davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-15
ORG. GEN ERAsrrUS II.
WEAVER,
U.S.A

lay wounded and dying in the British
consulate. and that he. being too well
known to the insurgents. was afraid to
cross the city to his fathers bedside. He
begged for an escort. but to send our
men into the streets and the heart Of
the fighting. particularly when American
interests were not greatly at stake, SEEM
ed to be asking almost too much of
however. and 1 shall never forget the
brave spirit shown. for every man and
officer replied. Ensign Swazey. one Of
the foremost. was then ordered to pick
he conducted the boy through the town.
The men escaped serious wounds, but
each had taken his life in his hands
when. for pity Of the weeping lad. they
delivered him at his fathers bedside"
Among our records Of heroism is one
fast fading into a dim past, but still
ranking with the bravest of deeds' said
Capt E. P. Bertholf, commandant Of the
revenueecutter service. People at the
time were decidedly aware of the honor
due to man who had plunged several
times into a boiling surf and who had
succeeded in returning from q wrecked
steamer with two helpless passengers, for
the reward, in medals and money. be-
slowed upon Lieut.. Rhodes of the cutter
Dexter was considerable. contribu
ton of over two thousand dollars was
presented to him and he received ova-
tons in many ports.
But to my mind the story of his brav
cry deserved just such a climax. Early
one morning along in January, 81. the
steamer City of Columbus, carrying
some eighty passengers from Boston to
the south, neared the Devils bridge.
which lies outside of Gay Head light at
the entrance to Vineyard sound
double ledge OF submerged rock forms
this bridge and it was upon the outer
ledge OF Devils back, an eighth OF a
mile from the mainland, that the vessel
struck. She filled quietly and soon the
passengers and crew who had struggled
successfully against the water were
She was in this plight. with the waves
breaking over her. when the revenue
cutter sighted her. The wind was blow
ing gale and terrible sea was run
ming. The cutter anchored some two or
three hundred yards away and boat
manned by five men, in charge of Lieut.
Rhodes, was lowered. This boat made
two trips to the vessel while the gig and
lifeboat were busy at work. The vessel
sank in about four fathoms Of water and
a portion Of the bow was the only visible
sign Of the hull 1t was impossible to
row over the rigging. for the rescue
boats would have been dashed to pieces.
and the only hope OF saving the men
dashed to the wreck was to order them
to jump and then to catch them as they
arose to the surface.
1.-TWO men, so exhausted and frozen
that they were unable to loose their hold
of the rigging, were. after while. prac-
tically the only souls remaining aboard
and it was for their lives that Lieut.
Rhodes risked his own. Seeking the cap
tain Of the cutter, he requested that he
be given man to steer. that he himself
might swim to the wreck The request
was granted, but on nearing the steamer
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-15

