Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-10

crew of the Presidents yacht. Mayflower,
at the time of a recent conflagration on
the river front of the naval establish
ment.
The night of May 20. LOTUS Anderson
and Rindfieisch, gallantly responding to
the call of duty, broke into the little
magazine in which a fire was raging. and
bore from the burning building boxes and
chests filled with gunpowder and other
explosives. In doing this the heroic fell
lows imperiled their own lives, but pre-
vented explosion which would I'M
doubtedly have been followed by the loss
of number of lives and considerable
government property.
Comphmented by President.
President Roosevelt was quick to recog-
nize the true brand of American heroisn1
which actuated the sailorrnen, and di-
rected Secretary Metcalf to send them
letter of commentator.
Lotus. Anderson and Rindfeisch had
read the complimentary letter when the
reporter visited the trim steamer May
flower. They were the three proudest
jackies in Uncle Sans peerless navy.
But with the true ring of the American
observation-disclosures they modestly dis
claimed having performed any great deed
of bravery. They said, in effect that the
matter had simply been entered upon the
log of the ship under the heading of
duty.
The thrilling story of how these men
rushed into the very jaws of death has
q never been fully ard graphically told.
The officers of the yard and those of the
Mayflower were loath to exploit the deed
and therefore the particulars were with
held.
But veteran marine who stood by the
entrance TO the navy yard ,ndexed the
value ofthe service rendered by the jack
tars when he said
MANY soldiers and sailors in the old
world have had bestowed upon them for
far less heroic deeds the Victoria cross
OF Great Britain. the iron cross of Rus
STA or Frances emblem Of the Legion Of
Account Of Incident.
The night of May % Private Gravette
of the Marine Corps was strolling about
the water front of the navy yard enjoy
ing the cooling Potomac breezes and the
dim pictures in the moonlight. He was
not on duty that evening, but, with the
instincts of a true soldier, he was on the
alert.
Just in front of him doomed I'D the little
brick structure known as the "saluting
station. Before the building stood
grim .eight-inch gun like silent sentinel,
its muzzle pointing down stream toward
Arsenal Point, where Uncle Sans engi-
neer troops are stationed.
The cannon is used to fire salutes when
the President or other high officials visit
the navy yard. or when war vessels come
up the river from the sea. 1t also bangs
away" on the glorious Fourth and other
national holidays
In the one-story brick building some
times termed 1.-The magazine" is stored
quantity of black gunpowder for salut-
ing purposes, besides some chemicals
Coston lights and naval rockets-enoush
explosives to have created havoc had an
explosion resulted.
Private Gravette, while slowly approach
ing the little magazine building suddenly
observed, curling upward from the struc-
ture, thin column of what he at first
believed to be escaping steam. In order
TO determine If il was steam or smoke he
went close to the building and found the
surrounding atmosphere filled with the
door or burning wood and other materials
WhiIe there was d red glare Of fire within
Gravette Summons Aid.
Private Gravette realized that the splen-
Gid craft Mayflower and the steamer Dol
phjn, both freighted with jackies and
marines, were only short distance from
the burning building. while surrounding
1t were many buildings of value, with
splendid mechanical equipment
Then he bounded away like deer TO
the nearest fire alarm station With a
mighty blow of his fist he crushed the
glass pane and sent in a call for the Are
apparatus In doing go he gashed his
aand on the splintered glass With
blood flowing from the wounds he joined
with his fellow-marines in handling the
IRE apparatus OF the yard
While speeding to the fire alarm sta
tion Private Gravette had yelled Fire
nre' in stentoran tones. The cry had
been heard by men on the Mayfower
The first to respond were Lotus, An
derson and Rindfieisch.
Some one sang out:
ITS the magazine. The building is
filled with explosives
This cry did not deter the sailor ladies
They remembered the shibboleth OF the
navy. 1t is sailors duty To face death"
and away they bounded toward the burn
ing building. from which clouds of smoke
were issuing.
Through the riffs of smoke they saw
the glare of the blaze within. They
knew fully we'll that inside the structure
we're explosives that were likely at any
moment 10 ignite and blow great hole
into the night and bring about harvest
CT death and destruction.
Jackies Break Open Door.
Undeterred by any fear of what might
occur. the jackies placed their stalwart
shoulders against the door With a.
crash il went in. Through the open
doorway came volumes Of smoke freight
ed with the almost overpowering doors
of chemicals and burning wood.
They sprang into the building. Select
ing the cases or chests that were filled
with the black salutirg gunpowder, they
carried them one by one TO safety.
In the meantime. while the three men
were facing death in its most horrible
form. other members of the crew OF the
Mayf1oger reached the scene of the con-
fiagration. Then came the marine guard.
hauling the fire apparatus of the yard.
In charge of the marines were Maj. Wen
dell c. Neville and Lieut.. Faulkner.
Next came the city fire department.
The flames were quickly extinguished.
hut not before nearly all the boxes OF
gunpowder and other explosives had
been removed.
In one corner of the room were a num-