The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-09
FAMOUS BOY HEROES.
DARING DEEDS OF YOUTH on THE
BATTLEFIELD.

From the Pittsburg Dispatch.
History tells or more than one sturdy
youGgster who long before manhood was
reached was Injured to the hardshps Of
camp and the hazard OF battle. Many OF
these boy warriors with years and expert
ence developed into great generals. Some
ala not, and their story is very sad and
brief indeed.
Almost 200 years ago, when monster
named Maximin was Emperor of Rome,
there dwelt in the imperial city famous
family called the Gordian.
The head of the Gordian had been APP
pointed pro-consul of Africa, and his SOL
diers. becoming disguised with the wrongs
ana brutalldes perpetrated by Maximin
compelled him to raise the banner of re-
volt and assume the purple. At the time
the pro-consul was an old man Of 50, who
for years had left the administration Of
his Office 10 his son. He would have been
very glad to have ended his days in peace
and quiet had not his legions decreed It
otherwise.
Maximin, hearing of the revolt Of the
African troops, promptly dispatched an
army against Carthage, where the Cor
dams had established their court. The
two Gordians pershed the son In battle
and the father by his own hand when ne
was informed of his sons death
Maximins triumph was brief however;
was soon afterward murdered by his own
soldiers who then took the last OF Inc
Gordians, a lad Of 10, and carrying him
through the camps, proclaimed him EN-
peror-an honor as dangerous as II was
Fo- five ErOnaTpTG had fallen
less than a year, some in battle, some by
poison aud some by the knife of the as
sassin.
As might have been expected the reign
of the Boy Emperor was OF snort dufd-
ton. The great Roman world, made up OF
many different peoples and heid toSether
by force of arms alone, rose 10 throw on
the yoke Five years after he was made
Emperor, young Gordian took the teld WIth
his army and hurried into Asia TO repel
the Persians who had assaiied the fron~
tier He had fought one OF two unlmpor L
ant battles when he was poisoned az the
instigation of one of his generals, who as
pred TO the purple.
Some centuries later sthl another boy
German Prince, Conradin by name, was
struggling for that part of the Roman
word known as the Kingdom of Naples
which his father had won from the degen-
crate Italians. He led his army IN triumph
over the Alps and through Northern ana
Central Italy 1t was doubtless all like a
gorgeous pageant to the young Prince his
soldiers In their brilliant uniforms ana
polished armor, with waving silken hags
and pea!ng bands of music.
Thus attended, Conradin swept down
upon the borders of the kingdom he mad
come to claim, and his success seemed Ger
tain when he suddenly found himself PIT
ted against men of experience. He was out
b.r na vet Charles OF An
lou. His troops were cut to pieces, while
he himself was taken prisoner. His exc
cution was decided upon by Charles and
UNANIMOUSLY carried out AS he took his
place upon the ,scaffold, bravery ana uh-
falteringly. as became a Prince, and barred
his neck for the sword, he was heard TO
exclaIm: 20 my mother, dreadful Will be
the grief that awaits you for my fateF
In the year 1900, In the city of Palmero,
there lived a sad enough little Prince by
the name OF Frederick Hofenstasfen, heir
to the two kingdoms of Sicily ana Ger
many He was an orphan, and IN Ger
MANY his uncles. Philip and Ohio, of
Brunswick. disputed the crown, while Sic
lily, where he was recognized as hlng,
was torn by strife and discord-Saracen,
French and German strove for the hrst
place. In the turmoil of these warning fac-
tons Frederick was we'll nigh forgotten.
He was saved from absolute want by the
citizens Of Palmero, who had klndiy
feeling for the lonely child In his great
empty palace.
When IA Frederick was declared of age.
Two years later, at the head of band of
his mobiles he set out for Germany 10
claim the crown. Ohio was warned OF MS
purpose and endeavored TO intercept MN
after he crossed the Alps, but by dtnt OF
hard riding the Prince and his retlhue
reached and threw themselves behind the
gates of the city of Constance just as
Otho's men at arms closed down upon
thCm. Princes and mobiles hocked around
the standard of the boyish leader. Otho
was forced to retire to Brunswick, ana
Frederick as the head of a great army SET
out for Frankfort, where the
barous and electors of Germany were wait
ing to welcome him as their emperor.
This boy from Sicily, as he was called,
DEVELOPED into great soldier and states
man. and in course Of time came TO be
known as "the wonder of the world"
Ii was a fair-faoed English boy of 16,
1.-THE Black Prince" so-called because OF
the color of his armor, who led the Eng
Dsh soldiers to victory at Crecy.
His father, King Edward III watched
the battle from a distance. The French
army far outnumbered the English, and
the Prince was hard pressed and in dam
ger of capture. Once he was so surround
ca by his foes that the Earl of Warwick
asking that assistance be given the Prince.
rs my son killed." asked the King as
the messenger rode UP.
''No, sir" The King heaved sigh of
relief
lis he wounded?"
mo, sir"
us he thrown to the ground?"
mo; but he is hard pressed and needs
your aid"
Then, If it is only that, I shall give
him no help. 1 have set my heart on
his proving himself a brave knight and
I am resolved that the victory shall be
due to his own valor."
Ten years later. in a subsequent cam
paign in Normandy, this same Black
Prince achieved another splendid triumph
at the battle of Poitiers, where he de-
feated and captured the French monarch,
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