it was found that an attempt to go along
side would be more than futile. Moth
the lifebeat and, boarding it. tied rope
around his waist. Within thirty feet of
the vessel he sprang into the sea and
had nearly reached the wreck when.
struck by piece of timber, he sank out
of sight. The rope was hauled in and
when he arrived on the cutter his leg
was found to be badly cut. A change
of clothes and calmer aspect of the
sea decided him nevertheless, to make a
last attempt. This time the men in the
rigging were reached and Lieut.. Rhodes,
fastening bowline about each in turn,
succeeded in getting them to the cutter.
Ihe cold and exposure, however, had
Proved too much for the rescued ones
and they died almost Immediately. 1t
was sad that such an heroic rescue
should have SO resulted, but Lieut..
Rhodes action was none the less brave"
1T would be almost impossible to Sc
lect some one deed as the bravest in the
secret SERVICE" said John E. Wilkie, for
mer chief of that establishment, who is
just now retiring to private life. But Il
remember among the records of 70 or 80
the capture Of two counterfeiters that re-
quired good deal of real nerve on the
part of one of our men. particularly. 1t
had been discovered that a large amount
OF counterfeit money was changing hands
IN and around Tyrone. Pa. Secret Serv-
Ice Agent Abbott was sent to locate the
men passing the money. and most i'm
portant, the source Of supply. With more
or less strategy he succeeded in gaining
the confidence of several Of the men
handling the money until finally he
in that part of the country.
For about month Abbott continued
the process Of 'roping in' and during that
time he made a number of deals with
purchasing the counterfeit
1t off in other towns But. rs In all these
instances, the men handling the goods
are not SO important as the men who
make it. So Abbott searched for some
excuse to meet the real counterfeiter. He
increased the number of his purchases,
and then suggested to Hutchinson that
he introduce him to the producer of the
money and allow him to make his deals
direct and without the extra charge Of
Hutchinson's commission. The man final
1y agreed and the time was set for a
meeting in one of the smaller hotels OF
Tyrone. Two other secret service men
were then brought into the affair. and
stationed across the hall In a room OPP
posite the one where Abbott was to bring
Hutchinson and the power behind the
throne Bish Ware.
1.-THE occasion was to be large trans
action between Abbott and Ware. and
soon after the three men met in the
room and the money was produced. Abb
bolt and Hutchinson seated themselves
at a table and Immediately took their
guns out for instant use. Ware stood
guard at the door. Abbott's position was
not the most enviable. for, although his
two confederates stood in readiness
across the hall. the only understanding
and plan of action was that By some pre-
text Abbott should get one Of the men
out of the room and into the hall where
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-15

now attained almost the velocity of IA
hurricane, the seas had become miniature
mountains, and the surfboat, getting
in near the wreck, now found herself in
the tolls of q current against which the
power of men and machinery combined
availed nothing. The life-saving crew
had indeed reached the end Of their re-
sources. AS they struggled futilely to
make Roadway their boat was caught up
without warning on the crest of sud
denly risen comber. and in a twinkling
was flung alOft and turned over But five
of the crew. including the keeper, sue
ceeded in regaining their boat, which now
f1oated bottom up. Three came to the
surface so far from the craft that they
could not reach 1t. After vainly strug-
Cling two gave up the contest and swan
for shore. The four oarsmen who. with
the keeper, had managed to get back to
alongside by holding on to the bilge strips,
while the keeper chung to the propeller
blades. Attempts were made to right the
boat, but it refused to answer their united
Juggling.
LAS the five helpless men chung to the
craft with tons of swirlng water bury
ing them every few seconds they did not
forget to shout words of encouragement
to their apparently less fortunate COM
rades, fighting their way to a place along
side.
Shortly after the keeper regained the
boat he endeavored to push the steering
oar within reach of one of the three men
the tide had carried away. While his at
tention was thus engaged a sea. taking
him off his guard, tore him from the
wheel and swept him away. Finding HIM
self unable to get back alongside and
feeling the chill of the water beginning to
fo no ro1y ,tpt
for land. The others who were still by
the boat soon followed. BY miracle all
hands reached shallow water from which
they were hauled by their comrades from
neighborhood. who carried them bodily to
a rousing fire awaiting them in an aban-
doned barn nearby.
Keeper Frank Nichols of the Avalon
station had already dispatched his crew
for his surfboat, which arrived at $50
pm. Each man in the two crews now
insisted on being given place in the
second boat. The Avalon crew were
fresh and impatient for the work ahead,
but the men from Tathams protested vo-
ciferously against being left to play the
role of spectators. Finally it was agreed
that the privilege of facing death in the
breakers should be accorded the two
keepers and three men from each sta
behind was so keenly felt by one surf
man that he wept like a child. This
man had passed through the narrowing
events of the earlier venture and was
in no condition to go to sea again.
THE surfboat, successfully launched,
made fair Roadway toward the wreck,
but the strength of the oarsmen alone
the boat being without power-was not
sufficient to offset the combined force OF
wind and current. Consequently the res
cuers were swept helplessly past the
wreck. There was nothing to do but
beat back to windward again for an
other attempt. This they did. going far
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-15

