The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1903-11-23
SChIey
The Brave Admiral
and the Glory
That He Has

Special to Daily Leader.
Washington. o. c., Nov 2S.-'scott
schley aad / we're school mates and
playmates.7 said Charlie Tabler a
wcll known employee of the capitol,
TO your correspondent the other day
"Tho advancement OF schley from
time TO time through various grades
Of the navy lof, him far above my con
dition. but did not raise him in his
own amaton He was and is the
friend of my boyhood. Tie never pu-
or any airs over any of his promo
tions or achievements"
when you meet the admiral, it
win interest you very greatly if he
viii tell you story which he often
told TO me AMI his other friends reia-
tive 20 lost opportunity during the
Civil war. do not remember the
name Of the officer who lost the op-
porunity. uor the name OF the ship
which was commanded by him. but
am very sure that schley will tell
yon when you see him"
few days later, the writer met
with the hero Of Santiago in bank
opposite the treasury, and accosted
him Admiral I want to agitate your
memory Of The Civil war Charlie
Tabler could not give me the details
Of the story of lost opportunity
which he believed You would not hes-
itate TO narrate TO me. and I would
like TO have the story for publication
If you please"
. Ger ainly," said the affable and al
ways courteous naval hero That in
cident occurred in 1863 A fleet in
command of Admiral Farragut had
been engaged in the Vicksburg cam
Apaign on the Mississippi river, and we
had been under fire for more than
mine months after the surrender Of
hTeksburg, and the "old man" 1--WE
yllways called a feet commander the
"old man'D) ordered the fires out on
{ all of our gun boats excepting the Ty-
Ter. which was commanded by Lieu
tenant Bishop While all Of our fires
were out. the engines and boilers be-
ing inspected, cleaned and repaired,
the Confederates deemed it good
opportunity for the escape of their
iron clad ram the Arkansas, which
had been constructed somewhere up
the river"
Lieutenant Bishop, in command of
the only available gun boat, saw the
Arkansas come down the river and
pass the fleet. but he did not attack
her with his big guns. nor make any
effort to ram her Instead, he sig
nailed the "old man, who was below
Vicksburg, while we were several
miles above Vicksburg, for orders.
Before the signal was received and
the order returned. the Arkansas had
passed the feet and was safely on her
way TO the gulf Of Mexico The old
man sent for Lieutenant Bishop, and
told him that he had not only made a
mistake in allowing a dangerous YES
sci 10 pass him. but also said, You
have lost your one opportunity to have
your name written on the lis, Of naval
heroes. Opportunity comes but once
in a life time, and your opportunity
has gone forever That incident had
great effect upon me, and presume
il had upon many others in our feet.
Very often during the last forty years,
and long before the war with Spair,
/ narrated the incident, always de-
elaring that il the opportunity ever
came to me IL should not escape me
as II escaped Lieutenant Bishop"
You must not suppose" said the
admiral. who is the perfection Of con
sideration for others. you must not
lbuppose that am finding fault with
i lieutenant Bishop for his lost oppor
unity. Quite the contrary. ! sympa
lied with him deeply at the time
ind so did all Of the officers Of the
feet He was a good officer, and a
brave one, too. II was his misfortune
.ra.her than his fanlt. that he lost his
opportunity"
Thus always. even in ordinary con
yersation, does this distinguished and
modest naval hero unoonsciousiy re
pest the sentiment which came 10 his
eountrymen, out OF the clouds and
smoke OF battle Of Santiago There
Is glory enough for all"