Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1906-10-02

and so terrific was their onslaught that
the Americans were beaten back
"Hooray for the little onei" yelled het
maiesty's blueiackets. Stand by the
little onel" And for the next few
minutes the British had the honors-
All that night the marines worked
hard arresting the riotous bluejackets,
and the briggs and hospitals on the two
: American ships and on the Amphtbian
5 were filled to Overlooking. Midship-
man Leigh had managed to get on
board the Amphibian without being
obliged to exhibit his wounds, but he
knew they could not be concealed In
the morning.
Whats that?" cried Capt. Knapp,
Of the American ship Winnisook.
when he heard of the melee Led by
a British officer? This is outrageous,
and / won't stand it, Call away the
cutter, sir"
Capt. Knapp proceeded straight to
the American legation and. accom-
panied by the minister called on the
British commissioner The three then
went to the Amphibian, where formal
complaint was made to Capt. CLEAN
that one of his officers had led the
British tars in a disgraceful attack on
American seamen.
Midshipman Leighs black eye and
swollen cheek were all that were neces-
sary to point him out as the culprit
but he frankly acknowledged that he
had been participant in the melee,
and made a poor fist of explaining the
eXtenuatings circumstances. MIdship-
man Leigh was ordered in arrest, and
the next steamer carried to San Fran
cisco a brief telegram TO the admiralty
and long official report to go for
ward by mail
Three miserable weeks were spent
by Midshipman Leigh on board the
Amphibian. Then came another mail
steamer with telegraphic Instructions
from the admiralty to send Midship-
man Leigh home. The admiralty was
willing to hear any statement he had
to make, said the instructions, in or
der to determine whether he should
be dismissed or given the opportunity
to resign. 1t was pretty evident that
the naval career Of Midshipman Leigh
was over, and that the disgrace Of dis
missal stared him in the face.
J. Thompson. seaman. U. S. NJ. went
aloft the very day that the Instructions
from the admiralty were received, to
fix some spars of the winnisook. and
missed his footing. Midshipman Ger
aid Leigh. sitting disconsolate ON the
deck OF the Amphibian. a hundred
yards away. saw the man fan
In an instant Leigh was overheard.
and when the cutter from the Winnf-
sock reached the spot where Thompson
had disappeared. Leigh rose to the sur
face with the dead body of the sea
man In his arms. When he handed it
over to the boats crew, Leigh swan
back to his own ship.
The cry of Man overheard" brought
Capt Knapp to the deck He was just
in time to see Leigh appear with the
seaman's body who was that MANI"
he asked when the boat returned to
the Winnlsook
Little chap-beg pardon str-mid
shipman who fought our men. sir.
answered the cOxswain.
Capt Knapp was nothing if not a
man of action Stay in your places. "
was his order to the boats crew, and
when Thompson's body had been
hoisted aboard. the commanding Of
ficer nimbly went down the side ladder
and took his place in the stern. "Thc
| AmDhibian." said he
Capt Knapp appeared to be excited
when he reached the deck of the Am
phibian.
Capt Clean" he burst forth
you've got an officer on your shin
who has Just performed a gallant act
sir, which my government will not
pass unnoticed! | understand sir, that
he is about to be sent to England to
suffer for some slight infractlon OF the
regulations. To punish that young
man, sir would be an outrage. sir"
Il may remark, Capt. Knapp" the
British commander said, that it was
your complaint that caused the adj
miralty to take the action it did with
reference to Mi1shipman Leigh"
'Then | withdraw my complaint, sir,
and desire that the admiralty be noti
fed to that effect. sir"
When the mail steamer Alcatraz left
her wharf two hours later she car
ried some official communications in
which the name of Midshipman Leigh
appeared more than once
Nearly q month later the Alcatraz
was again at her wharf in Honolulu.
She had just arrived from San Fran
cisco. Her commander personally de-
livered the official mail addressed to
Capt. Clean.
When Capt Clean had finished
reading his mail, he sent for Midship-
man Leigh. "Mr. Leigh" he said, you
are restored to duty. The admiralty
will send an admonitory letter; but in
view of your act of heroism and the
request of Capt. Knapp. you are to
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