Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1899-04-20
TALES OF PLUCK
AND ADVENTURE.
S.sers
saved the Cruiser Buffalo.

EJ REV. l.. -. EAECCck
TINS story wins the prize 81 so oaerei
nv the New York Voice 'or the best true
tale of heroism submitted ~ a rrea:he!l
A mothelleas boy Of eighteen OBJ
tanned the reluctant consent Of his
fsther-au advocate Of the peace prln
ofples 81 the Religious Society Of
Friends to enlist for the war y
hberate Cuba. Being a fine shot aud
something Of a rough rider, be
.oined a company Of cavalry. Not
long aiterward he made application,
and was transferred 70 the navy AMI
given the appointment Of assistant
electrician III the cruise. Buffalo,
named after hi4 home city. He hal
worked himself through the various
departments OF an electrical manu-
factory, and had served some time IN
the adjusting room for the finished
products Of the factory. SO, a.
assistant electrician, he had charge in
his watch of the electric lights Of the
siI decks aud of the great dash
light.
His boyisb Imagination had pictured
. patriotic company OK young men,
the ships crew with whom he should
find noble fellowship. When he found
them all given to the use Of intoxicat-
ing drinks, tobacco, profanity and
obscenity, he suffered keen disap-
pointnent, and was much Inclined to
let down his standard a little to find
sympathy and fellowship. He had
smoked cigars for a week, when n
day he stood alone with q cigar in his
mouth, thinking Of his brothers and
sisters and the sainted mother whom
he could scarcely remember. He took
the cigar from his lips, and. as he
wrote his father, II threw it away and
made up my mind to go thru alone"
On November G, 1898, the Buffalo
left New York with a crew of $50 men
and 400 extra sailors for Dewey's fleet
at Manila. When about 600 miles
ont, the grea. November gale struck
them, and about midnight ''all hands
were called out, and the assembled
men were informed that the ship had
received such damage that she was
filling. with the prospect Of founder
ing unless some means could be de
vised to stop the leakage.
Most OF the men fell into a panic,
and with cries Of childish terror many
al to provide themselves with life
preservers and to u control of the
ships boats. A few heroic men set
resolutely about the work Of plugging
the leak and repairing the damage.
The young electrician looked for a
moment at the strange conduct of tho
unthinking mass, and turned away to
find something to do in the dynamo
room. AS he reached the hatch the
chief electrician .ushed past him cry
ing frantically, The ship is sinking,
The ship is sinking and disappeared
among the life preseryers.
In the dynamo-room he found tue
machinery deserted. and devoted him.
self to the task Of keeping up the
ships lights. For twelve anxious
hours he worked on without seeing 6
human being. Of hearing from tht
workers who were trying to save th(
ship. Some tune after II O'clock tn
executive officer made a visit to thu
dynamo-room to thank the electrician
for the splendid service Of the light
which had made it possible to save til,
ship with the human freight. The
he learned that q hungry and sleep,
boy who had determined ito 20 thrl
alone would like to be relieved.
Tae electrician was found hiding il
one Of the ships cutters. snrrounde,
by a Pile Of life-presersers. not VI
free from the terror Of the might. II
was court-martlaled and dIsmisse-
from the service III disgrace. Tn
Buffalo returned 70 New York, an
AMER repairs Ia the d~rv-dock. starte
again for Manila.