Just for the sake Of variety a mud tur-
tie, sent by admirers on the eastern
shore Of Maryland. was found. carefully
wrapped, i'm the mornings mail one day
not long ago. The reptile had not been
harmed in any way and was Immediately
turned loose in the expanse of the White
House grounds, where he may thrive
for many years. A vast number OF PAM
phlets are received, many Of them auto
graphed by the authors. They deal with
every subject under the sun. from giving
sure curee for animal distempers to fur
nishing a cure for all social and political
evils, the same being duly guaranteed
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-15
KEEPER
HAPPY
M.GnuEH.

time is a task Of great difficulty and
danger. for in order to escape disaster
the boat must be held squarely to the
seas. swerve to either side however
the craft around broadside and roll
her back on the beach. to the injury
Of her crew.
LAS the boat glided from her carriage
and struck the water, the engine was
set going to give her steerage way.
put so strong were the Onslaughts Of
the surf that the power Of her two
propellers had to be augmented by the
muscle of seven oarsmen before she
was able to get her nose beyond the
first line of breakers AS it was. she
hlled before reaching the less turbu-
lent area outside.
Wind and sea were rapidly increas-
ing The rescuers found the tug lying
DOW TO the shore, with only the upper
part OF her pilot house and three or four
feet of her bow exposed Her after
mousse had disappeared. and her boats
na1 washed clear Of their tackle What
heavily bombarded by the seas After
a nasty survey of the situation, Keeper
mckinley decided to run In under the
starboard bow, the least exposed point
alongside the wreck
The lifeboat was held in check await
ing the first favoring sea- When it came
the full power of the engine was turned
on. and boat and gathering wave sped
swiftly toward the vessel. Fifty yards
from the goal. however, the sea fell away,
then two towering seas raced down upon
the boat from over the bow. The pro-
pellers were reversed to give the little
craft sternway and enable her to meet
the oncoming waves with as little shock
as possible. but she failed to take the
first one. and it broke over the heads of
the occupants. hiding men and boat en-
tirely from the view Of the crew Of the
tug, who were anx.ously watching the
contest
Like duck emerging from a dive, the
lifeboat freed herself of the deluge of wa
ter, only to take second plunge under
the following sea. But again she came
buoyantly up with every man Of her half
drowned crew in his place.
W lille the hfe-savers were thus bat
ting with the seas. wind and tide carried
them fully $50 yards from the tug, Ell
forts to regain the ground lost were con-
tinued with renewed vigor. the surffnen
now shipping their oars and adding their
strength to gasoline power. For more
than half an hour the unequal fight went
gaining again, the oarsmen frequently
having to stop rowing and hold on to
their seats to keep from being washed
overheard.
repeatedly filled, the lifeboat got within
twenty yards Of the tug-almost near
enough to heave line into the hands of
her crew. The surf around the wreck
was the worst Keeper Mckinley had ever
encountered in his twenty-nine years on
the beach Twice during the efforts of
the lfe-savers to get alongside the tug
their boat was flung so high above the
surface of the water that the master of
the wrecked vessel could see daylight un-
derneath her entire length. The gale had
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-15

packages from unknown senders are al
WAYS opened at a safe distance from the
executive rooms to provide against un-
pleasant possibilities.
The natupe of the gifts varies in such
way that the President might pos
sess a good start toward collecting a
museum OF curiosities or even estab-
fishing a geological park. Pamphlets
and books enough to furnish a good-sized
library accumulate every few weeks.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-15
Gilt Frames.

