Gilpin observer., 1906-11-08

uid.ely that they had reader ana an
ofhcer at that They rallied quickly,
and so terrific was their onslaught that
the Americans We're beaten back.
"Hooray for the little one!" yelled her
maJesty's 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 brigs and hospitals on the two
American ships and on the Amphibian
were filled to overf1owing 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
What's that?" cried Capt. Knapp,
OF the American ship Winnisook,
when he heard of the melee. Led by
a British officer? This is outrageous,
and l 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
| 'NA' " lHc Wutlt lOl iiio
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 culprt;
but he frankly acknowledged that he
had been a participant in the melee,
and made poor fist of explaining the
extenuating circumstances. Midship
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 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.
]. Thompson. seaman, U. S. N, 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 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" brought
Capt. Knapp to the deck He was JUS
in time to see Leigh appear with thu
seamans body Who was that man.
he asked, when the boat returned t.
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, anC
when Thompson's body had beer
hoisted aboard, the commanding of
ficer nimbly went down the side ladder
and took his place in the stern. "Th,
Amphibian," said he.
Capt. Knapp appeared to be excitet
when he reached the deck of the Am
phibian.
. Capt. Gleam,'' he burst forth
you've got an officer on your shi,
4 who has just performed a gallant act
, sir, which my government will no
pass unnoticed, understand. sir. tha
he is about to be sent to England (,
suffer for some slight infraction or th
. regulations. To punish that youn,
man. sir, would be an outrage, sir"
=, Il may remark. Capt. Knapp" tn
British commander said, that It wa
, your complaint that caused the AL
i. miralty to take the action It did witt
reference to Midsh.pman Leigh"
Then I withdraw my complaint. sir
and desire that the admiralty be mott
fed to that effect, sir"
When the mail steamer Alcatraz lef
her wharf two hours later she car
. ried some official communications II
which the name of Midshipman Lcigl
appeared more than once
Nearly a month later. the Alcatra
was again at her wharf in Honolulu
:. She had just arrived from San Fran
cisco. Her commander personally de
livered the Official mail addressed 4
Capt Clean.
= When Capt. Clean had finishes
reading his mail, he sent for Midshir
man Leigh. MIR. Leigh" he said, 'yo
:, are restored to duty. The admiralt
will send an admonitory letter; but Il