon the coral reefs. Toward the
end of the week Jim Lane, captain
Of the foretop and coxswain Of the
catpain'S gig of the United States sloop
OF war NipSic, sat astraddle of the
low fence surrounding the traders store
at Apia, waved his hand defiantly at
the bullets of the marine guard of his
ship, then sprang over to the outer side
Of the palings and was soon swimming
off to his vessel with a necklace of
bottles Of gin hanging on his sturdy
shoulders.
During the hurricane a gigantic wave
had swept the Nipsic upon the beach,
and in its recession had fiOated her
free again, and she was the only vessel
Of the international fleet there assembl-
ed, except the British corvette Calliope,
that ever plowed the seas again. Lane
and a 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 a detachment of the
marine guard, with a lieutenant I'M
charge, was sent ashore to look them
UP. They we're found in the traders
bar, carrying heavy cargoes of liquor
10 the summons of arrest 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 escaped all their shots and in
the quick gathering darkness of the
tropics made his way to the ship.
The lieutenant followed with hisi
prisoners. He was furious at the con-
tempt which Lane had manifested,
and demanded that Captain Mulleni
should report the fractions sailor man
for courtmartial to Admiral Kimberly.
command of the Pacific squadron But
Mullen refused to do so. He had a
vivid and lasting remembrance of Lanes
services on the day of the Hateful hur-
ricane, when Lane had stood at the
wheel of the Nipsic for eight long
hours, he having been selected for that
duty by the captain because
he was the strongest seaman and the
best helmsman in the ships company.
vessel after vessel was pounding upon
the reefs or sinking, Lane had remained
steadfast at his post and Captain
Mullen decided that his faithfulness
then should condone his later derelic-
ton.
But the lieutenant caused to be con-
veyed to Admiral Kimberly without
Captain Mullen'S knowledge Informal
ton of the affair on shore and the
admiral summoned 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 gallant service in the past;
that he should forfeit the pay due him
and that he be conveyed to the nearest
point in the United States and there be
dosmissd from the ranks
of the navy. This harsh sentence was
promptly carried into effect. The con-
yicted man was sent to San Francisco
and at the Mare Islands navy yard
his medals We're stripped from his
breast and his uniform from his body,
and in suit Of civilians clothes he was
drummed out to the gate Of the yard,
the drummers and filters playing the
''Rogues' March," and he was turned
loos upon the world without a dollar
in his pockets.
Strolling up the streets of San Fran
cisco Lane entered the office of the Cali
fo1nia Navigation company, which runs
a line of steamships down the Pacific
coast to Mexico and South American
ports. He was at once accepted as
an able seaman, and when the next
companys ships left port he stood
upon her deck The next day the
vessel was pitching and rolling in
stormy sea. A woman passenger was
at the rail near the stern
when an uusually heavy lurch of the
steamer set her overheard. Lane was
over after her in a second, without
waiting even to grasp a life preserver.
The ship was running at the speed of
fifteen knots an hour, and before a
boat could be lowered she was five
miles away from the scene of disaster.
1t was nearly night and in the gloom
the boats crew could see nothing of
Lane and the woman. Still they rowed
steadily in their supposed direction.
sending UP rockets and burning signal
lights in the hope that they might be
guided by them.
Two hours had passed and the men in
the boat We're about to give up the
search and head for the ship when
feeble voice came out of the night and
waves. and on the crest of a billow a
dark object was seen. s'Give way men:
that's him." shouted the boatswain.3
and in moment more Lane and the