The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1899-07-15
DEATH OF JOHN F. NUDGE.
First Martyr to the Cause of Civiliz-
alton in Samoa.

alton in Samoa.
The following news item clipped
from the Portland Oregopian will be
read with interest by the many
friends of Mr.. and Mrs. J. r. Nudge,
William Nudge and his son Henry,
the last two of whom are well known
at Barker, and the first two are ac-
quainted all over this part of Mon
tana.
Knappa, Or, June 21.-The death
of John K. Nudge, a private, United
States marine corps, on the cruiser
Philadelphia, at Apia, Samoa, has
been confirmed in a letter received
by bis parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Will
liam Nudge, Of knappa, from Chap
lain A. A. McAlister, of the Phila-
delphia. Private Nudge, who was
II years old, was a favorite in this
community, Chaplain McAlister's
letter is dated Apia, March 81. 1t
says among other things:
This ship, with three English
cruisers, has been in this port for
some time to protect American and
English residents in Samoa from the
violence of native savages, who have
been encamped on the mountain
side back of the village of Apia.
Private Nudge was sent with a par
ty of marines, under command of
Capt. Perkins to protect the Amer
lean consulate. Marines from the
English ships were at the English
consulate, 100 yards distant. On
Wednesday March 10, while shells
were being fired from the ships to
drive the savages back from the
town, a fragment of a bursting shell
hit Nudge on the calf of the leg,
breaking one bone, and cutting
away a large piece of the muscle.
He was brought aboard the ship i'm
~mediately, and the wound was dress.
ed by our senior surgeon, DR.. Lung.
For a week he was in good spirits
and seemed to be doing we'll, but in
this hot and facilitating climate sick
Or wounded people do not readily
recover, and this was the case with
this brave boy. Tetanus, or lock
jaw, set in, and on Saturday after.
noon, March 20, about 3 o'clock, he
passed away. He retained con.
seriousness till hearly the last. ]
read a psalm and had prayers with
him. The doctor, the nurse and biz
shipmates did everything possible
for him. He was buried with mill
tary honors on Sunday morning, a
Mulinum point, near Apia, next tc
the graves of Thomas Holloway, o:
the marine corps, and Andrew H. J
Thornberry, of the British navy, whc
was buried March II. l performed
the burial service. His death cast
gloom over us all, for he was held il
high esteem by both officers and
men. He led a clean and uprigh
life, where men are subjected to ma
ny temptations, and this is yer,
much to bis credit. He was promp
and faithful in the discharge of du
ty, and thoroughly patriotic.
81 regret the necessity of turning
our guns on even Samoan rebels, TO
l have been kindly treated by som
of them in former years; but the OLE
savage spirit, instead of dying out
seems to have laid dormant for
generation, and now to have revived
with greater ferocity. They drov
loyal and peaceful Samoans from tn
island, burned homes, beheade'
some of the people, and threatene'
the lives of English and America
residents. Decided measures i
dealing with them were unavoidable
Mr.. Nudge was doing his patriot
duty when he received the injur
which proved fatal. In this first &C
f ton in which seamen and marines c
} the two great Englisn-speaking ma
, tons have borne arms together sine
the colonial wars, he was, | believe
the first one wounded in repellin'
! an attack of the common enemy, an
t his name should be held in high hor
or by Englishmen and American
everywhere"
q This sad sketch was accompania
y by a picture of the subject. II
was a nephew of John R. Mude
who formerly lived here, but no
resides at Seaside, Ore.