Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-03-21
BLACK Paddy Gave His Blood for England at Balaklava in
Crimea and China But He Died in Montana P00rh0use
by WnCHEY

Patrick (Biack Paddy Duane
has been dead for almost - year,.
He died In poverty In the poor
house NJ Anaconda. The Irishman
was one Of the best soldiers Eng
land ever had. His majesty gave
~Blaek Paddy" many medals for
heroksm In battle but . miserable
pension Of only seven pence .
=, month and Paddy died in poverty.
He WAS over 50 years old. He was
. forgotten hero.
OF the hundreds Of men, to whose
early day efforts the great common
wealth OF Montana now stands as q
more adventurous career than Duane.
Long before the discovery Of gold
started to attract a fearless band Of
adventures. Black Paddy had braved
death in divers forms, and his bravery
In the face Of danger had been recog-
nized by such governments at Great
Britain and Turkey. When he left the
old home in Ireland to cast his lot
with the western pioneers, he wore
such decorations as the British Crimea
and Chinese war medals and the COW
eted Crescent OF Turkey. a decoration
but rarely bestowed upon any but
follower Of Mohammed.
Reckless Of Future
On several occasions fortune seemed
to be his. but like many others Of that
early day period he failed to provide
for the future. The venerable old SOL
der Of fortune, unable to exist on the
miserable pension OF seven pence al
lowed him by Great Britain, spent his
last days at the Deer Lodge county
farm
According to the old gentleman's life
story. he had shifted for himself since
II years Of age. He was born in County
rotr Trnla T,,rA
Duanes military career began June
IS. 1858, when he enlisted In the Brit
ish army at Birr. Kings county, Ire
land.
Fought at Balaklava
1t was about this time that Gar
Nicholas Of Russia took issue with the
sultan Of Turkey. and the war clouds
began to loom above the horizon. Eng
land. as an ally Of Turkey. was In
duty bound to side with the Turks, as
did France. The German states and
Austria assumed neutral position.
With war impending, Duanes regiment
was sent to the Crimea.
Duane participated in the fighting at
Balaklava and Inkermann, two OF the
bloodiest engagements Of the Crimea
war. 1nkermann was followed by a
gloomy winter Terrible storms on the
Black sea destroyed the transports
horses that charged at Balaklava be-
came unfit for service; the men who
had fought at Inkermann languished in
field hospitals. In the wretchedly or
ganized laZarets at Scutari the sick
and wounded died by scores for lack
Of proper medical attention. Shameful
frauds were perpetrated in filling the
contracts for preserved meats. After
the narrowing misery that prevailed
had been pictured in the London news
papers. something like system was
finally established In the hospitals by
the energy Of Miss Florence Nightin-
gale.
Knew Florence nightingale
Duane was never ladys man, and
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, Duanes regiment took one Of
the leading parts in the assault on
Redan. following the fall Of Sebastopol.
During the fighting at Sebastopol