Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-11-03

Nevertheless the Wyaadotte did not
move that day. Farrand was in con-
slant communication with the rebels
at Pensacola, but nine miles away.
He knew that 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 M. 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 a 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 Will
liam Conway, of sCamden, Me. He
had obeyed the order to stand by the
hallyards, but when ordered to haul
the flag in capitulation he said:
Il will not do it, sir, That is the
flag of my country, under which have
served many years. 1 love it; 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 court-martial, A. B. Magruder,
who submitted to the secretary of the
navy the propriety, justice and good
policy of bestowing some mark of ap-
probation.
The life story of Quartermaster Will
liam Conway is quickly told. He ran
away from home at the age of IL 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
DOdlSWd UldL0, captain Oh the Top
master-at-arms and quartermaster.
When the Maine loyal legion began
an investigation of hero Conway's
career year ago Maj. H. 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
0f
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 grave
could not be located. There are sew
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.
Conways heroism was recalled to
the present generation through the eff
forts of Capt John o. Johnson, United
States navy, who wrote a number of
articles on the subject for local news
papers year ago and interested the
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 COnway's 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 Thomaston, 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 a 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