The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1920-02-05
LION ARD WOOD By
THEODORE ROOSEVELT

General Wood was a Cape Cod boy;
and to this day there are few amuse-
nents for which he cares more than
himself TO sail a small boat of the
New England coast, especially IN
rough weather lie went through inc
harvard Mcdica! School ia issi-l6s2,'
and began to practice in Boston, put
bis vas one Of those natures which,
espeeially when young, frcts for adj
venture and for those hard and dan
eerous kinds Of work where peru
blocks the path to a greater reward
than ia offered by more peaceful occu-
pations. 4 year after leaving college
rs Joined the army as contract sur
geon. and almost Immediately began
bis service under General Miles in the
Southwestern Territories These were
then harried by the terrible Apaehesi
ana The army was entering on the final
campaigns for the overthrow OF Ter
on,mo ana his electromagnetic. No
one who has not lived in the West can
apprceiate the incredible, the extra
ordinary fatigue and hardship attend
ant upon these campaigns. Ihere was
NOT much fighting; but what there
wae was Of an exceedingly dangerous
tvna. and the severity Of the marches
tbrough the waterless mountains oil
Arizona, New Mexico, and the north-
ern regions Of Old Mexico twhither
the Apache bands finally retreatedl
were such that only men Of iron could
stand them. But the young contract
doctor tall. broad-chested, with ms
Bght-yellow hair and blue eyes, soon
.to,ro5 the stuff Of which he was
made. Hardly any Of the whites
whether soldiers or tronuersneh'
could last with hl,s; and the friendly
Indian trailers themselves could no'
rss, him down. In such campaigns L
s.or Incomes essential to push Ior'
,,ard The one actually fitted for com
nond whatever his accidental posi-
lion may be; and Wood, although only
contract surgeon, finished ms career
AGAINST the Apaches by serving a.
.a,,r,arding officer Of certain OF th'
do,acbmen,s sent out to perform pc
ruliarly arduous and dangerous duty
and he did his work so well and sho"
"a such conspicuous gallantry that n
uon that most coveted Of ml'lUai
d,s,,nctions, the Medal Of Honor. "
.xreditions Of this kind, where IN
u,ork is so exhausting as TO call 10
+bo last ounce Of reserve strength an
courage in the men, only very pecuI
lar and high type Of officer can Su'
n.od Wood. however never eaiie
unon his men 10 do anything that
himself did not do. They ran no rs
that he did not run; they endured !
hardship which he did not endure y
,olerable fatigue; intolerable thirs
neyer-satished hunger, and the s'fa
~ unending watchfulness against u
most cruel and dangerous OF Toes
through an this Wood led his men u
al the final hour Of signal saeees
When he ended the campaigns ne y
won the high regard Of his superb
oa,eers. not merely for courage u
endurance. but for judgment and c
,;r. trustworthiness. A young nj
Who Is high Of heart, clean q me-
..rsble Of a mean or ungenerous
49,, and burning with the desire
honorably distinguish himself nee
only the opportunity in order %
vood work Gor his country
This opportunity came TO WOOD "
49, outbreak of the Spanish War.
80 seen much n him during the p
~.3irv year. Being myself fond
,,,8oor exercise. bad found cong
IA companion in a man Who h'.a
- done his serious duties win
,-,-,ost eonseieuu0usness, but who
.,.,8 time 70 keep himself even
,Ai-+,-esver arst-class football Pr
>, We had tie sasne ideals ana
-, nav 81 looking az life; We "
fond 81 ire same sports; and, .ass
,ot least. beng men With families
ma xhsre possible. 70 enjoy n
srorss in company With or Small s
s~n We therefore saw very maei
,.eh other: and Ne had made
mans long in advance as e What
should DO 4 vaT with Spain broke