The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-05-28

M GIFElN AFIEt HE BAllLbs
Another crew, not knowing that Nc
Giffin aud his men we're working right
in front of the turret, took command Of
the gun and swung 1t around to port
to fire IN the japanese flagship. A
second before it was fired Captain Nc
GitIin saw the muzzle Of the gun point
Ing straight at the men who were fight
ing the fire. He leaped back Just as
the gun went off. Most of the men at
work OIL the fire were killed by the
shock of the discharge or by the direct
fire of the gun. McGifin himself was
knocked down, his hair and eyebrows
were burned off, the sight of one eye
was destl Dyed and both ear drums were
broken. His clothing was torn to
shreds and his body was pierced in a
dozen places by fragments Of copper
torn from the projectile in its passage
through the rifins of the gun. As
soon as McGifin recovered from the
shock he was up apd fighting again.
Ten minutes later a shell struck the
ladder leading to the coming tower
and splinter Of steel was driven deep
into his hip. The ships surgeons had
all been killed and their instruments
scattered by a shell. McGiff1n sent
man down to the engine room, borrow
ed pair Of pinch.rs from the engineer,
probed fer the steel splinter in hi. hip
with the pinchers, got it out, and went
on fighting the ship. Later he was
struck in the head by bullet and in a
dozen places in the body by otter mis-
sles, but he kept On fighting until the
battle ended.
When the war with Japan ended Nc
Giffin got leave of absence and came
to America to try to recover his health.
Naval men and citizens received him
as hero. He speht some time visiting
and wrote long article describing the
battle of the Yalu River for the Cen
fury Magazine.
Finally he was Induced by his broth
er to go to the Post Graduate Hospital
to be treated. He was docile patient,
and made such progress toward recov-
cry that he was axle to sit up in bed.
One day he asked that large tin box,
which he said contained papers, should
be brought to him from the store room.
Captain McGiffin opened it in the pres
ence of one of the attendants, who
scarcely left him night or day, and to
all appearances the box contained
nothing but papers. McGiffin settled
himself contentedly 20 look over bis pa
pers and obtained pencil and piece
of paper with which to make notes. A
little later he sent the attendant out of
the roon>so get Hill glass of milk.
The attendant wGs gone less than
five minutes, but 1t was long enough
for McGiffin to extract a revolver from
beneath the mass CT papers and shoot
himself through the head. On exam
nation it was found that the supposed
notes he had been making really con-
sisted Of letter saying good-ty to
some Of his friends and apologizing for
his act. 1t was characteristic letter.
1t read:
Look alive that the bed is not set
on fire by my shot.
my compliments and adienx to ell.
I regret that my destination must re-
main to you unknown, but you MY
guess.
With apologies to Miss Phelps cor
the row--it is a way that all guns have.
Au revoir.
please give my good-by to Mr.. Cor
ham and my compliments to Mr.. Beu-
nett. Incidentally l may note that,
though I effect my exit, 1t Is not the
segira anticipated by the learned
staff"