The Elbert County tribune., 1910-01-13

by his fellow cadets. a brother of Mai w w
Bell OF Chicago and uncle of Lillian Bell the
writer When Lillian Bell wrote her story "Tbe
Under Side of Things" with its pathetic ending she
wove the tale about the career of her uncle iieut
Bell, and gave the story the denb of n.,ho.
that truth compelled.
One of James e. Bells classmates at West Point
once said that Wien man fighting with an
other man he Lad something grapple with but
that when man fighting disease the disease
did all the graphing. You can't wound n disease
adversary. Against him parry and thrust are moth
Ing. Ad1utantGen. E. d. Townsend once said that
In all his army career he had never known such
honors to be paid to subatern as were offered to
the memory of First Lieut.. James f. Bell Tue
general orders were issued from headquarters of
the army, each paying tribute the devotion of the
young officer Of artillery who had died on tba rr-
Tortugas of yellow fever.
Fort Jefferson on the Tortugas in August of tho
year 1913 was garrisoned by Battery First Unit.
ed states artillery. Outside the surgeons tbaro
was only one officer. Lieut. Bell at the post Cant r
LangdQn had been granted a leave of absence - ~
north to the bedside his dying father On 49, 90 90
yeow 1ever appeared at the Within two davs four
OF the garrison had died. Upon the first announ. .
OF tne appearance OF the Lieut. Bell sent all the
women ana chlidren and of the married men IN
an island three miles away Within day or two be
sent 10 the same place nearly well men of tho
garrison. retaining only enough to nurse the sick
inere could nave been no criticism Bells course had
he gone with the garrison leaving the sick tn tho
OF the surgeons and nurses He stayed devoted him
SELF to the of the the hosnitaI assisted h,
the men who had volunteered
The heat was fearful. There was not a nound n, loo
on the island and deaths that followed one
There were 20 of fever and for whole davs
ano hghs continuously the devoted lieutenant the sur
geons and the nurses knew rest With their own
nanos they dug the graves for the with their
own lips repeated over them the burial service
Capt Langdon in the far north heard of the yellow
1eVer at Fort JEFFERSON He instantly renuuished his
leave OF absence and hastened return to his station
Some months before the outbreak the fever et Rol
had put in application detailed as instructor of
military science at the University Vermont The ap-
pication had been granted and Langdon hurying
south to Join his command In his pocket the or
der relieving Lieut. Bell from duty Jefferson and
detailing him for work in Vermont Langdan reached his
post He called in his first lieutenant and said: ~ have
mere 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 the order II read
IL suppose shall have to obey simply because 1t is
an order You keep in pocket until the fever is
over and then I'll read 1t and CO."
Langdon shook hands with him
Bell went on with his work In few days he felt
the hot hand Of the scourge his brow He went to
his tent pulled his little camp and wrote an on
ca letter to the assistant adjutaDgenera at headouar
ters OF the Department of the Gulf Holly Springs Miss
IL was long letter, covering pages. There was in
Bells heart that day the fear he might die and
leave undone an act of duyo He cherished te
thought of the LOYALTY of the and the enlisted
men who had 30 noby performed their to the sick