La Junta tribune., 1898-02-12
tn. si.,. Who saved ". M,eh,.,.


weii-known contributor to the periodical
press. IL the author of this stirring poeie.
Her maiden nans was Mary Anna Piii,L
nsy. and she was born In Vernon. n. r.
IN isfs She was educated at Lawrcn:<
University, Wisconsin. and was marri.1:
i'r., In 1861 to Z. z. Humphrey. and a.
'frwards TO u. Emory Stansbury OF Ap-
p-ton. VIA
Twas In the days of slavery-ere yet the
signal gun
That hiazed above Fort Sumter Ind wax
ed the North as one:
Long ere the wondrous pillar of battle
cloud and fire
h-d marked where the unclaimed NJ.
Hons marched on TO their heart. ~ :
are
On roofs and glit,erlng ,urrets that night.
ns the sun went down.
The mellow elow of the twilight shone ike
Jsweled crown.
And bnthed In the living glory. as the
people lifted their eyes,
They saw the pride OF the city-ihe spirc
OF 81. Bticha.is-risc.
The gentle gathering shadows shut out
the waning light;
The children prayed at their bodsides as
they were wont each night.
The noise OF buyer and seller from the
busy mart vas gone.
And In dreams of a peaceful morrow the
city siumbcred on.
But another light than sunrise aroused
the sleeping street.
For a cry was heard al midnight. ana the
rush of trafnping feet:
Men stared tn each Others faces, through
mingled iire and smoke.
While the frantic bells went clashinS.
clsmorous stroke on stroke
yey tho yt,r. ~ bar bi,zinr roOitrce The
houseiess mother fed.
with the babe she pressed to her bosom
shrIegins In namsiess dread;
While the Fire Kings VIA pa'tai""'
scaled wni, and capston hish,
And planted their Eiaring banners against
an inky shy.
FROM the death that ragged behind them
und the crash of ruin loud,
To the great square OF the city was dri'-
en- the surSing crowd.
where ye, firm In all the tumul'. un-
scathcd by the fiery flood
with Its ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS finger the
church OF ST. Iichael's stood.
But cen az they raxed upon ii. there rose
a sudden wall
A cry OF horror blended with the roaring
OF the gale,
on whose scurchinE wings updrtvcn. a SIM
gle flaming brand.
Alott on the towering steepie ciung like
bloody hand
'.Hin II fadeY'' the whisper trsmbied from
a thousand whitening lips;
Far GU, on the Iurli hnrbor they watched
It from the ships
A balefui CLEAN. that brighter and ever
- ---hyfshter shonc.
Like a nlckering trembling wiii-o-the-
wisp to a steady beacon grow.
"uncoun,ed gold shall be given to the
man who's. brave right hand.
For the love OF the perilied city plueks
down yon burning brnnd'
3, cried the Mayor OF Charleston, that
all the people heard
nut they looked each one to his fellow.
md no man spoke word.
who Is {; leans from the be.fry, with face
upturncd to the slsy2
Cliugs to Il column. and measures the
dizzy spire with his eyer
VIII he dare it--tie hero undaunted-that
terrible slckening height
OR will the hot blood OF his courage freeze
in his veins at the sightG
But see, he has stepped on the raillng-he
climbs with his feet and his hands.
And firm on n narrow projection with the
belfry beneath him he stands'-
Now once and once only. they cheer him
"a single tempestuous breath
And then falls on the multitude gazing
a hush like the stiffness or Geath.
Slow steadily mounting. unhecaing aught
save the goal of the fire.
san higher and higher. mn atom. he moves
on the face Of the sp!re:
lie stops. VIII he fall? 10. for answer.
gleam like meteors track;
And hurled on the stones Of the pave
meut, the red brand lies shattered
and black,
Once more the shouts OF the people have
rent the auivering air.
Az the church door Mayor and Council
wait with their feet on the stair:
And the eager throngs behind them press
for touch OF his hand
The unknown savior whose daring could
COMPASS a deed grand.
Bu. why does sudden tremor seize on
them as they gazeg
And what n.eaneth that stiied murm,ir OF
wonder and amaze2
He stood in the gate of the temple ne
had perii,ed his life to save
And the face OF the unknown hero was the
sable face OF a slave.
wi,h folded arms he was speaking. In
tones that were clear. not loud.
Ana his eyes ablaze in their sockets.
burnt into the eyes of the crowd:
..ye may keep your roldl-f scorn II! but
answer me. ye who can.
II the deed have done before you be not
the deed of a man7''
lie s,epped but n stort step backward.
and from all the women and men
There were Wild cheers for answer; and
the Mayor called for pen.
And the great seal of the city. that he
might read who ran
And the slave who saved St. MIchacrs
went ou, from Its door-a man.
Battis OF Malvern Hill
Cant. John Lamb. the vigilant and
= ..t~ ,anrsaenf atfva NJ the Al coc