The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1922-09-22
LIEUT.. e. e. THOMAS FIRST
TO GIVE HIS LIFE IN WAR

Relatives of the first American to
fall In the world war have been To-
Gated in Butte and likewise q baby
picture of the young hero who gave
his life for democracy and world free
dom. The honor of being the first
to offer up his life 10 conceded to
Lieut.. Charles G. Thomas Of the
steamer Vacuum, who died, not while
engaged in battle, but through ex-
posture brought on by his efforts to
save the lives Of others.
Lieut.. Harvey L. Miner. U. 8. NJ,
in . recent report in the Army and
Navy Journal. declares that Thomas
died in April, 1917, at sea not many
hours after the United States de.
clared war on Germany.
Lieutenant Thomas was cousin Of
Mrs. Kate r. Bennett of Butte, who
is the mother Of Jesse L. Bennett,
Butte musician, Earl Bennett Of the
Butte hotel and James and Bert Ben
nett Of Los Angeles. Mrs. Thomas,
the mother, IL now living at Shulls-
burg, Wis.
A sister of the gallant Lieutenant
Thomas is Mrs. Claude Duval, who is
now living in Oakland, Cal. Thomas
father was a banker and mining man
in the pioneer days Of Grass Valley
and other California mining towns.
A picture of the young hero has
been found among the keepsakes Of
his cousin, Mrs. Bennett. Lieutenant
Thomas was born at Grass Valley in
1880 and the picture was taken when
he and his twin brother were less
than one year old. A few months
afterward the twin died.
Charles grew up to vigorous man
hood. graduated from Annapolis and
entered the service Of his country as
q naval officer. where he met his
death.
Lieut.. Harvey L. Miller, who
served 40 an enlisted man under
Lieutenant Thomas, in reviewing the
death Of his superior officer, pays
many compliments to the dead sailor.
Lieutenant Miller's report is as fol-
lows:
The question of when our fallen
comrades went west IL strictly neither
here nor there-the real point is that
millions of them were ready to
answer the last muster at any time
the Commander called. Still, the
answer to the question, "Who really
. was the first American service mar
to die in the world war as the result
of hostile act?" must be of genuine
interest to all veterans.
Early in April, 1917, not man,
hours after our declaration of wal
against the imperial German govern
ment, the steamer Vacuum was tor
pedoed in mid-ocean without warn
ing. The attacking U-boat made NJ
attempt to rescue the crew, winch pu1
!, cold weather and choppy sea.
, The commander of the navy armed
. guard crew aboard the Vacuum wa
Lieut.. Charles c. Thomas, U. s. N
! The guard, taking to boat drifte,
: for some time and its members begal
q to suffer keenly. Lieutenant Thoma
3 gave some of his warm garments t,
Z members of the crew who had beel
forced to escape with what they ha,
on their backs. Not many hours late
he died of exposure and was burie,
;. at sea.
To him goes the honor of bein,
). the first to 60 west.
The writer served as an enliste,
y man under Lieutenant Thomas o.
e board the cruiser Cleveland in 1911
r on the Pacific coast. Thomas wa
a a prince of an officer, loved and re
spected by all on board. He was
8 slight fellow, short Of STATURE
}. fact, the smallest officer we eve
saw in the uniform of the navy. Blu
: he was big inside. He proved that.
It Early in the war the writer, q
i that time commanding officer Of
e travelling navy recruiting part,
9 again crossed the trail Of Lieutenau
Q Thomas when the recruiting part
y stopped at Grass Valley, Cal
d Thomas birthplace and boyhoo
y home. This was just a few month
!. after the sinking of the Vacuum.
II Grass Valley, q little gold mimi
e town in the hills of northern Califol
A mia, Thomas had been as popular an
"a we'll liked as on the decks of til
10 Cleveland.
It is entirely fitting and propt
It that California naval post OF tt
American Legion should be named
honor Of Thomas, and seagoing Anne
lean sailormen who are eligible Il
D membership in the Legion should
interested in Charles G.. Thomas pos
n No. 244, American Legion Of So
a. Francisco.
a. It is also peculiarly fitting TIL
" the commander of this post is Cor
q. mander William Glassford, U. S.
~ who became famous as the her
4 skipper of the destroyer Shaw duri1
A. the world war. The Shaw, convoyir
20 the giant Acquitania. troop-lade
suffered serious mishap when h
"a steering gear damned while she w
Or crossing on the usual zig-zag form
TO ton, cutting back and forth abe.
8 of the great troop ship. The Sha
of was headed straight for the racil
1e bow of the AQuitania. Command
tY