The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-29
Heroes of { Maine

There are bright spots in the midnight
darkness of the Maine catastrophe. In the
hour of her grief for the loss Of so many
of her brave sons, Columbia has found
some solace in the deeds of heroism that
since conspicUously amid the wreck and
ruin that form the basic details of the
story. The news dispatches have referred
to these incidents.
Beneath the blue coat Of William An
thony, a marine on board the Inflated
ship, there beats a heart that shows the
Stalwart stuff of which Americas de-
fenders are made. 1t is Captain Sigsbee
who tells the story of William Anthony's
heroic devotion to duty, disregard Cor
aughr but the discipline of the service
and GOODNESS in the hour of death.
When the Maine received her death
blow, and the first impulse of the living
was to get away from the disastrous
scene, Captain Sigsbee ran from his
way outside his cabin door Sigsbee ran
into a man, who, cool as on ordinary
parade day, drew himself up and saluted
his superior officer. Beyond the spot
where stood the erect and soldiery form
Of the marine, Captain Sigsbee could hear
the cries and groans of his wounded men,
that had shot UP from the inferno
whence came the devastating explosion.
AS he wondered what on earth or on
sea this marine meant by barring his
way at such q terrible hour, the figure
gave utterance to words that should be-
come historical:
Sir said William Anthony, 81 nave
to inform you that the ship has been
blown up and is sinking"
1t is a pleasure to know that this hero
of the lost Maine lives and is at the ser
may Spain endeavor to appease the anger
of a power that numbers among it's de-
tenders such men as William Anthony.
ANY Yankee marine would have done
the same" was the modest reply of An
thony to the eulogisms OF men who heard
of his bravery in the terrible Moment
following the explosion. And Anthony is
doubtlessly right.
Anthony was evidently destined to be
a soldier. He enlisted almost as soon as
his ~schooldays were over. twenty-eight
years ago, and has worn the uniform of
Uncle Sam ever since. He first saw SER
vice during the old days of the Ku-Klux.
and later drifted into the marine corps
of a volunteer. 1t suited him so we'll that
a marine he has remained ever since.
Previous to joining the marine corps An
thony had done good service on the
western plains, where his conspicuous
GOODNESS and bravery marked him for a
man of iron nerve. His ondness for the
canteen was the only thing that stood
in the way Of his getting a commission
during his career both as a land and a
sea soldier.
OF his stern sense of duty many stories
are told. The best is this: While he was
stationed at the Brooklyn navy yard his
old mother. whom he had not met for
many years, came over to see him. II
happened that Anthony at the time was
on sentry duty. and when he saw the
gray-haired mother his impulse was to
drop the rifle and clasp her in his arms.
But this would have been a violation Of
the rules of the service that only an or
binary man would be guilty of. Anthony
was not an ordinary man, and SO. with
the impulse struggling in his heart. he
begged her to go and wait for him In
the guard room until. duty done. he
could let heart feelings have the mas
terry without tran1pffng on discipline.
And Lieutenant Jenkins? What was re
doing that he failed to reach the decH
with the rest OF the urvivors? 1t reads
fix a romance of ancient sea battles 10
know that this hero of the Maine w1s
seeking at the last moments Of his lie
the enemy that he supposed was STRAIT
tering the ship with shells. The bviy
of Jenkins has never been recovered. but
enough Is known concerning his move
ments, after the first of the doubl ex-
blossoms that wrecked the Maine. to
know that this heroic officer was strug-
Cling when death overlook him to reach
the gun that would have been under his
charge in action
What thoughts the brave young officer
had as he made that death rush to the
post OF duty viii never be known. Self
preservation may be the first faw of ma
ture. but self-sacrifice is the FIRST law OF
naval duty. and Lieutenant Jenkins
obeyed TO the death the impulse that led
him to the post of duty when the wound
ed Maine staggered under the first blow
of the unseen foe.
Columbia may well weep for the loss o.
such men OF iron as brave enkins whom
the terror OF a death under tbs awful
| conditions raat prevailed belo@ decks
or the night OF the Names destruction
| could not turn from the duty path that
| led to the gun by which alone. in tke
| Startled mind of the naval hero, the
| power that had dealt the blow could be
Teckoned williamsburg Dispatch.