The new era., 1910-01-20

by his fellow cadets. a brother of Maj. W. W.
Bell of Chicago and uncle Of Lillian Bell, the
writer. When Lillian Bell wrote her story THE
Under Side of Things" with its pathetic ending she
wove the tale about the career Of her uncle Lieut.
Bell, and gave to the story the depth of pathoe
that truth compelled. X
One of James E. Bells classmates at West Point
once said that when man fighting with an
other man he had something to grappe with hut
that when man fighting disease the disease
did all the graphing. You can't wound a disease
adversary Against him parry and thrust are moth
ing. Ad1utant-Gen. E. D. Townsend once said that
In all his army career he had never known such
honors to be paid to subaltern were offered to
the memory OF First Lieut. James e. Bell Two
general orders were issued from headquarters Of
the army each paying tribute the devotion of the
young ohdcer OF artillery who had died on the Dry
Tortugas Of yellow fever.
Fort Jefferson on the Tortugas in August of the
year 1873 was garrisoned by Battery NJ First Unit
cd States artillery Outside of the surgeons there
was only ohicer. Lieut.. Bell the post Cant = r.
Langdon had been granted a leave of absence to ~
north to the bedside of his dying father On August s
yellow fever appeared at the Within two dav. four
OF the garrison had died. Upon the announcement
OF the appearance Of the scourge Bell sent all the
women and children and some of the married men to
an island three miles away. Within a day or two he
sent to the place nearly all the well men Of the
garrison. retaining only enough to nurse the sick
There could have been criticism Of Bells course had
he with the garrison leaving the sick to The care
OF the surgeons and He stayed devoted him
self to the Of the the hospital a.sstad bv
the men who had volunteered
The heat was fearful. There was not q pound OF leo
on the island and Of the deaths followed one
nnolher were que TO lack OF this necessity
There were 20 cases Of the fever whole days
and nights continuously the devoted lieutenant the
geons and the nurses knew rest. With their own
hands they dug the for the and with their
own lips repeated over them the burial service
Capt. Langdon in the far north heard of the yellow
fever at Fort He instantly relinou.hed his
leave Of absence and hastened to his station
Some months before the outbreak Lieut. Bell
had put In an application to be detailed instructor
military science at the University Vermont The ap-
plication had been granted Langdon hurryns
south to join his command carried pocket the
der relieving Lieut. Bell from duty Jefferson and
detailing him for work in Vermont Langdon reached his
post He called in his first lieutenant and said M have
here orders transferring Immediately to Vermont
You have done noble work here. There Is no reason
why you should stay longer. You have been through
enough OF the awful thing. Co."
Bell said Captain. don't want the order II read
It suppose shall have to obey simply
order. You keep in pocket until the fever
over and then I'll read 1t and 60"
Langdon shook hands with him.
Bell went with bis work. In few days he felt
his tent pulled his little table wrote an
cal letter to the assistant Acknowledgement headqua
tiers Of the Department Of the Gulf Holly SPRINGS Miss
II long letter covering many pages There was in
Bells heart that day the fear that he might die
leave undone act Of duty Others Cherished
thought Of the LOYALTY Of the the enlisted
who had nobly performed their to the sick