The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1905-11-16

Orders came from the War depart
ment providing a detail to go and
heip man the guns Of Perry at Putin
Bay. / had the honor of leading them
on the journey and turning them over
10 the young captain. l could not
bear TO be lying idle at the garrison.
A thought of those in captivity was
with me night and day, but could do
nothing for them. had had q
friendly talk with Gen. Brown. He
invited and received my confidence
touching the tender solicltude was
unable to cover. laid before him the
plan of an expedition. He smiled,
putting a cigar thoughtfully.
RECKLESS folly, Bell" said he. after
q moment. You are young and
lucky. If you were flung in the broad
water there with a milestone tied to
your neck. | should not be surprised
70 see you turn up again. My young
friend, to start OF with no destination
but Canada is too much even for you.
We have no men to waste. Wait; a
rusting saber Is better than a hole in
the heart. There will be good work
for you in a few days, hope"
And there was-the job Of which
have spoken, that came to me through
his kind Offices. We set sail In a
schooner one bright morning-D'rl
and I and 30 others-bound for Two
Mile Creek. Horses we're waiting for
us there. We mounted them, and made
the long journey overland-a ride
through wood and swale on a road
worn by the wagons of the emigrant,
who. even then, was pushing west
ward to the fertile valleys OK Ohio
II was hard travelling. but that was the
heyday of my youth, and the bird mu-
sic, and the many voices of waning
summer in field and forest. were some
how in harmony with the great song
Of my heart. In the middle Of the al.
ternoon of September 6, we came TO
the hay. and pulled up at headquarters,
q two-story frame building on q high
shore. There were wooded Islands In
the ofing, and between them we
could see the neet-nine vessels, big
and little.
.. luluta ONCI tic llCl N4lO NClt IAN
en- to the ships Immediately and put
under drill Surgeon Usher of the
Lawrence and a young midshlpman
rowed me to Gibraltar island, well
out into the harbor. where the surgeon
presented me to Perry-a tall. Shapely
man, with dark hair and eyes, and
ears hidden BY tufts of heavy beard.
lie stood ON a rocky point high above
the water, a glass to his eye. looking
seward. His youth surprised me: he
was then rs. had read much of him
and was looking for an older man. He
received me kindly; he had fine dig.
nifty and gentle manners. Somewhere
be had read of that scrape of mine
the last one there among the Aveng-
ers. He gave my hand squeeze and my
sword a compliment have not yet
forgotten, assuring me of his pleasure
that | was to be with him awhile.
Tho greeting over, we rowed away to
the Lawrence. She was chopping laz-
fly at anchor in light breeze, her sails
loose. Her crew cheered her COM
mander az we came under the frown-
Ing guns.
They re tired OF waiting" said he;
"they re looking for business when
come aboard"
He showed me over the clean decks:
Il was all as clean as a puritan par
ior.
Captain" said he, ''tie yourself to
that big bow gun. II s the modern
sling OF David, only its pebble Is
big as a rock. Learn how to handle II.
and you may take a ding at the Brit
Ish some day"
He put Dri in my squad. as | re-
quested. leaving me with the guniers.
! went TO work at once, and knew
shortly how to handle the big machine.
D'ri and J convinced the captain with
no dIfficulty that we were at for .
nghi 80 soon as II might come.