The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-02-06
COMRADES RECOUNT
TALES OF BRAVERY
OF .ER MURPHY.

To Get Pension For One
Armed Man
Interesting stories Of the personal
heroism and inmate courage of Mich
ael J. Murphy, a Spanish War Vet
cram of this city, have come to light
incidental to the efforts OF his com
rades of N. w. Bishop Camp to OBJ
tain for him a pension. Mr. Murphy
or Mike as he is better known
is now ait the Soldiers Home anN is
in reduced circumstances Some time
der and has been unable to- properly
support himself since.
Mike has a lot of friends in N.
W. Bishop Camp and recently they
He was found eligible to the Soldiers
Home and has been there some time.
small pension, and have taken the
case up with Congressman Hill and
Congressman-elect Donovan.
After being mustered out Of service
at the close of the Spanish War,
.fAfike'' earned good wages as q fore
man OF electric Hnemen. While en-
more than one display Of his per
sonal courage, and his friends tell this
story of a happening in this city:
Mike was engaged In stringing
W
Hall. The wire fell and crossed a
trolley feed wire. Immediately there
was shower Of sparks as the i've
splitting fire, to the imminent danger
of passersby. The other 1inenen
dared not attempt remove the wire
damage.
Atop of a telegraph pole. Mike
witnessed the incident. AS others
hesitated, he slid down the pole, mutt
tered something to his fellow en-
pBoyes about towards, and walked
out and removed the wire from sts
time to save a horse from being cleo
trocuted, as a sleepy driver did not see
the danger into which he was driy-
ing.
YOU'D stand there and see a horse
killed, would yuFp?'' was his only com
ment to his fellow workmen. Folks
was a splendid display Of natural cour-
age.
Mike lost his right arm in troll
ley accident near waterbury some
from his hurts, he got a job as night
Waterman on construction works. He
lost this place one night when gang
of thieves assaulted him. Mike" was
unable to fight off the thieves, be-
cause of his physical disability, and
they made off with much of the com
soon followed
Though he saw no active service in
the Spanish War-that is. no real
hghting-"Gike'' had just the stuff
in him for such experience, his com
rades declare. A close friend of his,
who served with him in Battery B.
London, during the summer of 1898.
tells this story, as illustrative Of
Mikes utter disregard of personal
safety when the interests of others
are concerned.
ssAbout the last of June, 1898, we at
New London were on edge for visit
from Spain and which had been lost !;
it was expected that New London
harbor would be Cerveras first point
of attack and everyone was expect
ing some real fighting.
sComra de Murphy and myself were
assigned to outpost duty at the tor
pedo station, but we were not on post
at the same time. He was in reserve
as i patrolled my post one densely
foggy morning. I was on the shore
post between 2 and 8 o'clock on this
duty to keep watch over cables con-
| nected with mines, torpedoes, ETC..
| protecting the harbor. orders were
given that no one was to be allowed
| to approach within a, certain zone,
there was to be no parleying, but
| Shoot to kill was the order if any
one advanced into the restricted zone.
Because of the density of the fog.
! one. could not see three feet in front
of him. About 3 o'clock the outlines
/ of small boat hove into sight. I
shouted Halt, or I fire. There was
no reply, and the boat moved rapidly
away from the cables. thought the
cables had been cut and fired twice
! afterwards the occupant of the boat
told me the bullets whisked by his
facet
The second shot had scarcely been
fired, when Comrade Murphy came
running down to my post. He carried
his gun, bayonet fixed. and wore no
clothing from his waist down. Did
they get you, Tommie? 2 he shouted.
He was by my side in an instant,
ready to fight.
For Gods sake, don't murder me-
was full minute before the rest of
the guard came to my assistance. The
occupant of the boat. it later develop
ed, was a pilot, who had attempted
/ to make the shore in a small boat, be-
| cause of the fog. He had lost his
course and got tangled up in the mine
fields.
| s'He was arrested, but was released
upon complete Identification the fol-
/ lowing morning.
'tThe point I am trying to make in
Murphy by this single instance show
ed he possessed the stuff that would
doubtless have been displayed under
similar circumstances were we at the
seat of actual warfare."s
Comrade Murphy is a brother of the
late Patro1man George Murphy and is
well known to many Bridgeporters
camp in the hope that the govern
nnent will lend aid to one who rich
| " deserves it.
PROGRESSIVES TO MEET.