Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-06-12

" y sary Of the institution of
Il 9 the soldiers most pre-
Y cious decoration = perhaps
|oN the most precious decora-
tion in the world-the Victoria Cross.
for it was instituted by Her Majesty
the late Queen Victoria on the Goth Of
January, 1856, and so is not quite fifty
years old. While it is the most priced
of all the decorations and orders an
Engishman can win, it is also the most
democratic decoration in the world.
for, although it Is the official badge of
an act of sublime personal courage and
daring, it has no concern with rank,
long service or wounds, and it may be
worn by one who has been only few
months or even weeks in the army,
while others who have spent their lives
in the service and gained rank and
other decorations may not possess it.
1t may be worn by private soldier or
! field marshal, and on the roll of the
heroes names are to be found almost
every rank in both the services for the
winning of the Cross is possible to any
one, as it Is granted "as reward for
conspicuous bravery or devotion to the
country in the presence Of the enemy"
or as the inscription upon it records,
sFor Valor!'
The Victoria Cross had its birth dur
Ing the Crimean war, when Queen Vic
| toria felt that some recognition of the
personal daring and heroism Of her SOL
diers in that terrible struggle was need
| ad nd ic t1,n+ +1,o
The first Cross were made by no less a
person than the late Prince Consort,
who, needless to say, was most inter-
ested in the institution of the decora-
tion and the selection Of those on whom
1t was first bestowed. The royal war;
rant clearly lays down the conditions
under which the Cross may be won,
but the whole Of them may be summar-
lied in the one sentence, For conspic-
uous bravery or devotion to the coun-
Try in the presence of the enemy"
There are not many who are unfa-
miliar with the appearance of the
Cross, but for the benefit of those who
have only seen it in photographs or pic
lures, 1 may say that it is about an
Inch and half wide, and has in the
diverse centre crowned lion, under
meath which is an scroll bearing the
words For Valor." 1t is attached to q
bar on which is spray Of laurel leaves.
and Is suspended by broad ribbon.
which is blue for the naval service and
a dark red for the military. Both the
Cross and the bar are made from
bronze which formerly formed part of
some OF the Russian guns captured
during the Crimean war. and complete
with the ribbon and pin weighs just
under an ounce, or 432 grains, to be ex-
act. 1t is engraved with the name
and regiment Of the recipient, as well
as the date on which he won it, and as
soon as this is done it is dispatched
from the makers to the sovereign to be-
stow upon the hero, for it is the one
military decoration which is always
when practicable conferred by the SOW
sreign in person.
One could well fill q bulky volume
with stories Of how the Cross has been
won, for there has not been single
Cross granted the winning Of which
would not fill chapter of itself, and so
only a few details concerning some Of
its wearers and how they won it can
be given. 1t is strange to have to record
that the first Victoria Cross was won
by sailor, for it has come to be
looked upon as almost entirely a mill
tary decoration, yet such is the case
and it Is still stranger that the deed
which gained 1t was performed n year
and seven months prior to the institu-
ton of the decoration. Another feat
ure is that at the time of winning it he
was boy serving his time as midship-
man on board II. NJ S. Hecla, and the
story of how Charles D. Lucas, now
an Admiral, won the Cross as MILDLY
will always form one of the most glor-
ious stories among the many in its his
tory. 1t was at the bombardment Of
Bomarsund in the Baltic, on June 81,
1854, that a live shell dropped in the
midst of group of men of whom
young Lucas was in command. The
fuse was almost burned away, and an
explosion seemed imminent, but with
out moments hesitation the young
midshipman sprang forward, grasped
the spluttering shell in his hands, and
rushing to the side of the vessel hurled
1t overheard, where it exploded before
1T reached the water. Such an act as
this displays the sublimest courage, for
1t combines intelligence and instanta-
neous action, and in boy it was espe-
cially meritorious, and so young Lucas
was chosen as the first recipient of the
decoration eighteen months afterward.
The next, cross was also bestowed upon
a naval officer, now Rear-Admiral By
thesea, for an action performed during
the Russian war while he was serving
as lieutenant in II. M. s. Arrogant,
on September 16, 1854. During the
Crimean war altogether Ill crosses and
two clasps were awarded, and 1t should
be explained that a clasp, which is
equal to Gross, is awarded to any
holder of Cross who performs some
| act Of braynrv for which n Croaq yyould