The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-03-29
THAT AMERICAN BOY"
How Spruille Bradsn Won the
Queens Medal From the
English Lads
He Was Ono of SIX and His
Popularity Gave Him the
Honor
There Was No Conosaimsnt OF Hts Ma
tisnaIity aud Every oae Knew Him
a. "rhe American Boy"

number OF different storiss have been
/ told Of the connection Of Spiuills adsn.
who died in Washington sbout a month
sso, with the British navy. The majority
Of the stories have stated as fac, that bis
nationality was not known TO the British
era while he was on the school ship. Among
those Who we're on the ship with Mr..
Braden wac c. II. Fuller. AZ present one OF
the editors of the Indianapolis News. lie
tells In that paper very interesting story
Of Mr.. Braden's career in England. The
News has this 20 say Of It;
Mr.. Fuller knew spruills Bradsn while
he was on board the English ship Woroes-
ter. aud was present on the day he was
graduated and received the queens gold
medal After Braden left the vessel Mr..
Fuller, who Was then q small boy. ssU him
no moe. He remembered him, though,
and looked forward to some daT meeting
the American" again. In speaking OF his
early knowledge OF spTuiIle Bradsn. hr.
Fuller said; IL is a curious thing about
young Brsden. have frequently seen his
name in the paper but never suspected
that IL was the man / knew until saw his
OF he, maiesty's ship Worcester.
en- an Enzlishman. and was edu-
Gated. partly, On loard the Worcester.
She is manned by half pay officers OF the
royal navy. and ss iewards OF merit the
queen OF England gives a gold medal 10 the
highest upil Of the yea. The medal car
ries with it a commission ~ midshipman
in the royal navy. The six next in order
OF merit are allowed 10 mako their choice
between midshlpman's commission IN the
navy o. an apr entieoship IN she HIGHLY
pilot service.
II was then met Braden. who was uni
versAllv called The American" by ths rest
Of the boys. He WAS the most popular boz
IN the school. Al the time frst went there
BrRden was In the hrat nautical class. In
the spting examinations In 1878 his name
was among the SIX highest on the list.
nm not sure whether ~ was fret or not IL
is not the very nrst Dor on the lisa that
gets the gold medal. After examination
the names OF she boys are posted
on bulletin and all the classes
can see how theT stand. he names of the
seven successful ones we're written In red
ink al the head Of the list. These ssvsn
names are afterwnrd POSTED on q blackboard
and they femAin there for a month. Then
all the schools gAther together snd she
seven candidates . balloted TO. or
cou Sc the most popular boy gets the most
votes ani the fret prize, the queens medal. /
can we'll remember the day when Is adsn
was up for election. l believe be wai a
superior politician TO the rest OF the candi- |
dates. l know he was far and away the
most popular. His most dangerous fOe was
a boy named Gilmore. who had fallen from
a top-sail yard during the summer and Was
nearly killed. He was looked upon as q
hero and drew a iE;Qs number OF votes
o. hn
240 cadets on tte ship nc the time and .
X aden got over one hundred vot's with the /
other 40 scattered among the other SIX .
candidates.
About thres weeks from that time was
the end Of the term. end preparations for .
the pr.zs giving were set on foot. over .
the main hatchway a huge platform had /
been built and was drapsd with bunting. /
The prizes were on tables on the platform, /
and chars We're placed for tue ointment /
people from town. As mark OF honor TO I
Braden ths Morcsste carried the Anne &c IN /
flag at the foremAst. aud two other men-o.- /
war tbs ArsthusA aad the Chichester. |
which lay Just below Greenhithe followed /
the example of the Worcestef. Tbs prince /
OF Wales was expected 20 ofiiciate az the .
prize giving. The medal IL Rit from the .
queon, and a representative of royalty al
ways Qives it away. Al the last moment the /
prince could not come, but w. Ii. Smith.
e IS lord Of the admiralty. was there, and I
the princess OF Wales. with the late .
duke OF Clarence and Avondale,
came down. The were other notables
present among them Lord Bingham and
Sir homas Brasssy. owner OF the Sun
beam. There was also an Indian prince
who mistook Mrs. Braisn for his sister
v hen be was int oduced to her. All the /
officers Of the MOFcestes we're In full uni
form, aud Capt. smith. commanding the /
Worcester, was IN the uniform Of commo-
1ore.
There wsrs speeches by the guests, and /
then Capt. smith spoke OF this chag IN that
be had at FIRST fslt at the qursn's medal be /
ing won by foreigner. He then praised |
Braden who was called to the platform. l /
can emembeT how he looked. He was a
short. rather red faced boy, with black hair. |
His face grew rodder than ever as be stood /
on the platform listening 10 the cheering I
whi,e the princess Of Wales attached the /
blue ribbon that held the gold medal 20 his /
breast and sal that she was sure be would /
wear 1t Worldly. IL was a giest day for 4
America. The SIX silver medals we're given /
to the other six candidates aud the other |
rizss we're distributed / oan rensmber
indistinetlY that there was some talk about .
breden accepting the commission OF mid /
shlpman Ia the ROYAL navy, bat believe /
that be declined TO give up his nationality. /
hat was the last day / ever saw him He ,
eft the ship that day with q glorious start /
diotsd great career for him. We had a
SIX weeks vacation, aud when I returnsd I
20 the ship for another year BrAden, Of I
course. was not there.
have often thought about Braden, aud /
wondered II / should ever meet him again. /
have seen Worcester boys ell over the
world. met one farming In Nebraska, and !
about two yesfs ago there was another wait
Ing a restaurant Ia New York. l femen-
berei that Bradeu was an American, and |
thought mi Rht run across him some day.
he nrst ever really heard OF him was of
his death. Had Braden lived | feel sure
that he would have made his mark. He
was a bright pupil aud a favorite with
sVofy one that knew him. His success In
the EuRhsh navy 10 especially interesting
when 10 10 remembered that be vas refused
Omission 10 the academy al Annapolis IL
has been q cause for soms ohagfin on the
part Of several that he could not win hIs
honors ~ home.
The Phantom ball given By the ladies Of tie
Degroo 81 Honor A. 80. q. W. A. the AUDI
forum this evening promises 90 10 a grand quo