Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-08-09
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U@l NSS -
DEWEY AT PORT HUDSON.
An Ola Marine Tells OF the Heroism
of the Admiral Whom n Lien
tenant In IS08

When the Schley court of inquiry ad-
1ourned, on receiving the news of the
death of ex-Judge Wilson. bent old
Irishman made his way, with some diff
hculty. through the excited and con
fused crowd which was pressing
around the gate, and succeeded in get
ting up to the rsu which separa ties the
court from the reporters. He at
tempted to go through. but the orderly
told him It was impossible. Judge Ad-
vooate Lemly, happening to pass at the
moment, was attracted by the alterca-
ton and stopped to ask what was the
matter, reports Washington ex-
change.
Il am very anxious to get in. sir"
said the old man. II want TO see Ad-
miral Dewey"
You can't come in here" said Capt.
Lemly.
The old mans face fell. "I am very
sorry he said 81 haven't seen him
since the battle Of Port Hudson, and
1 want very much to see him ard re-
mind him of what he did for me there"
What did he do for your" asked
; Capt. Lemly.
HE saved my life ssid the old man,
simply.
Capt Lemly's tone changed. IF that
is so, my man." be said, you stand
right here at this gate and when Ad-
miral Dewey comes out you stop him.
He will be glad to see you"
And the old man took his stand at
the gate and waited until his old COM
mander should come out. While he
wss waiting he was asked TO tell the
story Of how Admiral Dewey saved his
life.
MY name Is Patrick Doolan,- be
said. Il was 30 years In the marine
corps, and in 1868 L was sergeant of
marines. was on the Mississippi dur
Ing the fight at Port Hudson. on March
10, 1868. When the Mississippi was set
on fire by the confederate shot, there
was the most imminent danger that
the flames would reach her magazine
and blow up everybody on the chip
THE only thing TO do was TO aban-
don the ship, and Lieut.. Dewey, the ex-
ecuSve officer, took charge Of the boat
and started 70 convey the men ashore.
IL was o perlous occasion, not so
much on account OF The Journey as be-
cause the flames might reach the mag
szine at any moment and blow up
everybody aboard
The boat kept coming and going,
and taking more men of on every trip.
You can imagine how we men who
were left on board watched for the re-
turn of that boat Every moment
seemed an eternity. All the time the
flames were stealing nearer and nearer
70 the magazine Each time the return
OF the boat was moro perilous to the
men who were manning her, and 4 each
trip the men who were left behind
thought they were doomed.
Toward the last the danger ap-
peared so great that some Of the men
on the boat seemed to lose their nerve
II appeared 20 them that on their next
| trip they might he blown up. There
were symptoms OF weakening. and
! Lieut.. Dewey saw this. He sat there
In the stern sheets, and the moment he
sow the signs of weakening be drew
his revolver, and, holding IL before
him, announced that he would shoot
the first man who laid down hts oars
There was not q sign Of weakening
after that and Dewey, sitting there
with his revolver ready for action,
made trip after "trip. until every man OF
us was safe ashore. The flames