The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-03-08
. FINE OLD VET.
Col. L. Edwin Dudley, An AnG-
Fican Consul.
STATIONED AT VANCOUVER
Tough, During The civil War-Pre-
motions Cained-The Chi
cago Fire.

Col. l.. Edwin Dudley, who was n
passenger on the GarOuue. is q man OF
varied experience. He Is now United
States Consul'at Vancouver. to- which
position he was appointed soon after
President McKinley's Inauguration.
The Colonel Is a veteran OF the civil
war, having seen four years OF service.
He was also through the Chicago fire
and did much toward alternating the
distress OF the unfortunates.
Col. Dudley Is a man of about nifty !
five years OF age. He has chin OF
and a broad. high fore
head. crowned with hair OF iron gray
just such a man as one could imagine
resisting the brilliant charge of Pickett
at Gettysburg, or Drawing the tumult-
uous flames of the Chicago fire. He Is
willing to- tell incidents which hap
pened to- friends and comrades. but IS
very loath to- tell OF the part which he
played in them.
This storm is grand. said he to an
Advertiser reporter. Il like to see the
rain come down in sheets and hear the
wind rush through the trees. II were
younger | should like to put on my
rain coat and go out and tramp around
in the midst OF IL.
1t was on just such n day rs this
years ago that saw one OF the brav-
est acts OF heroism | ever witnessed.
II was a typical November day OF the
coast OF Massachusetts. y vessel was
making its way slowly toward port.
when suddenly a gale struck her In
a few minutes she vas sinking. Con-
fusion reigned. But there was one man
who kept his senses. Calm he stood
among the raging elements and assist
ed the last passenger into beat When
all the others were secure. he strapped
life preserver around himself and
leaped into the sea. He was saved and
is living today. The present storm
brings il all back to me.
Yes. | was through all the Civil
war. | enlisted when but a boy-in
fact | had TO prevariCate about my age
in order that they would take me IN.
They weren't as. particular in those
days. however. about q mans age as
they were in the recent unpleaSantusss
Gettysburg was the great battle. II
| for nothing else than Pickett's charge
that battle will be famous always
/ When the order was given for them q
| advance. LOngstreet. the Confederate
| General. hesitated, But the orders
| from Lee were imperative. On they
| came. the flower OF the Confederate
army. $4,000 strong. Steadily ant
surely they advanced. facing our muir.
derous fire. At last they turned anC
retreated with shattered ranks.
The army OF the Potomac. OF which
/ was a member. saw some OF the heav
lest ng3SpOttsylvania and Antie
tam. where men fell on all sides. th'
| Wilderness. where we fought the un
seen enemy, and many other conflicts
mo. I'll never forget the Chicago
fire. When We heard the first tap o
the bell some friends and myself hur
ried to the scene. We arrived in TIM
to- see the last beam OF Mrs. Leary'
burning barn fall.
There was a gale blowing and tn
fire spread with rapidtty. There Ia,
been no rains for months and every
thing was dry as finder. From one sid
of a street to the other. from block Z
block the destroying flames licked al
before them.
People were cut of from thsi
homes by the flames which barre
their progress. Great buildings top
pied and crashed to the ground. StruC
lures OF iron and stone vanished int
ashes. Nothing stayed the monster
progress.
People became pauic-striCken. The
rushed one way and the other nc
knowing where they were going. Sud
denly the cry to the lake was raises
and taken up by thousands. Away {
the lake they rushed and into the ic'
cold water they plunged to escape th
fire fiend.
''Lawlessness ran unchecked for
: time. The city authorities were uI
= able to cope with the situation. Gei
Sheridan was called upon. All. tn fi'
minutes after Sheridan took contro
the thrill. the feeling OF confidence VI
restored to- the stricken people. p
. forty-eight hours Gen. Sheridan tcC
no sleep.
One who did not see that fire CO
but dimly imagine what il was. To :.
> the roaring. rushing flames leap.I
e here. there and everywhere. dev1uril
D all before them as IL inspired by sor
n malignant arch-fiend. to hear the Cri
and groans OF the dying and the HON
less living hope 70 shall never be :
fate to witness another such spectacle
4 In the Civil war Col. Dudley "
j. promoted from the ranks through {
successive grades to Lieutenant g.
onel. Each time ft was for gallant
10 and conspicuous bravery. When {
war closed he was brevetted Colon
~ He leaves today by the Garunne. b.
ing enjoyed greatly his visit TO Hot
lulu.
Four Cargoes.