Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-03-22
"'Black Paddy Gave His Blood for
England: Died in Montana POOrhOuse

at the sight of a petticoat generally
made his retreat but in recounting
the work performed by Florence Night
ingale, he was always effusive in his
praise. "She was the greatest woman
Of modern times" was one Of his ia
miliar remarks.
Under the command Of General Cod
rington, Duane's regiment took one Of
the leading parts in the assault on
Redan. following the fall of SebastopOl.
During the fighting at Sebastopol
and BalaklaVa, Duane's resourcefulneSS
on the field of battle and his utter
disregard for his own life in the face
of great danger, soon attracted the at
tention of his superior officers AT one
time he was summoned before General
Mitchell, who personally congratulated
him on his bravery, and announced his
intention to promote him to a higher
rank. Duane thanked the general but
declined promotion.
After Duane had left the generals
tent. Mitchell is said to have remarked:
Give me an army Of men like that
fellow and I could conquer the world. ="
Duane emerged from the Crimean
campaign decorated with the Crimean
war medal and a special clasp for
bravery shown during the fighting at
Sebastopol. Besides being cited Tor
bravery by the British officers, his
deeds attracted the attention Of the
Turkish officers, and the sultan be-
slowed upon him that coveted medal,
the Crescent of Turkey He was one
of IS men in his regiment that were
credited with never missing an hours
duty or a bugle call during the cam
paign.
Goes to China
In the spring of 1856 Duane's regt- |
Malta
later the regiment was transferred to
Hongkong, China, where 1t was sta
toned under the command OF General
Strabanzy. Sir Hope Grant, hero OF
the Indian mutiny and England'S first |
war with China, was placed in COM
mand of the English troops at Hong
kong.
Duane was with his regiment at the
at the Taku forts at Pehtang
which opened the way to T1entsn.
This engagement was followed by the
one at Chan-chia-W which placed
Picking at the mercy of the allied Eng
lish and French forces. He was with
the English when they entered Picking,
but unlike many of the soldiers, he
refused to take part in the looting
Of the summer palace OF Emperor
Hsien -Feng.
Almost Caused Battle
1t was during the advance on Picking
that Duanes adventurous spirit and
love for devilment resulted in an anus
ing incident. The resistance shown by
he Chinese at -chia-Wan had
been sufficient to make the British
hesitate before advancing
further Urgent orders were sent TO
Sir Robert Napier, garrisoning TientSin,
TO bring such reserves as he could
spare. During the interval that elapsed
before the arrival of fresh troops, or
ders were given the soldiers that they
we're not to modest the orientals In
any way.
soldier got into an argument regarding
the range of an old smooth-bore field
piece that had been captured from the
Chinese. In order to prove to his COM
Danion the distance the gun would
carry, Duane loaded it with an extra
heavy charge, pointed 1t across field
and touched it off. Duane proved to
MS own and his comrades satisfaction
now far the gun would shoot, but he
also came within an ace OF starting
another engagement. The shell dropped
directly into the camp of one Of the
Chinese leaders and killed and manned
about a dozen.
Duane left Picking with his regiment
On Nov 8, 1860, just before the cold
weather set in, and spent the winter
1t Manchester, England.
On June IS, 1863, Duane received
his discharge from the British army
1t Aldershot, with enough characters
% do any man." For distinguished
service before Picking he was awarded
/ medal which was decorated with an
additional clasp.
Life at home held no appeal to the
young soldier, and hearing of the won
lerful opportunities offered in America,
le gathered together his belongings
md with his army pay purchased a
ticket to the United States The At
antic seaboard failed to satisfy him
md he drifted first to st. Louis and {
hen to Kansas City. Learning of q {
reight outfit that was making prepa-
'ations to start for Montana, Duane /
applied for work and was assigned the
ask of whacking a bull team. The {
reight outfit crawled into Virginia
City the latter part of 1864. =.
On reaching Bannack, the next
amp, Duane met up with character
-uOuyr &C 0EO0nner Dan and the two