The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-13

lives are often the first to be taken and
the MANIFEST homes the first to be dark
ened.
Worth Bagley was the eldest son of
4 the late Major w. III. Bagley and Adj
elaide Worth, daughter of the late Gov
eronr Jonathan Worth, and was born
in the city of Raleigh on the 9TH OF
/ April. 1874. Major Bagley, his father
was n gallant officer in the Con
i federate army and subsequently repre-
scented Perduimans county IN the Ten
eral Assembly several terms. Having
removed to Raleigh he was elected and
remained until his death, in 1886, Clerk
of the Supreme Court: while Governor
Worth. the grandfather of Ensign Bagley
and for whom the latter was named, was
one of the ablest and most patriotic Gov
errors the State ever had, and one of a
| family whose name in this State is
| synonym for integrity and patriotism.
Worth Bagley was prepared for college
at the school of Morson and benson in
Raleigh, but in the summer of 1889, at
the age of u. won, by competitive eX-
animation, the appointment as n cadet
to the United States Naval Academy at
Annapolis. The committee who conduct
ttl LuC TeDUElCu w 4hdJOi
Bum, the then member of Congress
from this district, that WOrth's papers
were almost perfect The same comment
was made upon his examination for adj
mission to the Naval Academy. While
a cadet at Annapolis he was distinguish
ed for his manly qualities. industry and
faithful and efficient discharge of duty
and proficiency in his studies. Besides win
ming medals awarded for special pro-
ficiency in his classes, he won great dis
tinction as an all-rOund athlete, and
medals were awarded to him for "break-
inc the record" in several lines of ath-
letic sports. In the famous football
game between the Army and Navy
teams at Annapolis, few years ago,
he Saved the day" for the Navy by an
unprecedented lOng-distance kick of the
bali and was lionized in athletic circles,
and received the grateful plaudits of
Naval officers from Admirals down to
the lowest grade. At the close of the
game an Admiral slapped him on the
shoulder and said, bravo, boy. I've
made $1,000 on your kick today So
superb was his build that specialist
who examined him. declared that out
of 1000 men whom he had examined,
Worth Bagley was the most perfect in
physical endowment.
Prior to his transfer to the torpedo |
boat WinSlOw he was on the batteshin |
Maine which he left few weeks before
it went to its grave in Havana harbor.
He was n class-mate and school friend
of Lieutenant Breckenridge, who was
also on the Maine. and came to an I'M
timely death by drowning shortly before
the shin was destroyed. The perils of
the torpedo boat service had a charm for
him, and he longed to be transferred to
it. And when Commander Bernard0H
was assigned to the Winslow, he asked
the instructors ut Annapolis to recon-
mend an ensign as executive officer of
the vessel, and upon all the lists of
names sent to him in response to the re-
quest, Ensign Worth Bagley's name APP
peared, and upon all but one his name
headed the lists.
When it became evident that Spain
would not voluntarily terminate it's OPP
pressions of the Cubans, and esnecially |
after the destruction Of the Maine. En- |
sign Bagley conscientiously believed it |
to be the duty of the United States to
intervene for humanity's sake and to
avenge the foul murder of his comrades. |
His letters to his mother breathed pa
triOtic spirit and a determination to do
his duty as the guardsman of his coun-
try's honor. In one Of his letters he
said he would return with his shield un-
sullied or upon it. Alas! he returns upon
it, but it comes unstained except by his
blood.
Yesterday morning, shortly after Mrs. |
Bagley received the terrible tidings, she
received a letter from her son written on
the 18th of May, at 1:30 a. m, "off Ma
tanzas, Cuba" which closed with these
words Don't forget that am in per-
feet safety" Thus he showed how
brave fearless and confident he was as
to himself, and how anxious he was to
reassure the anxious mother who had
him and his safety constantly in her
thoughts.
Whenever heroes are needed to illus
trate human yalor and to seal a sacred
cause with their blood, they appear; and.
somehow or other, North Carolina is first
to furnish them! To Moore's Greek, AL |
amance, Mecklenburg and Bethel is now
added Cardemas, and our North Carroll |
ma boys will add to the national war cry
Of Remember the Maine" the, words |
"and Worth Bagley."
r. r. GRAY.