Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1918-03-06

There is a story that Nolan met
Burr once on one Of our vessels, when
a party OF Americans came on board
In the Mediterranean. But this l be.
heve to sbe lie; or rather, it is 8
myth, ben trovato, involving tire.
mendous blOwing-up with which he
sank Burr, asking him how he liked
10 De without a country" But it is
clear, from Burr's life, that nothing
OF the sort could have happened; and
l mention this only as an Illustration
OF the stories which get a-going where
there is the least mystery at bottom.
So Philip Nolan had his wish full
filled. Poor fellow, he repented of his
folly, and then, like man, submitted
to the fate he had asked for. He nev-
er Intentionally added to the difficulty
or delicacy Of the charge of those who
mad him in hold. Accidents would
happen; but they never happened from
his fault. Lieutenant Truxton told me
that when Texas was annexed, there
was careful discussion among the
officers, whether they should get hold
OF Nolan's handsome set Of maps, and
cut Texas out of it, from the map
OF the world and the map of Mexico.
The United States had been cut out
when the atlas was bought for him.
But 1T was voted rightly enough, that
to do this would be virtually to reveal
q ho1 no
Harry Cole said, to make him think
Old Burr had succeeded. So it was
from no fault Of Nolan's that q great
botch happened at my own table, when,
for a short time, was in command of
the George Washington corvette, on
the South American station. We were
lying in the La Plata, and some of the
officers, who had been On shore, and
had just Joined again, were entertain
Ing us with accounts of their misad-
ventures in riding the half-wild horses
of Buenos Aires. Nolan was at table,
and was in an unusually bright and
talkative mood. Some story of tum.
Bile reminded him of an adventure of
his own, when he was catching wild
horses in Texas with his brother Steph.
en-, at time when he must have been
quite boy. He told the story with
good deal of spirit-so much SO, that
the silence which often follows a good
story hung over the table for an in.
slant, to be broken by Nolan himself
For he asked, perfectly unconsciously,
"Pray, what has become of Texas:
After the Mexicans got their independ-
ence, I thought that province of Texas
would come forward very fast. It is
really one Of the finest regions on
earth it is the Italy of this continent.
But | have not seen or heard a word
Of Texas for near twenty years."
There were two Texan officers at the
table. The reason he had never heard
Of Texas was that Texas and her af
fairs had been painfully out Of his
newspapers since Austin began his
settlements; SO that, while he read of
Honduras and Tamaulipas and, till
quite lately, Of California, this virgin
province, in which his brother had
Travelled SO far and, believe, had died
had ceased to be with him. Walters
and Williams, the two Texas men
looked grimly at each other, and tried
not to laugh. Edward Morris had his
attention attracted by the third link
In the chain of the captains chan
delier. Watrous was seized with a con
vulsion of sneeZing. Nolan himself
saw that something was to pay, he did
not know what. And I, as master Of
the feast. had to say:
Texas is OUT Of the map, Mr.. No
ian. Have you seen Captain Backs
curious account of Sir Thomas Roe's
Welcome?"
After that cruise I never saw No.
Ian again. l wrote to him at least
twice year, for in that voyage we
became even confidentially intimate:
but he never wrote to me. The other
men tell me that in those fifteen years
ne aged very fast, as we'll he might
indeed, but that he was still the same
gentle, accomplishing, silent sufferer
that he ever was, bearing as best he
could his self-appointed punishment.
rather less social, perhaps, with new
men whom he did not know, but more
anxious, apparently, than ever to serve
and befriend and teach the boys some
IT whom fairly seemed to worship him. !
And now it seems the dear old fellow
10 dead. He has found a home at |
last, and a country.
Since writing this, and while con-
Iidering whether or no l would print
t, as warning to the young of today |
II what 1t Is to throw away a country,
have received from, Danforth, who is
IN board the Levant, a letter which
,ives an account of Nolan's last hours.
t removes all my doubts about telling !
his story. s.ss.. j.. ..:..G-