The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1898-11-30
A BRAVE NAVAL RESERVE.

The following account of brave
deed by Charles I. Hortman, of Tren-
ton, IA native of this city, is copied
from letter written from Havana by
one OF the crew of the "Resolute. "
Mr.. Hortman's father, JGeob Hort
man, was some years ago employed in
the Penna. Il. Il. freight department
in this city, and removed to Trenton,
where he is still in the railroads en-
ploy:
l thought this would be good arti-
Gle for the paper and good word for
the Naval Reserves. On September
10Th, Mr.. Burtran a young man from
Boston, was sent in the bilgers, under
the engine room He was overcome
by the gas and the smoke from his
lamp, and fell in the bilge grease. He
would have drowned had it not been
Tor Charles L. HOFFMAN, who was pas
sing over the engine room, together
with Mr.. Dorsey, n man who was in
with Burtran ut the time and came out
ana told HOFFMAN. HOFFMAN did not
wait minute, but set down the bucket
he was'carrying, threw off his hat and
went down between two small pipes
where he could hardly squeeze through.
Not mlndlng that, but with the thought
OF saving the mans life, he pressed
on: lie erept through five bilge man
holes aud called, but received no an
swer. He then went ON, and after
passing through twelve manholes he
came to the body. Bartran lay ON his
side, and hs mouth, nose and eyes
were under the bilge grense. Hort
man raised his head and called for
help, but 1t was ten minutes before
any one came. HOFFMAN was npnrly
exhausted by that time. He was lust
gong to drop Burtran and crawl out
himself, when he was braced up by
hearing some one coming to his assist
ance. 1t was Dan, Commings, one of
the Resotute deserters, who showed
up again i'll New York before the ship
left the last time. He reached Hort
man, and they began to pass Burtran
out through the manholes. They were
then joined by Mr.. Brothcrson, and
they three passed him out, which was
not an easy task They then passed
him up between the small pipes, when
he began to show signs of life. and
the rest of the engine room hands
took him on deck. The deck hands
worked over him, under the instruc-
tons of Mr. Broddick. one of the Naval
Reserve officers, as DIR. McGill, the
ships Surgeon, was not on board.
They continued their exertions for
half an hour, but it was no use-he
was dead. The Captain ordered tho
remains laid ont and dressed for
quick burial. lie was prepared for
burial by Mr.. Simpson, the boiler
maker, aud some of the Trenton sailors
The pallbearers were selected from the
Engineers division. The funeral
took place on Sunday morning Mt
o'clock. The remains were taken to
tho cemetery in Havana and buried
with the sailors of the Maine.
Eli Bartran was Bostonian. of
French descent. lie enlisted in the
Navy for three years. A Board of In
quify was held, and Hertman, Com
mings and Brotherson told their
stories. The grease was tested, and it
was found that carbolic acid had been
put there as disinfectant and was the
cause of his death, he being overcome
by the terrible smell and gas from the
grease and the smoke from the lamp.
HOFFMAN has received great praise
from the Admiral and from the Captain.
He is one of the Trenton boys, is %
yearsold, and is joweler by trade.
His rate on the Resolute is II second
class fireman. His residence in Tren-
ton isat 302 Pennington Avenue.