Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-07
AN UNUSUAL STORY
Damon and Pythias Of the
United States Navy.
ILL-FATED MISSOURI
FRIENDS KILLED AS THEY STOOD
SIDE BY SIDE.
Had Shared Their Joys and Sorrows
From Midshipmen
Days.
written for The Evening Star

Written for The Evening STAR
One of the most pathetic incidents Of the
recent Missouri disaster was the killing,
as they probably stood side by side, of
Midshipman Thomas Ward, jr., and w. E.
T. Neumann, the explosion at same time
ending a sad romance, as the brave Neu-
mann had somes time previously met and
fallen in love with his friends sister, who
had promised to become his wife shortly
before being suddenly stricken in the ter
rible disaster The devoted friendship OF
these two sailorswas of a most unusual ma
ture in these matter-of-faet times and con-
tinuaEy remindedntheir friends of the an
cient story of Damon and Pythias.
The devoted friendship of these TWO
brave seamen, 1.-The Damon and Pythias'
OF the United States navy as they had come
to be called, covering several years, mad
attracted attention not only on the Mis-
souri,, but throughout the United States
navy. To the Secretary himself 1t was not
unknown. Indeed, there was that manllness
about it that appealed to all observers ana
made one remember that at one time at
least the wSlole world was akin.
They entered the Naval Academy the same
year, Ward few months before Neumann,
and all during their course at Annapolis
were inseparabe. They shared each other
Joys and sorrows and were closer than
brothers. They both completed their four
years course at the academy in 1908, but
months before this time came they had been
to the same ship.
Through the influence of superior Of
ficers who had noted and admired the
frank and manly devotion the two young
men had for each other this long cherished
wish was realized, and they were both as
signed to the Missouri, Ward on February
q, and Neumann on February %, 1903
AS natural consequence Of the close re-
lations of the two Sailors Mdshipman Neu-
mann, was formerly introduced and final
ly fell in love with Miss Ward, as hand
some and ardent a sweetheart as ever
brave sailor lad dared to claim when in
port and to dream of and toast when at
sea.
Closer Than Ever.
The engagement Of Neumann and Miss
Ward naturally brought the two men closer
than ever before, and their devoted friend
ship during their service on the Missouri
was more marked even than during their
years at the academy.
Midshipman Thomas Ward is the son Of
General Ward of Oswego, New York, and
through the formers request the Navy De-
partment sent the body of Mdshipman
Neumann to Oswego together with that
of young Ward, both bodies, at the con-
clusion of the funeral ceremonies, being in
tered side by Sloe IN the naval cemetery
at Annapolis.
These two brave midshipmen, although
occupying the lowest commissioned rank,
were heroes, whose lame SnOuiQ De CS!e-
brated in the brightest and most brilliant
annals of the American navy. When the
awful explosion occurred on the battle ship
Missouri the door of the powder magazine
was open and the plaZe of the explosion
threatened to ignite the entire store of the
ships ammunition, to the utter destruction
of the vessel and every man aboard.
Did these two devoted friends shirk their
duties during the awful moments which en-
! sued? Close in all their doings and under
takings both on land and sea- they could
not be separated now in the impending dis
aster, and bravery and courageously they
died together.
A Sad Ending.
How sad the ending of the romance be-
tween the dead midshipman and his sweet
heart on land, who Mad promised to be his
| bride The latter not only loses her dear
brother sailor, who was intrumentaI In
bringing about her romantic love affair,
but also the idol of her heart, whom she
had loved almost to distraction and upon
whom she had built all her future hope and
happiness trusting in the very near future
to be able to attain the realizat ton of her
| hopes, in being lawfully able to call her
| lover by the endearinS name of husband
The days will come no more when the
! two devoted midshipmen and the now al
most broken-hearted woman can come to-
| gether, as they did at intervals in the past.
| The pretty love romance, began so auspi-
| ciously, is now crushed, leaving behind
| true devoted and affectionate maiden
| whose dead lover was a sailor, brave and
| coura geous, and whose memory will for
| ever live not only in the mind of the now
| disconsolate woman, but in the navy of the
| United States, which he served so faithfully
and periodically.
| When last they met plans were discussed
| between Midshipman Neumann and Miss
| Ward for their anticipated coming wedding,
| in which nuptial affair Midshipman Ward
| was to figure as the best man." The af-
| fair engrossed all their attention and time
| at their command, and no three individuals
| ever experienced more real happiness over
| a similar contemplated event. The sailor
| loved his sweetheart dearly, and the love
was recfprocated. This happy state of
| things more than pleased Midshipman
! Word, as the latter knew that his bosom
sailor friend would one day conclude to ask
| the hand of his sister In marriage. and they
| would all thus be more strongly and af-
| fectionateIy united.