The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-03-17
A COXSWAIN'S DEED.

Every oHcer ana man who belonged
to the Chrysolite on that disastrous night
recollects, of course, that, while endeav-
orlng i'll the darkness to storm the fort,
the captain fell, and that when our peo-
pie were driven back headlong to the
boats he, with many others, was miss
ing. Every one remembers also that
when on the following morning the Chi
namen were slSelled out of the place and
the bluejackets and marines again land
ed Captain Bellamy was found lying,
not where he had fallen, but couple
Of hundred yards to the right, sheltered
on the side of the enemy by thick stone
wall
His left leg was smashed at the knee
by jingal ball, but around his thigh
was buejacket's silk handkerchief,
neatly appiedin such way that nickel
tobacco box placed beneath it effectively
compressed the femoral artery and
stopped the bleeding. 1t was well known
that both box and handkerchief had be-
longed to James Larch, the captains
coxswain, whose dead body, with half
dozen bullets through it, was found on
the enemy's side of the same wall. Cap
tain Bellamy himself acknowledged from
the first that he owed his life solely to
Larch's devotion and skill. Yet the
whole story has never yet been told.
Captain Beilamy's recent death puts me
i'll possession of his private journal, and
so enables me to tell the tale.
When the Chrysolte was commissions
ed at Portsmouth for the China station.
Captain Bcllamy took IL house at Hong
Kong, and in due course Mrs. Bellamy
and her only daughter, Violet, followed
him thither. In the second year of the
commission the Chrysolito was mt Hong
Kong for several successive months, and
during that period the ladies' came on
board nearly every day. There were
picnics on shore and water parties afloat,
and if not on the Chrysolite then in the
house, or in the boats, or on the various
expeditions. James Larch, tho captains
coxswain, was in continual attendance
upon Miss Violet and her mother. VIC
let Bclamy was then barely IS. In
England she had led n somewhat dull
life, and at Hong Kong she lost no time
in redressing the balance of her exist
1t was not perhaps her fault that cv-
cry officer of the garrison and of the
squadron was either III love with her or
was prepared to be, for she gave no spc-
clal encouragement to any one. On the
other hand, she discouraged no one The
larger tho number of her admirers the
greater was the enjoyment which she de
rived from the situation. Among them
she was like Il child in n room full of
toys. Some she damaged, some she
smashed irretrievably, but without the
slightest malice or wickedness. She sim
ply had never realized the powers and
responsibilities of Il very pretty face and
figure, supplemented by high spirits, I'M
firing activity and abundant health and
although she spread ruin around her she
never for an instant intended TO do harm
to anybody.
There were many who suffered. Com
mander CorcOran of the flagship, Major
Browleigh of the Royal Bucks, Staff
Surgeon Bennett of the Bridport, Lieu
tenant Maplin in command of the Borer.
and at least half dozen sublicutenants
and midshiplnen, besides army subal-
terms and civilians. were turned upside
down by Violet Belamy. And if these,
who only encountered her at social func-
lions, were so seriously upset, it is little
to be wondered at-when we recollect
that human nature is not confined to the
classes-that James Larch was also over
balanced.
His associations with her were, though.
In one sense, more distant and more
purely conventional than those of any
gentleman i'll the colony, of privileged
character. He helped her to mount when
she went for ride, he wrapped her
cloak around her when she left the ball
room, he carried her hundred times
from the ships boat to the shore, or vice
versa, lest she might wet her feet. Her
breath had famed his face, her light
form had rested in his arms, and while
he never by word and seldom even by
look betrayed his feelings he ncverthe-
less stcadfastly, and with all his being,
worshipe her.
Larca VAS Il young and smart petty
officer. As sich he had Il promising ca
reer before lam, ana 40 doubt he would
have htcn wise had lie strictly minded
his own hu.ness ANA endeavored to be
conten5 wiki tie sp."re in which it had
pleased Providence 10 place him. But,
like many Of his bctters, he Went down
before Vioia; l;ellarly.
WIS ~ Ire beginning Of the third
year o. the commission that Tie Chryso-
lite was suddenly dispatched to Isl
Chan. There ii;.d been Il riot and mas
sacre there, and Captain Belamy was
ordered to teach the local mandarins
severe lesson.