Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1901-04-05
DEATH Is A HERO|S FATE
Fire in the Petrol Kills Chief at
Cavite.
BRAVERY IN FACE OF PERIL.
Lieutenant Commander Roper Dies Saving
Others-Goes Twice Into Burning Sail
room, Yielding to SuffocstiOn-LittIe
War Vessel Not Badly Damaged.

The story of an act of heroism in
which acknowledgements Jesse
Minis Roper of the gunbOat Pc
trel gave his life while attempt
ing to rescue the men under his
command from fire is told in
a cablegram received by the ma
Wy department at Washington from
Admiral Remey, commander in chief
if the Asiatic station Admiral Rem
ey's dispatch is as follows:
"Cavite, March 81, 1901.-Fire discov-
cred in the sailroom of the Petrol at z
o'clock this morning, Roper command
ing. After going below once he went
again against advice and attempted TO
recover the men below He was suf-
located and died at 7:45. twenty-five
other officers and men were entirely
Frustrated. but all are recovering. The
fire is out; damage immaterial. Send
Ropers remains by Buffalo
"REMEY."
The department at once sent tele-
gram to H. F. Fay, the brother-in-law
Of Lieutenant-C Commander Roper, at
Longwood, Mass. asking that he in
form Mrs. Roper of the news. The fol-
lowing expression of sympathy and ap-
probation is also made:
With this sad news the department
sends to Mrs. Roper deep sympathy in
the great loss she has sustained and
the highest appreciation of the gallant
ry and self-sacrifice with which Lieu
tenant-COmmander Roper gave his life
for his fellow men. 1t was a heros
DEATH"
The deceased officer was born in Mis-
souri,, and entered the naval service
June %, 1868. He was commissioned
to the rank held by him at the time of
his death, March 8, 1899. and ordered
to command the Petrol November 10
1899 The Petrol was one of the yes
sells under Admiral Dewey at the bat
tie of Manila Bay. when she was in
charge of Lieutenant Commando Z.
P. Wood. The latter officer came home
shortly after, and Lieutenant-COm-
mander Roper succeeded him. The
Buffalo, on which the remains will be
sent hime, is now used for the trans
portation of troops, and will sail April
for the United States by way of the
Mediterranean.
At o'clock Sunday morning the fire
was discovered in the sailroom of the
United States gunbOat Petrol. Lieu
tenant-Commander Jesse Minis Roper
commanding. The sailroom is a small
compartment adjoining the magazine.
The heat was intense. the smoke suf-
locating and the flames difficult to eX-
tinguish. commander RO-
per was the first to descend into the
hold, but he was forced to return to
the deck. Others then went down
Seaman Patrick Toner was Frustrated
and about to perish, when Lieutenant
Commander Roper endeavored to res
cue him, and was suffOcated in the at
tempt. Lieutenant Josiah SHUTS Nc
Kean and Cadet Lewis suffered severe
ly in bringing the body of Lieutenant
Commander Roper to deck. Twenty
two Of the crew were Frustrated,
Toner Evans. Flaherty. Larsen. Kess
Ter, Cahey, Burton, Smith, Sullivan
and Forsboon seriously, but all will re
cover. The contents of the sailroom
were destroyed, but the damage to the
gunboat was slight. The origin of the
fire has not been ascertained. Possibly
it was a case of spontaneous combus-
ton.