The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-11-14


pline and superb heroism displayed by
William Anthony, an orderly or ma
rines, ON board of the Maine ut the
time she was blown up. 1t is related
that when Captain Sigsbee reached the
deck after the explosion the first per
son he met was William Anthony. In
the semi-darkness, lit by the flames of
the bursting ship and pierced by shrieks
and groans, he saw Orderly Anthony
come to present arms" as calmly as
IL it weae dress parade, and heard him
say in the even tones of perfect disci-
pline: "Sir, l have to inform you that
the ship has been blown up and is sink
Ing" When asked about this instance
of cool courage and superb presence of
mind, this specimen Of American man
hood said: "Oh, that's nothing, any
Yankee marine would do that
The American navy has many such
pline which should live in American his
tory. An interesting incident is re-
lated of a brave boy who was on board
the steam sloop Varuna, ten guns,
Captain Charles S. Boggs, commander,
during Admiral Farragut's fight at
New Orleans in April, 1862. The lad,
who answered to the name of Oscar,
was but II years of age, but he had an
old head on his shoulders and was
alert and energetic. During the hottest
Of the fire with the Confederate feet
he was busily engaged in passing am
munition to the gunners, and narrowly
escaped death when one of the terrific
broadsides of the c. s. steamer Gov
ernor Moore, Commander Beverly Ken
non, was poured in. Covered with dirt
and begrimed with powder, Oscar was
met by Captain Boggs, who asked
where he was going in such hurry.
ITO get a passing box. sir; the other
one was smashed by ball." And so,
throughout the fight the brave lad held
his place and did his duty.
When the Varuna went down under
the terrific fire of shot and shell and
ramming of the Governor Moore, Cap
tain Boggs missed his boy. and thought
he was among the victims of the bat
tie. But a few minutes afterward be
saw the lad CALAMITY swimming tow
ard the wreck. Clambering on board of
Captain Boggs' boat, he threw his hand
up to his forehead, giving the usual sa-
lutte, and uttering only the words. "All
right, sir; L report myself on board, y
passed coolly TO his station.
Robert Cumming, a fair-haired boy
sf IA years, good-looking and interest
Ing, was the hero of the Harriet Lane
when she was captured at Galveston,
Texas, on January /, 1868, and was as
brave and cool in danger as Osca-
He was of Scottish parents, his father
breaking out OF the war In Paterson,
\. J.; his mother, a poor washerwo-
man, residing in Philadelphia, where
she was part supported by half of her
he entered the United States service
Robert entered the service as n drum
mer boy in Colonel Moorhead's Twenty
Third Regiment. Pennsylvania volun-
teers, and remained in that position
until his regiment was mustered out of
service.
He then enllsteG as messenger boy
on board the Harriet Lane, and won
good will Of her officers by his pluck,
good humor, and vivacity. When the
attack occurred in front of Galveston
and the storm of bullets was pouring
down ON the overmatched crew from
the cotton bulwarks of the Neptune and
Bayou City, as the Federal wounded
men were carried below, the lad picked
up two OF their fallen revolvers, and
taking his place upon the quarterback
blazed away at the invading Confeder-
ates, firing at them every charge of
both weapons, and then hurting them
overheard. AS 1t Is said the Confeder.
ates clustered thick as bees on the cot.
ton bales, 1t is believed every shot
must have told" Robert was subse-
quently wounded in the hand by a mus
ket ball, when momentarily his spirit
gave way. Surrendering with the rest
be shared the fortunes of the paroled
officers, naturally becoming a great IA.
vorite with them, and messing at their
table during their journey through the
Interior Of Texas to be conveyed to New
Orleans via Red river. He was on
board the Kensington at that city when
he became acquainted with Comman-
der Meade, and WIS afterward taken
under his especial care
another young hero was lad named
Mouling, on the gunboat Queen Of the
West, at Gordon's Landing, near the
mouth OF the Red river. When the
Confederate batteries opened on the
Queen of the West, Mouling, a mere
child, checked the confusion on board
where the shot and she'll were kissing
and screaming In dangerous proximity
to the heads of the crew and two dis
tinguished journallsts-Finley Ander-
son, correspondent of the New York
Herald, and Joseph McCullagh
("Mack") of the Cincinnati CONNER.
cial.
AT this time no one thought of saving
the boat. The steam chest was pene-
trated, and it needed all their exertions
10 save themselves. Some leaped over.
board and were drowned. Others tum-
bled cotton bales into the river and at
tempted to float with the current Mr.
Anderson escaped on cotton bale
McCullagh sought cotton bale, and de
bated whether he should trust his
portly body upon 1t. While thus en-
gagged the bale f1oated beyond his reach
and Immediately thereafter a shell
alighetd upon it, and, exploding, blew
1t into a thousand fragments. Mack
seized another bale, and reached the
De Soto in safety. Colonel Ellet, the
commander. escaped In like manner