xHIS mind a blank. eh?" said George
- AIDE of an elderly millionaire who.
after a months absence. had turned Up
pleading total loss Of memory.
His mind a blank" Mr.. AIDE con-
tinued. what a hackneyed old excuse
that is! Why don't they get up. these
wanderers, something new In the excuse
line?
They'd be all alike, these 1xcuaes.
though, in substance For the 1veraee
man, in framing an excuse, always does
It IN guilt
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-15


fairs over the country to be sending In
the prize pumpkins, corn and other farm
products, yet prize apples and other
fruits already have reached the White
House from southern states, some very
good vegetables from Texas being q re-
cent consignment.
On the same day came a couple OF
sweaters from Massachusetts and q box
of cigars from the Philippine Islands
Chewing gum sent from well known fac
tories would be sufficient to furnish d.
version to the entire presidential family,
should IL SO desire.
AS soon as Ii was announced that no
wine was to be served at the Wilson Ia
BILE numberless letters poured I'm upon
One of them was q quart of orange mar
malade. which was placed I'm whisky
glasses, the donor naive!y remarking that
1t was tine best use to which the glasses
could be put.
just to keep the matter from getting
monotonous, a pin cushion was received
from a little girl who said that she was
cripple and was kept indoors a great
deal; she hoped he would appreciate the
cushion, which she had made herself.
What to do with the gifts becomes q
pressing problem. where room is at a
premium. Were they all retained. the
storage house. Hence, they must be dis
posed of as fast as practical. Many OF
the books and maps have a real value,
and are forwarded to the proper depart
ment or to the Library of Congress-
Others are worthless and promptly con-
signed to the furnace. A very, very few
are kept.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-15
ono. E.WiLK1E
tOpnER CHIEF OF
6EeRETSERU1cE

he could be taken care of. This, of
course. left him the other man to tackle.
and as Hutchinson was a powerful fellow
and could give two men a good bit Of
trouble he was the man to be sent out Of
the room.
THE money was in such quantity that
it was wrapped in fairly good sized pack
ages, and as Abbott opened these he tore
the paper so that it couldn't be used
again. The money was counted and
paid for and the meeting practically
was over
look here Abbott said. \ can't car
ry this money away unless it's wrapped
up. Run down to the corner and get me
dollar on the table toward Hutchinson.
but Ware was too quick. Picking up the
money he was out Of the door and down
the hall before either Abbott or the two
men across the hall realized it. These
latter crept to the head of the stairs. and
when Ware returned he looked into the
muzzles Of two guns. Instead or sur
rendering, however, he whipped out MS
own gun and fired point blank, missing
both men. Then they let him nave IL
In an alley at the side Of the building he
dropped dead. Both agents realized that
Abbott was next to be considered. for ne
was carrying on an unequal nght. lney
arrived on the scene none too soon, Tor
though the nerve that had helped him
through the whole proceedings had not
deserted him, his strength was gong
fast AS he struggled on the floor with
Hutchinson on top and the latter
weapon pressed against his head, Abbott
was keeping off death by the grip he had
on the hand that strove to get the gun
into deadly action
about the bravest deed performed in
ri, ho nv
that have been connected with it was
saret only last winter" said Sumner
l. Kimball, general superintendent OF
the life-saving service.
ION the morning of December 80.
1912, the Margaret lighting against
a forty -five-mile gale, while en- route
from New York to Norfolk with three
heavily laden barges. struck an OBJ
struction off the coast of New Jersey
and had to cast off her tow. then run
for shore She grounded in the break
ers some 500 yards off the beach. and
was promptly discovered by the look
out Of the Avalon life-saving station.
three or four miles to the northeast
LAS rescuing party from the station
named would have had to put to sea
in the teeth of the gale, news of the
disaster was telephoned TO the Tat
hams life-saving station, several miles
ing to the assistance of the tug would
have the wind dead astern After send
ing the message the keeper of the Ava
lon station set out with his crew down
the beach on foot, to assist the life
savers at Tathams. The Tathams crew,
under command of Keeper Harry Nc
Ginley. hauled their surf boat down to
the beach. Under the lashing of the
gale the waters in shore had become
a cauldron of racing seas. To launch
OF an unprotected beach at such
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-15

