Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1898-08-31
AN OLD-TIME TAR.
SAILOR OFFERED HIS OWN LIFE TO
SAVE HIS COMMANDER

Rueben James an Ordinary seaman saver
Stephen Decatur by a. Deliberate Act
of Self-SncriAce.
The naval history of the United
States Is replete with instances of in
dividual braverey and heroism, that
have made Uncle Sans sturdy tars
especially dear to the hearts of all
patriotic Americans.
One of the most remarkable of thess
heroic deeds, the unusual character of
which has given it a special page in
the naval annals of this country, was
that Of Reuben James, an ordinary sea-
man, who saved the life of his COM
mander, the famous Commodore Ste
phen Decatur, by a deliberate act Of
| self-sacrifice.
During battle with Tripolitan war
vessels, in the early part of the pres
ent century, Decatur boarded one of
the enemy's ships. to revenge the
| death of his brother, who had been
treacherously killed by a Tripolitan
commander. The latter was singled
out for attack by Decatur, as soon as
he got aboard, and fierce hand-to-
| large, powerful man, and grapped
Decatur, both men falling on the deck.
Just then, another Tripolitan officer
aimed blow with his sword at De-
catur's defenseless head. Reuben
James, an American sailor, both of
whose arms were temporarily disabled
| by wounds, saw the impending blow,
and ,dashing forward, he interposed
his own head to save that of his dar.!
| Ing captain. Fortunately, the blow
was glancing one, but 1t made a
| terrible cash in the skull. It was a
| long time before he recovered from
| the effects of the blow. His brave act
was suitably recognized by congress.
which granted him a pension, though
he continued in active service.
Besides being a brave man, James
was also philosopher of the Diogencs
type, though he, probably had never
heard of that wise old mans inter
view with the great Alexander. When
his injuries had healed, and he was
again ready for duty, James was ask
ed by Decatur what he could do for
him. The sailor, who was quarter
gunner on the vessel, and had charge
| OF the mems hammocks, touched his
hat in the customary salute, and, af-
ter a moments reflection, replied:
Nothing, sir, as I knows on, 'cept YOU
might let some'un else give out the
hammocks when they're piped down. u
Reuben James was a true type OF
the old-time tar, of the kind who looked
| upon a mere landsman as an individual
to be pittied, if not despised. He was
native of Delaware, and became a
sailor when mere lad. In 1897 he
was captured by a French privateer
and suffered hardship That expert
ence only intensified his love for a
life on the ocean wave, and on his
liberation, he shipped aboard the
Constellation, in 1899, and he took
part in the battle between that frigate
| and the French warships, Insurgent
and Vengeance. In 1894 he Joined the
famous frigate, United States and was
one Of those who volunteered to &C.
company Lieutenant Decatur, when
that fearless spirit determined to de-
stroy the American warship Phila.
delphia, which had fallen in to the
hands of the enemy and lay In the har
Dor of Tripoli. He remained under
Decatur's command and stook part il
the numerous fierece conflicts which
marked Americas naval war with the
| Tripolitans. He followed Decatur t.
the Enterprise, the Constitution ant
the Congress, and was with him il
the United States when that frigate
cautured the Macedonian. He was al.
SO with his old commander aboard the
President, when she had to surrender
to a whole British squadron, in Janu-
airy, 1915, on which occasion james
was wounded three times before he
would go below to have his injuries at
tended to. He took part in the nava
war with Algiers, and during the long
peace that followed, he was constant.
ly cruising about in one or the Other
of the United Statese warships in the
West Indies, the Mediterranean or thu
Pacific ocean. He used to say that he
had taken part in ten fights and as
many scrimmages."