The Washington times., 1915-09-29

found . picket boak a& the mouth o,
tho rtver. IN which no padded out into
the sound and boarded the Valley City
after having been given up for dead OF
In making ready to use the torpedo
Il was necessary to keep the end Of the
boom elevated until the boat had sur.
mounted the barrier Of logs. and TO
gauge accurately the distance. In order
to keep the boat: he.dw.y te the rish,
same precision Of Judgment: the de-
tAchang lanyard must be pulled firmly,
without q jerk: and finally. the position
Of the torpedo under the overhang OF
niosty 80 a. to secure the fun force
Of the explosion. The young officer had
attached to hts person four separate
lanyards or lines. two Of them operating
the boom and torpedo and two at.
neer for signaling. The management Of
ali these lines. requiring deiicacy OF
touch. coolness and nerve. was carried
out successfully under q hre Of mus
ketry. several bullets passing through
a big s-inch rife gun sticking out OF
the port hole Of the Ram staring him
in the face and ready to hre. 1t GER
tainly was a remarkable example OF
coolness and presence Of mind.
One Of Many Daring Deeds.
No similar event has been told 30
often or Is 30 indelfbly written on the
pages Of our naval history. and It ia
only one. but the most heroic and dar-
ing. Of the many brave and daring
episodes in the life OF the late Lieut.
Commander william Barker Gushing
who, several days after the destruc.
ton OF the Ram. reached the age OF
twenty-five years. and was one OF -four
brothers who served their country In
the army and navy. Alonzo H. fell at
years 'oq OF age. during Pickett's charge.
Howard b. was killed by the Apaches
in Arizona May S. 1871. thirty three
years OF age. The late Admiral d: d.
Porter. Cushing's commanding on'cer
wrote to Gen. James Grant wilson:
One OF the most gallant and sue.
cessful arairs accomplished during the
civil war was the destruction OF a Con.
iederate ironclad ram by Lieutenant
Gushing at Plymouth. N. C.:
Il like to talk and write about Cush-
ing He was one of those brave spirits
developed by the civil war who always
arose to the occasion. He was always
ready to undertake any duty. no mater
how desperate. and he generally sue.
ceeded In his enterprises. from the facl
that the enemy supposed that no mar
would be foolhardy enough to emoarR
In such hazardous analrs Where there
seemed 40 little chance OF success. A
very interesting volume could De writ
ten on the adventures OF Cushing from
the time he entered the navy until
his death. during which PERIOD no per.
formed some remarkable decos ana le1t
reputation unparalleled for 30 youns
an officer"
Secretary OF the Navy welles wrote
Lieutenant Gushing a letter OF com
mendation. President Lincoln sent z
message to Congress recommending tina!
Lieutenant Gushing receive %ote OF
passed the resolution and voted MIN q
medal of honor He was promoted To
the rank of lieutenant commander.
A few weeks ago a monument was
unveiled at Delafield. Wis. to the three
brothers, Alonzo, william, and Howard.
all born In that city.
Washington. with Its many nonu,
ments to our nations heroes, shouIo
erect one for that young and sallant
officer who. in so large measure. mace
! the naval history OF our country re
glorious and heroic. and left heritase
of devotion and love of country thal
should be emulated by the present aho
coming generation.
December, 1854. he was In command OF OF
the Flagship Monticello. OF the N3tn
Atlantic Squadron. and from tnat oate
until February. 1865, was engaeeu az
lively and conspicuously In the assauLs
and capture Of Fort Fisher. n. n, y
June. 1866. he was ordered to the u .
s, Lancaster. Pacific station,
March, 1866. he was rendered tne Lree-
Aom Of the city Of San Frsnciseo' '"en'