HI. bravest deed
you know of. Tell
me what ID was.
This question |
have been putting
to officers of va
rious branches of
the government
service wherein
acts of valor are
being performed
month after month
not the army and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-15

NEEDS of Our Army, Life
- Saving Service. Revenue
Cutter Service, Secret Serv-
ice and Various Branches
of Naval Establishment De-
scribed in Personal Inter
views-The Pluckiest Deeds
OF Valor Which They Have
Noted During Their Careers.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-15

THousANDs of gifts. from mil
lionaire and laboring man, con-
stantIy remind President Will
III son that though he is constitu-
tionalIy precluded from receiv-
ing presents from prince, potentate or
foreign power. the people of his own
country do not forget him. In amending
procession the gifts have come. In all
sorts of packages grotesque gifts have
poured I'm upon him. A staff Of clerks at
the White House spend no small part of
each day In properly receiving and &C
knowledging them and. perchance, re-
turning them with thanks.
The stream of gifts to the new Presi-
dent started on the day of his induction
into Office. II will continue with more or
less intermittency until the day he ceases
20 be President of the United States. The
gifts are marked by catholicity of
choice that is truly amasing.
rhesa unknown friends of the chief ex-
ecutive do not confine the mediums by
which the gifts are sent 70 any one car
rier; in fact, the methods chosen to send
them large and small, are almost as
ricd as is possible.
\ favorite method is the old and tried
personal messenger plan, whereby
strenuous attempts are made TO deliver
the gift i'm person. The proposed donor,
his agent. will search the very heavens
well as the earth to find a plausible
excuse TO get by the watchdogs of the
secret service and Secretary Tumulty and
take the little token of affection and es-
teem' to the President in person
Visitors with Notwithstanding buiges
about their clothing have been stopped
on the White House grounds by the police
ar secret service men, They have been
taken to one side for examination and
harmless article has been taken from its
hiding place within their clothing. On
Questioning. they have admitted ii was
intended as gift TO the President. They
usually drop the fact that they were at
tempting to reach the President through
some preteXt in order to deliver it them
selves and personally receive the thanks
of the chief executive.
IL the distance is too great for the
giver to reach Westinghouse IL he has
no acquaintance here or If he cannot pre-
vail upon his congressman to present the
Gift for hin-it will be reluctantly trusted
TO the tender mercy of the express COM
panies or the mails. During the present
administration the favorite method of
sending the smaller articles to the White
House has been by parcel post. Larger
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-15

Among the men detailed to inspect
the magazine was Chief Gunner's Mate
Monssen. Imagine their excitement when
the powder on and under the upper racks
of the magazine was found to be blax-
ing. About one ton OF smokeless powder
contained in thin copper tanks stood
nearby. and an explosion that would
rend the whole ship was threatened any
instant. The door OF the magazine was
hole about eighteen inches square-the
fire could be seen burning. The men at
tempted to throw waterthrough the scut-
tie onto the flames with their hands. but.
realizing the futiiity Of this, one Of the
party went away to open the Hood ceckp
again and get hose.
Then it was that Monssen, riskinE
the danger not only from the smoke.
flames and threatened explosion, but
from the water which the open hood
cocks would presently send in very rap
idly. crawled through the scuttie into
the burning magazine and with his hands
threw onto the flames the water that
had entered from the flood cocks. He
kept this up until hose was brought ana
the fire finally extinguished. To my mind
when for the sake Of his service q man
braves the danger of being blown to
pieces or drowned like a rat in hole
he is doing something that ranks among
the bravest Of deeds. His heroism was
not unappreciated by any means, and IN
was made a chief gunner. with the ranK
of ensign"
Copyright. 1913. by John Elfreth watkiDl
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-15

navy alone. but those civilian establish
ments whose function is the protection
of life and property.
What l quote below represents the
cream of the interesting replies col
lfcted. No class of anecdote can be more
refreshing and wholesome than that de-
scriPtive of men acting under their no
blcst impulses-those of courage and self
sac f1fice