The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-03-27

NOUS SWoru-A neglected. Grave.
Written for ne fn,elli0tsyr.
When Rip Van Winklo, after avakinr
from his long sleep OF a scoro OF yoars,
revisited tho scenes OF his earlier days
and missed his old friends aud intimate
acquaintances and witnessed tho
changes which had occurred In we'll
known places and familiar objects with
which ho had been go closely associated,
he pathctically exclaimed: "Alas, how
soon wo arc forgotten I"
This tendency upon tho part OF tho
living to forget tho departed Ia striking.
ly illustrated in tho cold neglect aud
careless Indifference manifested no.
alone in reference to Tho memory OF In.
dtviduals, but also concerning the deeds
and events which while living they
wcre instrumental In accomplishing
Any ono 80 disposed who will take tho
trouble to investigate our early local
history cannot but admit tho truthful.
moss OF the foregoing romarks. Tho
subject OF this sketch Is Il case in point.
Hero in Wheeling in tho carly years
OF tho present century resided for tinc
ono, whose name. fame and memory
arc now forgotten, or il remembered a.
all, by not moro than one in n thousand,
II by that many. Lieutenant John
Jollille Yarnall was son OF Mordecai
Iarnall, and grandson OF Francis
Iarnall. This last named person emf.
grated from the village OF Chimes In
Worcestershire, England, and came to
Pennsylvania and settled in she city OF
Philadelphia in tho year 1854. About
the year l770-l. as nearly az can DO as.
contained, Mordecai Yarnall, the father
OF Lieutenant Yarnall, the subject OF
this paper, removed from Philadelphia
to the town OF Winchester in tho valley
OF Virginia. The reports. which reached
him there OF the promising future Of
this western section OF tho country, in
duced him after fow years to remove
to tie then primitive town Of Wheeling.
where he located aud remained until
his death.
In tho famous battle OF Lake Erie,
which occurred on the 10th oil Septem.
Der, 1878. between the Americans and
British John ]. Yarnall, who was Com
modore Perry's first lieutenant, WAS a
conspicuous figure and prominent &C.
tor. On that memorable and sanguin-
AIRY occasion he won deserved distinc.
ton by the exhibition OF unusual cour.
age under tho mosttryingci
When Perry was compelled by the dis.
abled condition OF his flagship, the
Lawrence, to abandon her and transfer
himself TO the Niagara, no left Lieuten-
ant Yarnall in command OF the aband.
oned vessel with instructions that as
soon rs he hoisted his flag on the
Niagara he Was to haul down his flag
on the Lawrence. This command he
obeycd 10 the letter. but only TO hois.
it again and nail i. to the mast with his
own hands. where it foated until the
battle was ended. During this perilous
feat, however, no did not escape un-
sca,hed, az the enemy made a target of
him while SO employed. for he received
severe wound in his lace and his body
was filled with number OF splinters
which the enemy's fire had struck from
tho bulwarks and deck OF tho vessel.
A historian in giving an account of
the battle says: 'lle bound red hand
kcrchief around his neck and another
around his head to s,aunch the blood
which flowed from his wounds in q CO.
piaus stream over his person. A spin
ter which passed through his nose
caused that feature to swell to IN enor-
nous size, and gave to his countenance
most repuisive Disagreement. Al
though disdgu,ed. wounded AMI cover
ed with gore, no moved amid this scene
OF terrific carnage tho very genins OF
courage and heroism. All tho men in
his command were killed; he asked
Perry for more. They were given to
him, only to share tho intc OF those frs.
under his command. Again he asked
tho commodore Tor reinforcements, to
be told, so great was the slaughter.
there were no moro that could BIO spared
and he must get along by himself, and
man his own guns." The historian
further records as follows: "Thc dying
who strewed tho deck would turn their
eyes in mute enquiry upon their youth.
lul CoihlnaHuei, az IL W w uasuieu tuhk
they had done their duty. Tho living,
as sweeping shot sent huge gaps in
the ranks OF their companions. looked n
moment in his face to read its express
sion, and then stepped quietly into the
places lett vacant by those who had
fallen"
The combat lasted three hours, whom
tho British having lost the most OF their
ships. struck their colors aud tho hard
fought battle was won by tho prowess Of
the American scalnen aud American su.
prcmacy was established on tho lake.
Commodore Perry. in announcing the
yictnrr Gannrnl IInrriani WIN -wna