The Meeker herald., 1906-11-17

slant communication with the rebels
at Pensacola, but nine miles away.
He kne@ s:at within 48 hours the
confederates would demand the sur
render of the navy yard. and he hoped
the way to occupy Fort Pickens would
be opened also.
Farrand knew the very hour that
Victor NJ. Randolph would present
his confederate forces at the gate of
the navy yard. and was there to re-
ceive and welcome him, dressed in
the full uniform of United States
naval officer while Commodore Arm.
strong was kept in ignorance of the
whole affair, and did not know that
the confederates were approaching
till they were reported at the gate. and
the two commissioners selected by the
governor of Florida were conducted to
him by Farrand.
All the details of the surrender were
conducted by Farrand. even to the
Furnishing of the faithful old quarter
master for refusing to haul down the
flag in surrender when ordered to do
so by Renshaw.
This faithful old seaman was VIII
liam Conway, of Camden. Me. He
had obeyed the order to stand by the
hallyards. but when ordered to haul
the flag in equalization he said:
Il will not do it. sir! That is the
flag of my country, under which have
served many years. ] love 1t; and will
not dishonor it by hauling it down
now
Renshaw had to do the work with
his own hands and then he and Far
rand set about Furnishing the old quar-
termaster by putting him In irons for
his fidelity to the old flag.
Conway's heroism in the affair was
| first recognized by the judge advocate
| of the courtmartial, A. y. Magruder.
who submitted to the secretary OF the
navy the propriety. justice and good
policy of bestowing some mark OF tip
probation.
The life story Of Quartermaster VIII.
liam Conway is quickly told. He ran
away from home at the age OF l2 and
enlisted in the United States navy.
never afterward returning to make his
home with his people for any length
of time. His whole life was spent in
the service of his country. The posi-.
lions which he occupied were
boatswains mate. captain OF the top.
master-at.arms and quartermaste-.
When the Maine loyal legion began
an investigation of hero Conway's
career a year ago Maj. II. S. Burrage.
the recorder, wrote to Rear Admiral J.
b. Coghlan. commandant of the navy
yard and station at New York.
He replied that William Conway.
Quartermaster, SO years of age. native
of Maine. was admitted to the hos
pital at that station from the United
States steamer North Carolina and
died November 80, 1865.
| The hospital records show that his
remains were buried in the naval
cemetery in New York, but the grava
could not be located. There are sew
eral unknown graves in this cemetery,
and the hero of the Pensacola incident
probably sleeps in one of them.
The only surviving relatives Of Con-
way are two nieces. Mrs. Louise Rob-
bins. of Thomaston. formerly Louise
keene, of Rockport. and Miss Julia
Conway. OF Camden. The gold medal
above referred to is the property of
Mrs. Robbins son. William Conway
Robbins, of New York.
Conway's heroism was recalle.. to
the present generation through the ef.
forts of Capt. John o. Johnson United
States navy, who wrote number OF
articles on the subject for local news
| papers a year ago and interested tho
Loyal Legion in preparing the me
mortal.
The conditions found by Capt. John
son during his investigation in Knox
county warranted him in styling his
article, "A Forgotten Camden Hero"
for in Conways native town there
were few who had ever heard the quar-
termaster's name and none who knew
of his brave act at the Pensacola navy
yard.
Capt. Johnson finally located the
Conway medal in Thomastnn. and
from the two nieces above named
learned the few particulars that could
be CLEANED concerning Conway's home
life. With this as a foundation there
began the planmaking for notable
| celebration.
Capt. Johnson was in command of
the gunboat Shokolon at the close OF
the civil war. having been twice pro-
noted. He is junior vice commander
of the military order of Loyal Legion.
His First Experience Under Fire.
In the Army and Navy club, Wash.
| ington, Gen. Chaffee told this story
of Gen. Carr, says the New York
| Tribune. At the outbreak of the
civil war Carr left Troy az n colonel.
His first engagement was at Big Beth
ell, and he was pretty green Off1cer.
1t happened that confederates were in