The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1910-01-14

by his fellow cadets, brother of Mai W. W.
Bell of Chicago and an 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 of her uncle Lieut.
Bell. and gave to the story the depth pathos
that truth compelled.
One of James E. Bells classmates at West Point
once said that when fighting with an
other he had something to grapple with but
that when fighting disease the disease
did all the graphing You can't wound disease
adversary. Against him parry and thrust are moth
ing AdjutantGen. E. D. Townsend said that
in all his army he had never known such
honors to be paid to subaltern as 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 officer of artillery who had died on the DRY
Tortugas Of yellow fever.
Fort Jefferson the Tortugas in August of the
year 1873 garrisoned by Battery NJ First Unit
ed States artillery. Outside of the surgeons there
only officer, Lieut.. Bell, at the post Cant T. r
Langdon had been granted leave Of absence Tn oo
north to the bedside of his dying father On August
yellow fever appeared at the post Within two days four
of the garrison had died. Upon first announcement
of the appearance of the Lieut. sent all the
women and children and of the married men IN
an island three miles away. Within day or two he
sent to the same place nearly all the we'll men of the
garrison, retaining only enough to nurse the sick
There could have been criticism Bells course had
he with the garrison leaving the to the care
of the surgeons and He stayed devoted him.
self to the of the sick in the hospital assisted by
the men who had volunteered.
The heat fearful. There was not a Mound of ice
the island and of the deaths followed one
after another due to the lack necessity
There were 20 of the fever and whole days
and nights continuously the devoted lieutenant
geons and the nurses knew rest. With their own
hands they dug the for the with
own lips repeated over them the burial service
Capt. Langdon in the far north heard of the yellow
fever at Fort JEFFERSON He instantly reinquished his
leave of absence and fastened return station
Some months before the outbreak Of the Lieut. Bell
had put in application to be detailed Instructor of
military science at the University of APP
pcaton had been granted and Capt Langdon hurrying
south to join his command carried in his pocket the
der relieving Lieut. Bell from duty jefferson
detailing him for work in Vermont Langdon reached his
post He called in his first lieutenant and said have
here orders transferring Immediately Vermont
You have done noble work here. There is
why you should stay longer. You have been through
enough of the awful thing. Co."
Bell said: Captain, don't the order If read
it suppose shall have to obey simply it is
an order. You keep it in pocket until
over and then I'll read it 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 table an off,
cia letter to the assistant headquar
tiers of the Department of the Gulf Holly Springs Miss
It long letter. covering many pages There was in
leave undone act of duty to Others He cherished
thought OF the loyalty of the and the enlisted
who had noby performed their duties to the sick