The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1895-07-25
SAW THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO.

"A M1OSh1pm0n VINO "0tcned the
Fight Through Il Sea Glass.
Wednesday, the 10Th inst, was the
eighthieth anniversary of the battle
of Waterloo. Of the hundreds of thou
sands of men who struggled that day
for supremacy all have passed away,
except two in America, four in the
British Isles and six in France, and
most of these are centenarians.
There is another, who, although not
a participant in the great battle, had
the privilege Of witnessing the thrill
ing events of that week in Belgium
which marked the downfall of the Ma
poleon dynasty and who viewed that
battle from a better vantage ground.
perhaps, than any of the participants.
That man is James R. Green of Ellis
worth, Ohio, who is ninety-seven years
of age.
The old gentleman was born in Boil
| ton, Lancashire, England, on July %,
| 1893, and entered the English navy at
the age of sixteen as a midshipman.
The next year his ship was employed
in transporting the English soldiers
for Wellington's army across the chan
mel from Southampton to Antwerp,
and it was at this time that he acct
dentally witnessed Waterloo. In 1918
he entered the East India merchant
service, and for many years VOyaged
in the Atlantic and Indian oceans,
making many trips around the Cape
of Good Hope to Delphi, Calcutta and
Bombay. In 1920 he made his first
! voyage to America in a sailing vessel.
It required twelve weeks to cross the
stormy Atlantic. Since then he has
crossed the Atlantic twenty.three
times.
Mr.. Green was in a reminiscent
mood when seen by a correspondent,
and talked Interestingly Of the great
battle. Il was a midshipman in June,
1915, on one Of King Georges trans
port ships" he said, land with the
other 'middies' started across Belgium
to join the English troops.
1--WE came first to Ligny. where the
preliminary battle Of that terrible
week in Belgium took place. That
fight was between the Prussians under
Butcher and Napoleon's veterans. The
conflict did not last long, but it stands
as one of the most desperate fights of
history. Butcher was compelled to
".
a rout. Flushed with success, Napo-
leon pushed on to his fate at Quatre-
Bras and attacked the OutpoStS of the
English on the 18th.
"At Quatre-Bras Napoleon was re-
pulsed, falling back to Waterloo that
might, where he determined to make
his final stand.
ION the morning of the 18th. with
a sea glass which we had 1>Een with
us, we stood on the heights some dis
lance away from Waterloo and took
in the whole scene. We could see Ma
poleon on his charger riding along his
lines preparing for the battle. The
lines were formed and soon the field
was filled with smoke and the roar o.
l cannon reverberated through the hills
1 of Belgium. In the afternoon thu
/. fierce conflict ceased and the field wa
a Sickening sight. The green rye hat
:, been trampled down and the field wa
: nothing but dust like the middle o
S the road while the dead and wounded
: lay scattered thickly over the plain
Out of $50 pieces Of artillery Napoleon
q lost 1856, and 10000 of his men wer
4 either dead upon the field or prisoners
e 81 can remember distinctly of seein
n Butcher, Napoleon, the duke Of We'll
n ington and George ". I can remen
k Der seeing George III. and his courier
l. riding down to London docks upo
T many morning. During the reign Q
d William Nv. remember having see
l. Queen Victoria in villa near Londo
r playing in garden, and I have dis
tinct remembrances Of the last fou
@ ruling monarchs Of the house of Han
f. over."-Cincinnati Enquirer.
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