The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1922-09-15

fall In the world war nave been 10
Gated in Butte and likewise a bah,
picture of the young hero who CAV,
his life for democracy and world free
dom. The honor of being the frs
to offer up his life is conceded tt
Lieut.. Charles C. Thomas of the
steamer Vacuum, who died, not while
engaged in battle, but through ex
posture brought on by his efforts te
save the lives of others.
Lieut.. Harvey L. Miner, u. S. NJ,
in recent report in the Army and
Navy Journal, declares that Thomas
died in April, 1917, at seat not many
hours after the United States de-
clared war on Germany.
Lieutenant Thomas was a cousin of
Mrs. Kate F. 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, is now living at Shulls-
burg, Wis.
A sister of the gallant Lieutenant
Thomas is Mrs. Claude Duvai, who is
now living in Oakland, Cal. Thomas
father was 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
a naval officer, where he met his
death.
Lieut.. Harvey l.. Miller, who
served as an enlisted man under
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 is 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 man |,
to die in the world war as the result |
of a hostile act?" must be of genuine
interest to all veterans
Early in April, 1917, not many
hours after our declaration of war
against the imperial German govern
ment, the steamer Vacuum was tor
Dedoed in mid-ocean without warn
ng. The attacking U-boat maue no
attempt to rescue the crew, winch put
% sea in small boats, facing bitter
cold weather and choppy sea.
The commander of the navy armed
guard crew aboard the Vacuum was
Lieut.. Charles G. Thomas, u. S. N.
The guard, taking to a boat drifted (,
or some time and its members began
o suffer keenly. Lieutenant Thomas !
ave some of his warm garments to {
members of the crew who had been
orced to escape with what they haG /.
N their backs. Not many hours later
70 died of exposure and was buried |
t seat.
To him goes the honor of being
he first to go west.
The writer served as an enlisted | Il
IAN under Lieutenant Thomas on
GARD the cruiser Cleveland in 1921
n the Pacific coast. Thomas was
prince of an officer, loved and re-
pected by all on board. He was a
light fellow, short of stature-in
act, the smallest officer we everI
aw in the uniform of the navy. But
e was big inside. He proved that.
Early in the war the writer, at
lat time commanding officer of a
'avelling navy recruiting party, :
gain crossed the trail of Lieutenant :
homas when the recruiting party 4
.opped at Grass Valley, Cal, +
homas' birthplace and boyhood
ONE. This was just few months
tier the sinking of the Vacuum. In
rass Valley, little gold mining
,wn in the hills of northen Califor-
la, Thomas had been as popular and
ell liked as on the decks of the
Ieveland
1t is entirely fitting and proper q
lat California naval post of the
merican Legion should be named in
,nor of Thomas, and seagoing Amer
an sailormen who are eligible for
embership in the Legion should be
terested in Charles c.. Thomas post, 4
o. 244, American Legion of San
-ancisco.
1t is also peculiarly fitting that ]
e commander of this post is Com -
ander William Glassford, U. S. ~, --
BIO became famous as the hero
Upper of the destroyer Shaw during
e world war. The Shaw, conveying
e giant Acquitania, troop-laden,
ffered serious mishap when her
sering gear damned while she was
ossing on the usual zig-zag forma-
IN, cutting back and forth ahead
the great troop ship. The Shawl
IS headed straight for the racing 4
W of the Aquitania. Commander