Daily Kennebec journal., 1894-12-03
MEN WITH STORIES.
Interesting Events in Lives of
Soldiers Home Members.
One Has Played in Many Famous
Musical Organizations.
Another Witnessed Thrilling Scenes OF the
Famous Brig Somers Mutny.

/
"any men here whose lives have been full
Of incident and whose stories are quite in
teresting James W Gardner an inmate
Of the hospital, is one of them. Mr.. Gard
the year 1925 Early in boyhood he evinced
much interest in music, especi ally martial
music. While still quite young man he
became so far proficient as musician that
he was accepted as a member of the band
of the 1st Royals, one of the crack English
regiments. He does not fully remember
how long he remained with that organiza
tion but thinks about five years.
At the expiration of his term of service,
he came to this country landing in Bos-
ton. Soon after his arrival he joined the
old 1st Brigade Band and played with that
organization for nearly 10 years. He then
became a member of the Germania Band
of Boston, remaining about three years.
Dodworth's Band of New York city, was
at that time considered one of the finest,
if not the finest, in the country. Mr..
Gardner having received a flattering offer,
left Boston and joined that celebrated
band He remained there for some time
and then returned to Boston to join Gill
more's famous organization. He played
with Gilmore for several years and finally
went into the United States service dur
ing the war as bandmaster of the 11th
United States Infantry Band, where he
remained until the band was mustered
out.
Mr. Gardner has helped to make music
on many important occasions. When the
Prince of Wales visited the country, he
went with the Germania Band of Boston,
to receive his highncss at Montreal, play
ing solo clarinet. He hay ed for Gen,
Grant many times when with Gilmore,
and with his own band, the 18th United
States Infantry. His principal instru-
ments were cornet clarinet, alto horn and
flute.
William H. Rice, another inmate of the
hospital has quite an interesting history
Mr.. Ricef was born in New York city in
1925. He attended the public schools un-
til Is wears of age, when he entered the
United States navy as an apprentice, on
the ship North Carolina. After about Il
wears service he was transferred to the
brig Somers, commanded by Capt. Mcken-
zie. While on that vessel he visited the
coast of Africa. and while on the voyage
| from there to St Thomas, II of the crew
| mutinicd, an event now famous in history.
When these men laid their plans for the
mutiny, it was expected by them that n
| minority of the crew would join them.
and it was the intention to turn the brig
| into n pirate. When the time came how
ever, only II in all joined in the mutiny,
and of these, Spencer, midshipman,
Cr,lmlv, chief boatswains mate, and
| Small, captain of the main top, the three
leaders. were hung from the yard arm.
The remaining II mutineers were brought
home in irons, tried by naval court martial
and dishonorably discharged. Mr.. Rice
was next transferred to the Savannah,
where he served to he time of his honor
able discharge, six years after entering the
| service.
| soon after his return to New York he
ioined the old volunteer fire department
Of New York city, where he served for |"
vnars Those were the days before the
advent of the steam fire engine, and the
| whole fire department was equipped with
| tho old hand engine Those were the days
| when GREAT rivalry existed between the
different companies and it was no uncom-
mon thing to have two or three fights at
one fire. Mr. Rice can tell of many thrill
ing scenes anu many i"''''
Mr. Rice is a member of the New YORK
Association of Veterans of the Mexican
War and has beautiful medal struck
from the metal of the first cannon captucd
during that war. 1t is "a representation
of tbo st.to seal of New York, and Is suit
ahlv inscribed While in the navy ne
served under Com. Dallas, Com. Sloat ana
Cant Merwin, who assumed command
after the battle and capture OF Monterey
rho commodore being home on sick leave
ny Elwcll and wife spent Thanksgiv-
;ny in Portland with Mrs. Elweii par
cpts. returning last evening,
| Miss Beals. who has been at the hospi'ai
for the past month, rs one OF the trained
nurses. will leave in a few days tof hef
ho,,o IN Rrooklvn. n Y. Miss Beals only
came here temporarily, and Miss Sihith
of the LYNN city hospital, who mas peei
enaagcd permanently for our hospital
has arrived and entered upon her duties
The following is the musical programme
u,,5orod at the Opera house, Sunday even
| ing:
t,rcb--"Two steps," ust time,) a
| fiExposition of 1854, ,., Rransant
| orartura-"The Golden Hive, brepsah'
Concert Polka-Xylophone SOLO oy M MT r,a;,,o nSm
| comb, up,;,,dr,n, Morse
| "Imps and Gobllns, Iangrev
| Rolero-"Isabella,
N,,,bor of inmates in hospital, 269.
Number of members on morning re-