Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1900-07-26
CAPTAIN LEARY.
A Strong and Picturesque Figure-H,s
Stormy Career.

A Strong and Picturesque Figure-His
Stormy Career
Sa many varying and untrue stories
have been circulated about the recall Of
! Capt. Richard p. Leary, the first Amer.
lean governor OF our new island nos
session Guam, that the navy depart.
ment has felt itself called upon m
print Captain Leary's letter asking
that this step be taken, Whatever
picturesque methods and high-sound-
ing phrases he may have used during
his period OF almost autocratic SWAY
| there, it is plain that the chief reason
for his recall is that his tour OF what
is called "sea duty" has PRACTICAL ey.
pired Leary undoubtedly did stir IN
the friars as to their charges for mar
riage, and he proclaimed against serv-
tude, amounting TO slavery, and
against intoxication, and various other
customs calculated to debase those who
| INDUCED in them. He also used many
lofty words to impress the easy going
natives with a vivid idea of the great
ness of the American flag and the
United States as a nation All this
made our first governor of Guam pic
turesque.
But Captain Leary-Dick Leary as
every one who knows him and thous-
ands who do not know him call him
Is more than picturesque; he Is posi-
lively rugged, always interesting and
never happier than when he scents tha
atmosphere of strife. His career in
the navy has been one Of turmoil Few
men in the navy have more sturdy
friends or more bitter enemies among
his immediate fellows than Dick Leary.
Three times his name has been re-
moved from the roster Twice it was
I restored by the department after thor.
ough investigation and review of the
circumstances under which it was re-
moved. Once it was restored by order
of congress.
Some of the naval officers have new
er forgiven Leary for that distinction.
His career in the navy has not been
bed of roses He didn't get much Of
chance in the war with Spain Maybe
it was because there was a reluctance
to allow one with something of a re-
pute of a daredevil to come to the
frnt, and it might have been that the
prejudice of others had some effect
Just before the war came he had had
another time of stress in the navy.
Some of his enemies suddenly discov-
cred that Leary was colOr-biind. He
said it wasn't so and again he con
founded his enemies. although il took
more than one examination TO thor
oughly establish Leary's contention,
The anti-Learyites that time thought
they had him sure, but he passed his
examination for the captains grade,
did more or less obscure work in the
war, and now has won notoriety and
glory of certain kind in Guam.
Leary did one service for his country
in the latter part of the eighties in
Samoa which attracted a great deal OF
attention, brought him the thanks
privately of a president, a secretary OF
state and a secretary of the navy but
no official document of approval and
when ii was proposed to give him the
thanks of congress a storm ragged about
him. He had resisted the aggression2
of the German influence in Samoa and
had cleared his ship for action one day
when a German warship threatened TO
fire on some natives. His correspond
enc6 at that time when he was beyond
reach Of the government was so Wig
orous that when It was transmitted 10
congress certain sentences were CEN
sored, probably for the good Of con-
tihued pleasant relations with eer-
tain foreign power
n Leary had fired on that German
warship it woU probably have
brought on war between the Unite5
States and Germany 1t was tree
mendous responsibility TO put on Q
ieutenant-command No officer OF
his years and rank was ever placed .H
such a position. He was unQHas
tionably right in his attitude
Personally Leary is slight in phys.
que, quite in behavior quick to wrath
a typical southerner in chivalry,
ardent lover Of his country, a man VINO
in war would rather fight than e3l
drink or sleep, and in peace Wohil
rather devote himself TO his rs
friends than have any attention VIM.
ever bestowed upon himself No
matter where Dick Leary may be '
what ne may do, ii is safe to pred.
that something will always be CONS
on there OF especial interest-FranE
Matthews in Harpers Weekly