The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1906-11-10


and so terrific was their onslaught that
the Americans were beaten back.
"Hooray for the little one," yelled hsr
majestys bluejackets. Stand by the
little one!" 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 Amphibian
were filed 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
British officer? This is outrageous,
and l won't stand it! Call away the
cutter, SIR"
Capt. Knapp proceeded straight tc
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 Leigh's black eye and
swollen cheek were all that were neces-
sary to point him out as the culprit;
but he frankly acknowledged that nc
had been a participant in the melee
and made a poor fist of explaining tire
extenuating circumstances. Midshlp-
man Leigh was ordered in arrest, and
| the next steamer carried to San Fran
cisco brief telegram to the admiralty
and a long official report to go for
ward by mail.
Three miserable weeks were spent
by Midshipman Leigh on board the
Amphibian. Then came another mai
steamer with telegraphic instructions
from the admiralty to send Midship-
man Leigh home. The admiralty was
willing to hear any statement he hac
to make, said the instructions, in or
der to determine whether he should
be dismissed or given the opportunity
to resign. V
]. Thompson. seaman, U. s. N, went
aloft the very day that the instructions
from the admiralty were received, tt
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 fall.
In an instant Leigh was overheard
and when the cutter from the Winni
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 Il
over to the boats crew, Leigh swan
back to his own ship.
The cry Of Man overheard" brough
Capt. Knapp to the deck. He was jus
in time to see Leigh appear with tn,
seamarf's body ''Who was that man?'
he asked, when the boat returned I,
the Winnisook.
Little chap-beg pardon, sir-mid
shipman who fought our men, sir,
answered the coxswain.
Capt. Knapp was nothing If not
man of action. Stay in your places.
was his order to the boats crew, am
when Thompson's body had beef
hoisted aboard, the commanding of
ficer nimbly went down the side ladde
and took his place in the stern. 9Th
Amphibian," said he.
Capt. Knapp appeared to be exciteu
when he reached the deck of the Am
phibian.
Capt GIsam," he burst forth
you've got an officer on your shil
who has just performed gallant act
sir, which my government will no
pass unnoticed! understand, sir, tina
he is about to be sent to England t,
suffer for some slight infraction OF tn
regulations. To punish that youn,
man, sir, would be an outrage, SIR"
II may remark. Capt. Knapp" tn
British commander said, that 1t wa
your complaint that caused the al
miralty to take the action it did Wit
reference to Midshipman Leigh"
"Then withdraw my complaint, si1
and desire that the admiralty be nnti
; fed to that effect, SIR"
, When the mail steamer Alcatraz lef
, her wharf two hours later she car
ried some official communications Il
which the name of Midshipman Leigh
appeared more than once.
Nearly month later, the Alcatra
; was again at her wharf in Honolulu
She had just arrived from San Fran
Z cisco. Her commander personally de
livered the official mail addressed T.
Capt. Clean.
! When Capt. Clean had finishe,
; reading his mail, he sent for Mids'iir
man Leigh. 'Mr. Leigh" he said, 'yo
, are restored to duty. The admiralt,
, will send an admonitory letter; but Il
> view Of your act of heroism and tn
, request of Capt. Knapp, you are t
suffer no other punishment"
AS the Winnisook steamed out pas
, the Amphibian next day, the Amer