Evening star., 1941-11-12
Death Probably Came
To Reuben James
In Washington
Pension Quest and Bod
Leg Brought Naval Hero
To Capital, Limping
By COMDR. L. J. CULVER,
u, S. n. Retired.

ing TO the then United States PEN
sion Office los wears ago, BoatSwains
Mate Reuben James of the United
States Navy rolled along. He had
gotten a leave from the frigate
John Adams to come to Washington
Ito see about his pension"
This is the same Reuben James
whose name on the stern of the
United States destroyer now lies
on the bottom of the Atlantic-Arctic
sunk on the night of October 30-3l
and with her all the officers and
many crew ratings-total lost, 10l
naval men.
When Naval Hero Reuben James
came to Washington in the summer
of 1886 he was placing faith in the
gratefulness of his country-that, on
account of his heroic deed in saving
the life of Stephen Decatur in hand
to-hand fighting in the Barbary
wars in 1904, he would be given
modest pension so that he would
not want now that gimpey leg had
rendered him unfit for active sea
duty. He had the scars of sea fights
and now they were taking their toll
after 33 years service in ships of the
Navy. Besides need of a pension,
Reuben James had more urgent
need of a naval surgeon.
One of Reuben James legs was in
need of amputation. A few days
after his errand to the Pension Bu-
reau, he made off YEARLY to the
Washington Naval Hospital.
Died Peacefully in Bed.
The records here pertaining to
the later naval life of Hero Reuben
James were gotten out and formed
the basis of letter from Pension
Commissioner H. Clay Evans to Au-
thor Cyrus Townsend Brady in 1900.
1t appears that the one and only
original Reuben James resided in
Washington during the several
months preceding his death-peace-
fully, in bed.
In spite of the fact that the rec
ordS of the Government say in ef-
feet: You, Reuben James, did des-
perately risk your own life in order
to save the life of your superior
officer, 1t. Stephen Decatur, in bat
tie against Barbary pirates August,
1904, there have always been those
Csome in positions to know the facts
who affirm that Reuben James was
not the seaman who interposed his
head to receive the cutlass slash in
tended for Decatur, but that the
man deserving Of that honor was
Navy Seaman Daniel Fraser.
Because Of the counterclaims of
the ''Fraserites," Reuben James was
often, if not always, under the neces-
sity Of constantly asserting his hero
ism. He did this on one occasion on
board the frigate John Adams.
where the spirit of Stephen Decatur
said to Commodore David Porter.
Don't let any harm come to Reuben
James"
Drinking Episode Recalled.
The details of this episode are told
by the renowned Admiral David
Porter Reuben James. it seems
was likely to get drunk on board
ship and his captain. Alexander
Dallas, becoming out of patience,
decided to let naval regulations take
their course. "All hands to the mast
to witness punishment" he roared,
and then to Reuben James he said.
You are drunken old rascal and
you are reduced in rating from
boatsWain's mate to seaman"
Whereupon Reuben James saluted
and replied: Thank you, sir, but I
was only celebrating the day I saved
the life Of Capt. Stephen Decatur.
I promise not to get drunk again
except when I go on liberty"
Commodore Porter, walking the
quarter deck, heard what had been
said. He also heard Capt. Dallas
inquire: who will go bond for your
sobriety in the future, Reuben
James," And that was what the old
commodore had been waiting to
hear. He said: I'll go his security,
Dallas. ANY man who saved the life
of Decatur is entitled to get drunk
when he wants to-"
This was James cue to be the
gallant hero again. He said: Thank
you, sir. What I did for Capt De-
catur I will be glad to do for you II
we ever have the same opportunity"
If Stephen Decatur really knew
for sure just who it was that saved
his life when the ferocious Tripoli-
tan's descending cutless was inter-
cepted by seaman's skull while
Decatur himself struggled in mortal
combat with giant Turk on the
deck he never wrote anything that
survives to tell the tale. However,
it is known for certain that James
and Decatur were shipmates on
board the frigate President when
she defeated the British Macedonian
and also when the same President
was caught running the blockade nv