The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1918-02-27

l
last, and country. .s. =:1.
Since writing, this, and while con-
sidering whether or no would print
1t, as q warning to the young Of today
OF what It Is to throw away country,
have received from Danforth, who is
on board the Levant, a letter which
gives an account of Nolan's last hours.
1t removes all my doubts about telling
this story. " ..=5
To understand the first words of the
letter, the nonprofessional reader
should remember that after 1917 the
position Of every officer who had No
Ian In charge was one Of the greatest
delicacy. The government had failed
to renew the order of 1907 regarding
him. What was man to do? Should
he let him go? What, then, If he
were called to account by the depart
ment for violating the order of 1907?
Should he keep him? What, then, If
Nolan should be liberated some day,
and should bring an action for false
imprisonment or kidnapping against ev-
cry man who had had him in charge?
l urged and pressed this upon South
ard, and have reason to think that
other officers did the same thing. But
the secretary always said. as they so
often do at Washington, that there
were no special orders to give, and
that we must act on our own judg-
ment. That means, If you succeed
you will be sustained; If you fail. you
will be disavowed." Well, as Danforth
says, all that is over now, though
do not know but I expose myself to a
criminal prosecution on the evidence
OF the very revelation I am making.
Here is the letter:
"Levant, q 2" S. @ 1917 W.
"Dear Fred-I try to find heart and
life to tell you that it is all over with
dear old Nolan. have been with him
on this voyage more than ever was,
and can understand wholly now the
way In which you used to speak of the
dear old fellow. l could see that he
was not strong, but had no idea that
the end was so near. The doctor had
been watching him very carefully, and
yesterday morning came to me and
told me that Nolan was not so we'll,
and had not left his stateroom-a
thing never remember before. He
had let the doctor come and see him as
he lay there, the first time the doctor
had been in the stateroom, and he said
he should like to see me. Oh, dear!
do you remember the mysteries we
boys used to invent about his room, in
the old Intrepid days? Well, went
IN, and there, to be sure, the poor fell
low lay in his berth. smiling pleasant
~ as he gave me his hand, but look
ing very frail. l could not help
glance round, which showed me what
little shrine he had made of the box
he was lying in. The stars and stripes
We're triced up above and around a
picture of Washington, and he had
painted majestic eagle, with light
nings blazing from his beak and his
foot just clasping the whole globe,
which his wings OvershadOwed. The
dear old boy saw my glance, and said,
with sad smile, Here, you see, have
a country!' And then he pointed to
the foot of his bed, where I had not
seen before great map of the United
States, as he had drawn it from mem
DRY, and which he had there to look
upon as he lay. Quaint, queer old
names were on it, in large letters:
Indiana Territory Mississippi Ter.
ritory,' and louisiana as supposed
our fathers learned such things; but
the old fellow had patched in Texas.
too; he had carried his western boun.
dairy all the way to the Pacific, but on
that shore he had defined nothing.
"'Oh, Danforth,' he said, 4 know
am dying. cannot get home. Sure.
~ you will tell me something now?~
Stopl stop! Do not speak till l say
what am sure you know, that there
Is not In this ship, that there is not
in America-God bless her "a more
loyal man than I. There cannot be 9
man who loves the old flag as do, or
prays for. it as do, or hopes for it as
l do. There are thirty-four stars In
It now, Danforth. thank God for
that, though do not know what their
names are. There has never been one
taken away; I thank God for that. ]
know by that, that there has never
been any successful Burr. Oh, Dan.
forth, Danforth,' he sighed out, how
like a wretched nights dream 4 boys
idea Of personal fame or Of separate
sovereignty seems, when one looks
ho Al, - a. n@%o,, -, ~, =, YaA~ - =