New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-02
DIR. HOWE IN GREECE.
THE GREAT AMERICAN PHILHELLENlST
AND HIS SERVICES IN THE
REVOLUTION OF 1921.

for centuries she counted among her soldiers many
Americans. who fought for her liberties with hre
and energy unsurpassed by the native patriots
themselves Dr. Samuel G. Howe whose philan-
thropic work In after life and whose connection
with the Aboi,onis party at the time of the Civil
War have made his name historical, was one OF the
most ardent OF these Greek sympathizers, and his
daring exploits In the years from 1924 TO 1889 were
the means OF rendering nestim ible services 10 thai
brave but sore'y beset nation. The iniorm1tion
upon which this article is based IL contained In
diaries and letters Of Dr. Howe which have been
published at different times In biography entitled
"Dr. s. c. Howe. the Philanthropist," written by
f. b. Sanborn. ard In DR.. Howe's own book, AN
Historical Sketch of the Greek Revolution"
That the facts OF his life should read more like
a romance than like history Is only natural, N
view Of the nature and place OF the conflict. IL
was the slave trying to break the chains with
which his oppressor held him bound ana the
battlefield the historical ground OF Marathon
and Thermopylie. In his youthful enthusiasm
Samuel Howe threw himself into the struggle heart
and soul and did not leave Greece until the tcrmi-
Ration OF the that left her free.
When the first news OF the came, In 1921,
Howe had jus: been graduated from Brown I'M
versty Although his interest was aroused from
the outset he remained in America for three years
longer which time he spent In taking course IN
medicine at Harvard. AS soon as he obtained MS
medical degree, in 1924. he proceeded to carry ou'
the project nearest his heart, and winning MS
fathers consent with some difficulty. started TO-
Greece Offering his services as surgeon 10 the
ratr,ot army He was a; this time twenty-threc
years old hardy and active and possessed as
every orc who knew him then has left witness. OF
remarkable personal beauty. Landing az Navarino
IN the Peoponncsus 10 pushed his way forward
to the headquarters OF the provincial government
His only credentials consisted OF letter OF IN
PRODUCTION from Edward Everett TO Crock ac-
ouaintance but every recruit was welcomed giadiy'
and H6wes ability soon made itself conspicuous
An attempt was being made a. that time py the
President who represented the head OF the newly
formed government and by Mavrocordato, prince
who was among the foremost revolutionary lead
ers to organize the army
II attempted" says Howe in his autobiography
TO create hospitals and to organize ambulances
for the wounded. But after the capture or NaVa-
rino by the Turk. everything was thrown into con-
fusion Mavrocordato fed TO Napoli de Romania
The dark DAYS of Greece had come. All regular
opposition of the Greeks was overcome. Inc lurks
advanced fercely and rapidly up the Peloponnesus'
I toned one Of the small guerilla bands that huhs
about the enemy doing all the harm they could
I could be of little use Gs surgeon, ana was
exnec,ed to divide NY time between killing Turks,
helping Greeks and taking care OF my bacon
was naturally very hardy, active and tough ana
soon became equal 10 any OF the mountain soidiery
in capacity for endurance Of fatigue, hunger and
watchfulness. l could carry my gun ana Eea'!
belt with yataghan and pistols, all DAY Ioi'g'
clambering among the mountain passes couIu eaI
sorrel and snails. or go without anything ana az
night lie down on the ground with only my shaggy
capoe and sleep like a log knew more thah once
what probably you never had any realizing sense
Of 10 wit the sharp cravings CT real munger
I have been months without eating other hesh than
mountain snals roasted wasps weeks without
bread and days without a morsel Of food CT any
no
within our reach then: they quickly slain ana
their flesh cut up hastily in little square DTS, was
roasting on OF + ramrods or devoured half-raw.
With all these privations. the young New-Ens-
lander stood the life cheerily and we'll He learned
70 sneak the modern Greek. became an accom-
nIished horseman a good sho; and swordsnan. and
with only one silk shirt and very ragged Albanian
..fus,,nea" and leggins ne displayed as knigh;ly
qualities as did hero Of Old An incident
which occurred IN the campaign Of 1925, and which
has been celebrated in verse by Whittier Is told
simply by Howe himself, as follows:
at was while we escaping from Navarino,
a. sudden invasion OF which by the Turks had forced
every one who could to fiy. We had left the town
and were hurryng across the plain. which was COW
cred with fugves. when behed wounded soldier
sitting at the foot of olive tree pale, exhausted
and almost flaming, but still grasping MS long
gun as If he meant 10 have last shot at the ex-
nected foe The poor fellow cas-, suppl
Gazing look AT us as We passed, but said not
word That look cut me TO the soul. Had he pre-
scented his gun and demanded my horse 1t would
not have so moved me | could not but turn my
head after we passed him. and. seeing him stu
looking after us. ! thought, reproachfully
nuIled I'D my horse. On calculating the distance
found I had time to gain the mountains. or course
T turned back mounted the poor fellow on my
boast and had the good fortune be the means OF
saving his ufe He would have had his head hang
INC 10 n turks saddle-bow in a short time II
nod M, STONED" The man thus saved, Francesca
became Howes devoted servant ard comrade.
In describing bloody encounter near Argos in
the same campaign. Howe dscoses something OF
tho desperate nature OF the fighting In which he
and other Americans had gone over seas TO engage
His American comrade in this battle was Colonel
J. p Miller, of Randolph. VT.
arrived upon the Plain OF Argos" says Howe,
"Ipseanti resolved to save the important position
~ the mills at whatever risk but ho could 1nt only
:wo hundred men daring enough TO join him II Is cp-
posite Naiplia the Areoc Gulf. about twelve
miles distant where a little rill of clear water.
issuing from the famous swamp Of Lerna (where
Hercules killed the Hydra. gives good mill priyi-
lege Here some mills. just on the seashore.
surrounded by a wall and garden with an outer
wall Ipseanti dispatched a boat to Nauplia for
a reinforcement. and the boat returned with Only
about twenty men hardy enough to volunteer.
Among these were three Swiss and two Americans.
The main part of the Turkish Army had passed by
without perceivng the Importance Of the mills. or
the danger Of leaving such position behind; but
the Greeks ventured out and darngly discharged
their muske;s in defiance. vision OF two thousand
men was then ordered take possession of the place
and the cavalry came gallopng up without dream
Ing of much resistance Being holly received. they
fell back and the infantry, advancing, commenced
a desperate attack. The Greeks. securely lodged In
the mills poured forth such shower OF balls as
staggered them and 1t required all the efforts of
Gr,,, A. 10
party OF Turks broke through the outer garden
wall on the extreme right OF the Greek position
and were forming their line to charge on the flank
when eleven posted behind the inner wal'.-one
Of them an American CMer) who had on other
occasions distinguished himself for daring courage
threw away their muskcts and, Jumping over the
breastwork rushed sword IN hard upon the Turks
BY the suddenncss and impctuosty Of their onset
they completely drove the enemy from the garden
and saved the position. Three Of the lltte band