Bisbee daily review., 1908-01-28
SAUSAGE MEAT IS FATAL ID
 NAVAL HERD
After Escaping Death Many Times From Shot and Shell Wilby Meets inglorious End, Wife Also SuccumbS.

After mocking death in one of the most glorious and desperate adven- lures in the history of our navy, to die in agony from the effects of bad sausage meat,
 That was the ironical fate of Val F. Wilby, over whose remains the coroner held an inquest at Monrovia lat night. wilby's wife also died from l the same cause.
 The case has created a sensation because of the peculiar action of the coroner, whose physician says that the two victims of spoiled meat died of heart disease and brain trouble, respectively:
 The deaths will attract wide atten- ton owing to the fact that Wilby was a national hero.
 Survived Glorious Deed. When a boy of r, Wilby was one of the sailors who helped Cushing blow up the Albermarle. He was one of he last survivors.
 1t was a feat something like the sinking of the Merrimac by Hobson, only far more perilons and far bet ter done, Cushing and his men being thorough seamen.
 It will always be remembered as one of the most glorious and dash ing deeds in the history of nayies and ships. and Wilby, who died this dreadful but inglorious death at Mon roYia. belongs on the honor roll of our national heroes.
 It was somewhat of an adventure of daredevil ungsters-Cushing be- ing but a boy himself.
 The Albermarle was a powerful confederate ram-one of the first of the ironclads. with a big, cruel ram on her bows. She was built in 1863 on the Roanoke river and became one of the most famous and terrible yes sells in the civil war.
 Late in the summer of 1864, she successfully encountered a strong fleet of United States gunboats and fought them for several hours with out sustaining material damage. There seemed to be nothing to cope with her in the sound. Cushing, a boy lieutenant, just turned 2f, volunteered to destroy her. He selected a volunteer crew for the desperate but brilliant exploit. One of he men he accepted was Wilby, a boy of IF, he having enlisted at the age of IA as. gunner's mate. He l fought in the attacks on Fort Donel. son and Fort Henry, and was with Porter when he ran the batteries at Vicksburg.
 Ready for Death. Well, Cushing and his little crew Of volunteers started up the Roanoke with a steam launch, towing an armed cutter. Every man jack fully expect. ed death. The launch was equipped with a long torpedo spar.
 The river was lined with confed. crate pickets, to guard against just | such an attack as this; but Cushing s luck did not desert him and he was within a few yards of the Albermarrs before he was discovered Casting of the boat that was I tow, he ordered his crew to attacks picket post near by while with a full head of steam he drove the launch | straight at the bulk of the ironclad whose crew rushed to quarters, and at once opened fire with heir heavy guns. The launch replied effectively with her howitzer. A raft of heavy | logs surrounded the larger vessel but the launch was driven over them | and by the time he had received hel death wound from the Albermarle'S guns Cushing had cooly swung the | torpedo boom under the great ships overhang and exploded the charge.
 Blows Up AIbermarTe. | A large hole was blown in the iron clad's side, she sank at her moorings and was never raised. Telling his ! companions to look out for them selves, Cushing left his sinking launch and swan down stream, reach | ing the bank thoroughly exhausted half mile below.
 AS soon as he recovered hi! strength he plunged into the dense swamp and after many hours of tedi ous waiting came oot on the shore of the creek, where, with his usua l good fortune. he found a picket boat and at Il o'clock hat night, reached a United States gunboat at the moutl of the river.
 Of the gallant fellows who riskeC their lives with him. only one es caped beside himself; twoe wert drowned, and most of the others cap tured
 Lieutenant Cushing did not expec to return alive from this enterprise When he set out to destroy he ram he said, laughingly, to his men tha he was leaving another stripe or ; coffin" Five times the secretary O the navy officially wrote him common datory letters, and for the Albermarlt affair he received the thanks of con gress, and was promoted to be lieu tenani-commander, October 27, 1864
 Il is not of record that he ever m dulged in any kissing bees afterward
 Saussges Kill.
 WiIby continued in the navy foi many years after the war, accompany ing the first fleets that went into ori entel waters.
 About twenty years ago he went to Monrovia to live.
 His tragic death, together with that of his wife, has caused stir in ! that town
 Shortly after eating some sausages, both Wilby and his wife became vfo- iently i'll. Mrs. Wilby died in great . Al