The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-01-26

light of day In various places. 1t II AZ be
ir some old time diary dug out OF dusty
and cobwsbbed corner OF an ancient gar
ret, or 10 may be I'm some old deed that
describes things long since passed and
forgotten, and serves only TO recall some
historic event with which jt has some con-
nectioD. But it does not often happen
that 1t Ia found In document just filed
for record. Such, however, In the case in
ths present Instance In due course OF
time after the death of the late Capt.
Quincy A. Hooper his last will and testa-
ment was presented for probate at the
Municipal Court. Capt Hooper disu st
his residences in this city Dec. %. 1897. At
the outbreak Of the civil war he enlisted
in the navy and served under Admiral
FarraRut lie spent more than year at
Sabine Pass and at the end OF that time
was promoted tn the rank OF acting lieu
tenant in recognition OF his bravery In
storming rebel fort. He held this rank
till within month OF the close Of the war;
At this time he was obliged to retire on
account of wounds received in service
Duricg his term OF service as lieutenant
he commanded the L. :. steamship, Clyde
and the schooner Rachel Seaman in the
West Gulf. blockading the squadron. On
tho 18TH OF January, lss?., be was serving
on the frignte Santee, which at that time
was lying of Galveston Bar. Texas.
Ihe situation was growing more critical
daily and on this day it was confidently
expected that the Santee would enter an
engagement the next morning.
Anticipating such course OF action,
Lieut.. Hooper made his last will ana
testament, fearing that the result of the
engagement might prove fatal to him.
This document was witnessed by
Thomas w. Potter Surgeon u. =. NJ, q.
II. Burbank. Assistant Surgeon u. >. ~,
and A. ii. Gilman, Psymasfer L. ;. y.
All these officers were quarterei on tbs
6antce at that time
Lieutanant Hooper was not killed and
served until the very close Of the war.
lie kept his will during the whole time
of his naval service, and 90 mis- return
home gave the paper 10 his wife She
has carefully kept IL during oil the inter-
veninR years since the war
Lieutenant Hooper never made another
will and never changed a single wore In
the one made on the Santee. So after
his death this old document drawn up 86
years ago, was entered for probate as bis
last will and testament. lt is wrinkled
and yellowed with age. but the writing
IL distinct, written in ths firm old style
writing. II Ii could but speak II might
tell story OF the fortunes OF war that
would be most interesting. It could tell
the younger generation Of battles OF vic
tory and OF cruel war. IL could do
scribs the whizz OF the flying ball and
bursting she'll. 1t could give us n ~lively
picture of life on a man -of.war. 4
Ii seems most unr 3msntic that such an
experienced and historic will shoald find
It's way into an ordiuaiy probate court
70 mingle with the commonplsca evtry-
day, carefully folded ana we'll preserved
sheets of white paper that are daily en-
tered ~ wills. This does not seem tt.
ting place for such veteran document.
After being entered the clerk OF the
court began to look around for tho witt
nesses Of the instrument. A letter OF In
curry sent 10 the navy department at
Washington brought an answer SAYING
that Thomas W. Potter had since tho war
been . msdi sal inspector and died in
South Kingstown in 1921
4. ii. Burbank. also medical inspec.
tor. died at Portsmouth IN 1855. A. III.
Gilman was on the retired lit as a par di.
rector ana died In 1895
SO that all the original Witnesses TO
the will. although they lived for many
years after II was crawn, died tefore the
will was brought to lisht and the maker
II the will had outliyed all the witnesses
IL Is not often that will comes into the
Municipal Court OF tbis city with such
m interesting history attached 20 H.