The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1907-03-24
AND A BROTHER OF OUR FELLOW
ToWNSMAN.
He FOUGHT FOR The WEAK
Against the Strcnp-A Life That May
BE Emulated by Many, But Act
ed by Few-.A Loyal irish.
American.


fleets on the lif' Of the brother Of our
fellow townsmtp, l.. /. Blake. Col
John Y. + Blake. vho died III New
York city on January - Of this year.
he will stop ana ponder Klpling In
hil widest stories has never written
ANYTHING To surpass the life of Colonel
Blake In briiliancy Of adyDsurc and
patriotism Ouidi In that gem Of 1T
crature. Under Two Flags never
portrayed stronger character than
that of the late American and Boor
hero. Richard Harding Davis In his
character in the Soldiers of Fortune"
never had in mind q trucr man. nor
more brilliant career for his hero,
CLAY than the experiences Of Colonel
Blake.
The Journey from Fort Bowie In
the Indian Territory to the siege of
Ladysmith. In South Africa, is Il long
one aud runs the whole Gamut OF mil.
itary experiences OF this man.
Col John Y. T. Blake. organic 'r ot
the Irish brigade. which served with
distinction in the Bocr war, was bora
in Missouri In 1856. but went to Texas
In his sixth year. and was appointed
from chat state m West Point I'm
1875 Graduating In the class of 1850.
lie was commissioned secOnd lieut. n
ant In the Fighting Sixth cavalry
which saw service under Miles and
Custer In the west As student of
West Point. he was noted for his dar-
ing horscmanship. which stood him in
good stead in his South African cam.
paign.
The man who by his act ~ strategy
stood OF the entire British army at
Lady smith, only showed the intrepid
idity which gained him the friendship
Of Miles and Custer and Chief Gcron
imo, whom he captured. The dcthron
ed chieftain tof the Indians regarded
this soldier as his only friend among
the whites of the west.
After rcsimiug from the army, Col
Blake started on travel around the
world. which finally ended at Johan
nesburg. Ills article In "A London mag
azine giving his views OF certain
plans of the chartered company OF
Rhodesia CAUSE the late Cecil Rhodes
to remark: Ills article cost rs s25,
10000"
At the outbreak OF the Boer war he
"Oom Paul Kruger" recruiting the ia
nous Irish brigade IN which many
Americans were enlisted lie was al
intimate friend of General Dcwet. ~
tha, Joubcrt and Cronje. and enjoyed
their confidence.
4 friend writing Of Col Blake af
ter his death tells of the foll W ms in
cident in his career in the siege be
fore Lady to he relieved. Blake
scattered his men ,lycr the hills ot th
city and by keeping up a 'crrible fire
gave the English the impression that
an overwhelming army was hefSr.
IN. m Before the ruse was discover,
Bothas army had withdrawn and -
capped 10 the north Without question
this action Of Blake undoubtedly pre-
vented he abrupt ending of the wag
The Irish writer. Michael Dayitt, in
his work. THE Bocr Fight For Free
dom, speaks at longht OF the services
of Blake Irish brigade recruited In
part from America lie wrote. concern
ing the siege of Iadysmith, rs fol
lows. 'Blak. ana his brigade were In
charge Of hill which flew the flag
o. Erin 80 Bragh' when large bod
Of LOYAL Irish" were seen to be MAX
ing for this identical kopje where O
gun had previously been placed RlaN'
euioincd his men to resort to the FOL
lowing rategy so as To bring IN
"Loyal-' as near as possinle To the
hilltop before firing \ third of the
brigade showed themselves under the
flag and fired rather wildly at the
advancing troops. then on these reach
ing the bottom of the Kopj5 the moa
with tho flag were seen TO run To thg
rear The Irish Tommles came painting
up the side shouting for the flyinr
Fcnians TO stand; they stood; the To
mics came on to the very crest OF the
hill. when up sprang Blake and his
command and sent the contents OF
their mausers almost point blank into
the ranks Of the Tommies, who raced
down the Kopie much quicker than
they had mounted. leaving Il half doz'
en- OF their comrades to the suhseauen'
attention Of tn eI}oer ambila
"Col. Blake's plan for forcing an
ISSUE with the garrison In the early