The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-05-14

~ ne Z at
me promise Of his bearing IN battle
Qualities which. displayed on a hard
fought field OF football. call for the
same determination. the same grit and
the same spirit CT TIE cause that so
TO make the soldier face the guns OF
the enemy without fiinchiag,
Football undoubtedly went a IA
ways in his training. as indeed indi-
rectly il first threatened his contin-
uance in the service and afterwards
seems to have controlled the destiny
that made him the executive officer
OF the Winslow. one OF his letters
home describing the one game with
West Point during his membership on
the Annapolis team that was lost.
shows the effect it hau upon his char
acter. or rather the way in which II
served to bring out h a character:
As Hc Would Feel in Battle
December S, eli could not help
showing my disappointment over the
game with West Point, and one OF thu
officers patted me on the shoulder and
said: Brace up, old man. Well beat
them next year when we get our
coaches. We are still ahead because
we beat them last year "a to 0. l
replied, Yes, sir. but II l had only got
ten my leg broken or something like
that during the game. l would feel
more consolation He laughed and
went on. Several spoke TO me in the
same manner wouldn't
have missed playing in that game for
a good round sum. even if we did
get beat. The game was grand. AT
one time both teams were striped with
blood, but still we fought like two dy-
ing game cocks to the bitter end and
l felt exactly as / imagine / would
fel In battle, threatened with defeat
and carried away with excitement. Not
a thought of danger entered my head,
--l
own it. 1t was not a fighting game
but both teams strcve SO hard that
eight men were carried off the field
wounded. / did my best during the
game and had the satisfac on of hear
ing many times a yell composed es-
pecially for my name"
Football Heart.
And, Immediately after his grad
Gat1on, there arose a question of his
physical fitness on account Of alleged
football heart" He was for some
time much worried, feeling himself 20
be an athlete and fit physically for any
exertion. Referring to this incident,
DIR. Warfeld. president of Lafayette
College, EastOn, Pa, said:
Ensign Bagley was a classmate AMI
intimate friend Of my cousin. Ensign
Joseph Cabell Breckenridge. who was
washed overheard from the Cushing
near Havana a few months ago. 1
first met him at Washington. He hal
come up from Annapolis in great anx-
iety because tie examining board had
reported that he had heart trouble,
brought on by football. He came to
General Breckenridge in search Of in
~fluence,' but the General was absent
on an inspecting tour. and the infu-
ence' was not forthcoming. J was
very much struck by his frank and
manly ways, and offered to see Assist
ant Secretary Roosevelt for him. We
found the enthusiastic secretary most
skeptical as to football heart and q
few minutes examination by a medical
officer of high standing gave Mr.. Bag
ley a clean bill of health, and the
forthcoming certificate insured his
promotion as Ensign. He was the hap
piest and most grateful fellow I ever
| have often heard his fellows
at the Academy sing his praises. He
was a famous pack on the football
and though very popular, as
modest and as unassuming as a manly
man always is. In every way he was
the kind Of a young man to whom
we look to do the country credit. 1t
is very strange that the two young
men in whose promotion I was espec-
tally interested should thus be killed
at the opening of the war
One can we'll imagine the "skepti-
of the strenuous Roosevelt ove-
a disability alleged to have been ac-
CURED In so ardent a sport as football
rendering a man unfit for the service
of his country. Young Bagley, how
ever, at the goal of his ambition. with
the star that he had determined to
receive for scholarship upon his col
lar. naturally viewed the hitch with
alarm and was as naturally delight
ed" at the outcome.
Chosen for WinsIow.
And again when the Winslow was
being prepared for service, football en-
tered into the equation. Lieutenant
having ben given the com
of the new vessel, requested
suggestions from a number of junior
officers as to whom they considered
best fitted to serve on a torpedo boa-.
Bagley's name was in every instance
among the first or second of those
mentioned and Lieutenant Barnadou,
in rendering him the appointment as
officer, wrote:
Il am told that you are a good foot
ball player. Deeming that such bill
ity represents a round of qualities
necessary to an efficient torpedo boat
officer. I write to ask you whether you
to come to the Winslow."
Came from the Maine,
Strangely enough Bagley was at
that time serving on the Texas as clerk
to Captain S~iggsbee. He hesitated he
tween two appointments, finally cho0s-
ing Inc . pcdO DCdC service, as af-
fordfng the greatest chance for promo
ton as well as the prospect in case of
Of the most desperate and
daring service.
In this he was probably influenced
by his friend and classmate. Ensign +
Cabell Breckenridge, TO whom he was
devoted, and who was drowned by be-
ing washed overheard from the tor
boat Gushing in Havana harbor
just a few weeks before the Maine was,
destroyed.
Even had he remained with tha
Maine. he would none the less have
doubtless run Upon the tragedy thai
the day was preparing. but he was re-
served for a bigger part.
Torpedo Boat Service.
n W1nslOw went into conmfseio,
the 2Sth Of December. 1889 ana.
in less than a month the new Graf,
came prominently into notice wban
Bagley with two men in a life hot
maze a heroic rescue Of two man
adrlft on a raft fifty miles from Ee,v
York while a storm was raging For
this act he and Lieutenant Bernador
received a special letter Of commends1
ton from the Secretary Of the Navv
In common with every man IN tba
navy. Bagley was eager for war after