The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-07-28
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial correspondence.1

|
remains rest beneath the memorial
| stone.
The young man undinchingly me-
death last summer from injuries re-
ceived in an explosion in a turret OF
the battleship Georgia while at target
practice in Cape Cod bay.
1t is related that when the explosion
came the gallant Cruise was at one gun
in the turret, while his classmate and
personal friend, Midshipman Gold
thwaite Of Hopkinsville, KY, was at
the other. Goldthwaite was so severe
ly hurt that he died about two hours
later.
Cruise, although badly burned, man
aged to get out of the turret Hearing
cries of help coming from the turret,
he Immediately retraced his steps,
though terribly injured, into the place
where the explosion had occurred
A Hero's Epitaph.
!. He was rendering all the assistance
he could to the injured seamen when
some one reminded him Of his own de-
plorable condition. Then it was that
he uttered the memorable words that
are chiseled on his monument:
"Never mind me. I'm, all right
Look after those other fellows"
James Thomas Cruise, the hero of the
Georgia explosion, was a Kentuckian
He was just nineteen years and seven
months of age when death came His
fms into s1f ArslfY bon
last July, but the monument was only
recently erected.
His father, Major Thomas Cruise, is
quartermaster in charge of the depot
at Boston.
When all the injured had been cared
for after the explosion the injuries Of
Midshipman Cruise were found to be
serious. He was taken to the Naval
hospital at Chelsea, Mass, and three
naval surgeons were detailed to look
after him constantly.
He was cheered by cablegrams from
all over the world praising his gal
lantry and sacrifice for his comrades.
President Roosevelt sent him flowers
every day.
He finally succumbed to the terrible
injuries he had received.
Municipal Building Decoration.
Much favorable comment has been
expressed on the various details Of
the decorative work about the new
municipal building as well as of the
structure as a whole. Possibly no
other single feature Of the palatial
edifice has attracted as much atten-
ton and called forth SO many express
sions of admiration as the imposing
decorative group over the main en-
trance. Set above the deliberately
carved fringe Of marble tracery which
runs along the top of the doorway, the
gracefully reclining figures of two wo7
men, representing Law and Justice,
support shapely shield, embossed
with the seal Of the district and sur
mounted by mighty eagle with out
stretched protecting wings The figure
on the right bears in her hand the
scales symbolical Of Justice, while the
other figure holds one end Of an open
scroll, signifying Law.
seulptursd In Marble.
The twenty-eight figures which sur
mount the high Corinthian columns,
being high above the ground, cannot
be seen and appreciated as can the
two figures above the doorway, which
are only few feet above the street
level. The higher figures, although
they do not look it from below, are
each more than nine feet in height.
They, too, are excellent examples of
the sculptor's art, being sthe work of
Adolfos de Nestill After the clay mod
els of the figuresowere made by. MFR. de
Nesti the carving In marble was done
by Ernest @. )Bairstowxs There are
eight Of these figures onlthe front and
an equal number on the back Of 1.-THE
building and six on each, side. gs
SEA Battle Anniversary
7 The Quartermaster's volunteers liv-
ing in the District of Columbia and a
few from Baltimore who participated
In the defense Oh Washington July II,
112 andaf13, 1864, willoyisit Battle
ground cemetery on Brightwoode ave-
nue., near the district line97to celebrate
the forty-fourth anniversary Of the
battle of Fort Stevens. According to
the official record, the total Union force
engaged there in the defense of the cap
ital was 1886 men, and OF these 1890
were quartermasters' volunteers, treas
ury guards and war department rifles
attached to the Twenty-second army
corps. ~
Defense of Washington.
The anniversary of the battle Of
Fort Stevens recalls three days Of
great excitement In this city. General
Early, flushed with victory and fresh
from Frederick, Nd, where he had
extracted 100000 ransom money,
moved down the Brightwood road to
take possession of this city. General
Grant anticipating such move, had
dispatched General Wright with the
Sixth corps to defend the city, but
when Early's advance guard arrived
Wright had not been sighted. The de-
tenders that had been organized from
the war department and treasury
clerks and others In the government
offices were sent to Fort Stevens under
the command of Quartermaster Cen
eral Meigs, and all Of one day these
men held the fort. Wright arrived
with his veterans the second day and
put Early to rout.
During the engagement local busi-
ness men were in a highly nervous