Omaha daily bee., 1899-06-20

Driven into warm corner by the publi-
cation OF Lieutenant Commander Hodgsons
denial the New York Sun strives TO show
that what Hodgson denies actually occurred
on the bridge Of the Brooklyn at the begin
ming OF the naval battle of Santiago. The
Sun attempts to break the force Of the con
tradiction by printing a letter from Lieu
tenant Commander Heilner OF the Texas
in which the writer declares that Hodgson
related to him the substance of the colloquy
alleged to have occurred when Schey gave
the order to turn the ship, and intimates
that Hodgson's denial as published must
have been garbled. The Baltimore American
strikes Heilner In the solar plexus by pub
fishing a fac smile of Hodgsons letter, the
contents being the same as that already
printed in this column. Admiral Schley, as
usual, scores triumph, leaving to his NAL
icious critics the profitless task OF ferreting
out the origin of the lie. The editor OF
the American cruelty aggravates the wounds
of the Sun by offering to give $4,000 to any
New York charity "if the Sun will produce
testimony to prove that the conversation
ever occurred"
The city OF Olympia. proud OF the deeds
OF Admiral Dewey's flagship, has prepared
a handsome testimonial to be presented to
is bronze panel, with figure of Victory
in bold relief, standing on an orb, holding
in her outstretched hands scroll with the
historic words, "Gidley, you may fire when
YOU are ready" On either side OF the
draped figure is the inscr ptio1, From the
Citizens Of Olympia and State OF Washing
ton, Greeting of Olympia to Her Namesake
MDCCCXCvIII." The panel was designed by
Paul w. Morris, under the direction OF d.
C. French. 1t weighs 300 pounds, Is four
feet high and four and a half feet wide. 1t
will be placed on the forward turret Of the
ship between the two big guns.
The Native Sons of California have de-
cded upon ihe design for the metals which
are to be presented to the California volun-
teers in the war with Spain. On one side the
medal shows California greeting returned
soldier and sailor. In the distance Is the
Golden Gate; on the left is the great camp
that was established at the Presdio during
the war and in the harbor rides the Olym-
pia The reverse shows the stars and stripes
and the state flag Of California. The legend
indicates that the medal Is gift from the
people of California for services in the Span
ish-Amercan war. The medal is supported
by a bar, upon which is the word Cali
fornia" and over which leans bear.
The people Of Morgantown w. Va, are to
give reception to Captain Frank E. Chad
wick of the New York on some day in Oc-
tober next and also present to him a costly
sword. Rear Admiral Sampson, it is said,
has promised to be present and make an
address. Captain Chadwick was born in
Morgantown.
An English physician who has been much
interested in the American operations
against the Filipinos tells this story: We
had Just finished our breakfast one morning,
and 1 was talking to President Schurman.
We were watching the weird manner in
which the leaves Of the sensitive plant
open and close, when there was yell.
accompanied by the crack Of a rifle and the
whistle of bullet. A soldier came running
down the incline at the rate of twenty-five
knots, as the Americans say On asking him
the cause of this energy he held up his left
hand, the left ring finger Of which had been
pierced by a bullet, leaving a neat circular
opening through the first phalanX. After
being dressed he wanted to go on fighting,
and was greatly annoyed because l would
not allow him to. ''Tain't much the
burned portfolio through me finger he said,
'as gets me on the raw; it's the losin' Of all
the - fun "
A giant private in the Montana regiment
at Manila, probably an ex-school teacher,
did not follow military rules strictly in pun
ishing one Of the amigos who fred on him
at short range. He caught the enemy, took
his gun away from him and then laid him
across his knees. After he had vigorously
applied a piece Of bamboo he seized the
enemy by the seat of the trousers and threw
him toward the rear.
There" he said, don't let me catch
you playing with firearms again.