The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1900-07-19

HOW DIETZ LOST HIS WATCH AT GETTYSBURG.
"Yanks" were compelled to retreat The
retreat soon became rout. Company X
of the Thirty-eighth New York volun-
teers followed Dietz's party in it's heller
skelter departure from tight place.
Dietz was young in those times, young
and proud besides, for he was the pos
SCISSOR of a silver watch such as makes
glad the heart of youth. 1t was solid sill
yer, a key winder, of course, and his name
and company were craven within. So
when in the scramble of retreat this
watch fell from his pocket the loss cost
him pang that for the moment threw
the battles loss into shadow.
When 1t fell to the brown, tramped
ground, he hesitated for second as to
whether he should stop and look for it or
run on with his comrades. The question
was decided for him by those behind, and
he was soon hustled far from the spot
where he had lost the silver watch.
A few days ago the old matchmaker
was waiting for customer in his little
Nuuanu street store. While he waited !
had the bad fortune to break the crystal
Of my timeplece, and as l, too, was upon
Nuuanu street and near his store l step
ped in. While Mr.. Dietz was trying diff
fercnt crystals in my watch another Gus
toner appeared upon the scene. A SOL
der boy he was, short Of money and de-
sirous to pawn an old silver key wind
watch which he carried.
The courteous jeweler explained that
key wind watches were of no value ex-
cept as old silver. He could advance
nothing upon it, he said.
The soldier was urgent. He begged
Dietz to examine the watch more closely.
''It is In good condition, even though old
fashioned" he said. "and it's the purest
of silver"
Dietz looked closely merely out OF po-
likeness. Suddenly his expression chang
ed to one Of real interest. His lips
twitched in excitement. With the old
self possession he Gained himself and
spoke deliberately.
There are several reasons why |
should not advance money on this watch.
For one. | am not a pawnbroker. For
another, it has no value except as old sill
yer. Last, but not least, it Is not yours
to sell or pawn. That is my watch"
The soldier was indignant, exclaiming
that the watch was given to him by his
father, away back in Iowa, and that his
father had possessed it since 1868. Dietz
replied:
Eyes. can tell you the day that it
came into your fathers possession. 1t
was the Sd of July, 1868"
''There is nothing to hide-certainly,
that was the date. But that fact does
not prove your right. My father was
Walter Ellis Of Company X, Thirty
eighth New York volunteers. In the re-
treat Of July 3 he found this watch on
the battlefield. lie gave it to me as
left home for the Philippines, and he
said: This watch has been through one
war. Carry 1t through another and then
keep it as an heirloom for your children
Il am hard up. | only want to pawn
the watch, and if you'll lend me some
thing on it I'll promise to redeem it be-
fore the regiment leaves Honolulu"
Young man." said Dietz, 81 have not
opened the watch, but l will describe it
to you. 1t is wound with key. The
key post passes through hole bored
through glass crystal, which is a pecul-
lar fact. The works are Of steel and
German silver. Now, il you will take
this glass out and look at the bevel ring
which holds the crystal covering the
works you will find my name scratched
upon it, George Dietz, Company d,
Sixth Connecticut volunteers. That is
my watch"
George Dietz spoke truly. The young
man was satisfied, and the two compro-
missed Dietz gave Ellis a new silver
watch and So for this keepsake of two
wars. And 80 1t came about that the
young soldier brought back to the old
soldier his treasure lost from 1868 to
1900