Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-01
Written for the Star.

Written for the Star.
The officers Of the old receiving ship were
EARNING as usual after dinner, and the first
lieutenant introduced the subject Of char
acter among the enlisted men-how 1t
was often developed in battle or danger I'M
til they shone out heroes for courage and
knights without reproach for self-sacrifice
and true courtesy.
II think" said he, that for my ideal
OF a true American sailor of the very best
type should take William Gown, ordinary
seaman on board the Kearsarge in her fight
with the Alabama.
Gown was a model sailorman in all
respects. He was wounded three times be-
fore he would consent to leave the deck,
and when finally they took him below with
one Of his legs all shattered by a bursting
shell he said to the surgeon:
I can't fight any more, doctor: but It's
all right-we are whipping the Alabama
And when they began to bring on board
the wounded from the vanquished ship he
said: Never mind me. doc. I'm all right.
Look after those poor fellows from the
Alabama 80,
Everybody knows the story Of how Sir
Philip Sidney, lying wounded on the field
OF Zutphen. and burning with a raging
thirst because of his wounds, passed a flask
of water which was offered him to a
wounded soldier with the words, Friend, as
yet thy need is greater than mine Cow
ms was the chivalrous spirit of Sir Sidney
reincarnate, but, except Professor Rawson
l know of no naval historian who mentions
him. He is a forgotten hero.
Did he die? Oh. yes, he died few days
after on shore, In French hospital, and
the French surgeon in charge wrote a eu-
logy of him in his report, SO impressed was
he with the cheerful fortitude of the man.
"Winslow and the other officers of the
Kearsarge were being dined by the loyal
Americans in Paris when telegram came
announcing GOWNS death. Mobiles and am
bassadors and officers of rank were among
the guests and, when the telegram was
read that brilliant company rose and, with
bowed heads, drank to the memory Of this
ordinary seaman in silence
Brave Capt. Champlain.
Yes" said a lieutenant, Gown was a
hero of the true and chivalrous type-the
finest sort of type. For cruder and more
common, but also more dramatic type, take
Captain Champlain of the privateer General
Armstrong.
THE Armstrong, attacked by an Eng
lish corvette off Surinam, for nearly an
hour maintained a desperate fight with her,
and though the Britisher carried twenty
four guns to the Armstrong; seven, the
battle was draw.
During the engagement Champlain was
wounded. but refused to leave the deck until,
finally, he tainted and was carried be-
low and laid on the cabin floor. The cabin
was directly over the magazine. When
Champlain came to, his right hand was still
grasping the pistol which he aimed at the
British ship-for the part of the fight was
carried on at pistol range-when he was hit.
He tried to rise. but could not. Calling to
one of his officers, he said Tell those men
on deck that II they surrender I will fire
into the magazine and blow them all to
hell And he lay there with the muzzle
Of his pistol pressed against the cabin floor
until the battle was over"
'"They are fond of telling in the British
navy" remarked a lieutenant, "of John
Powers. quartermaster's mate in the brig
Pilot when she fought her desperate battle
with the French man-of-war La Legere
Powers. badly wounded, was taken below
and laid on the table In the cabin, where
the doctor proceeded to cut off one of his
legs. AS Powers lay on his back he saw
through the skylight that the topmast Of
the Pilot was shot away and some Of the
crew were aloft reeving a hawser prepara-
tory to sending up new topmast. Sudden
ly voice cried out, You're reeving that