My metal detector batteries are still working!

For any with the habit you know how I feel when the detector starts buzzing!

Well, actually mine does not buzz  but I'll tell you I sure get a buzz when I find what I am looking for... and just as happy when other things get trapped under that detector.

Regular followers of my rantings of course know that my "detector" is the internet. And 3 of my favorite toys on the net are the websites...Newspapers.com, Chronicling America.loc.gov and Fold 3.com. Over the years each has produced a treasure load of facts that have found their way into the blogs on this site.

And today's is  no exception.

I have been sitting on a very exciting story for about a month but other matters had to be dealt with here first.

So here we go with today's...

I wanted to get some news on what was happening with a Texas auction story. I brought you this a few months back regarding a Queens Scarf and complete medal group coming up for auction. It seems it did not get sold and is now in London for another go at a sale. But I'll save that story for a later day.

But my detector found this headline, and two of topic stories. And a winner as well. Here's the first...

The headline tells us it is the front page of a Philadelphia newspaper's 9 April 1901 issue, and for  a whopping  one cent you got to take home 16 pages of news. I guess they did not have the home version on the net yet.

The image above is just one of the cover stories and enlarged for the blog.

It tells that a former Private from Civil War days would be unveiling a monument with descendants of famed CW General John A Logan in Washington DC, The Private doing the unveiling had enjoyed a few promotions over the years and in  1901 was none other than the President of the United States. His name was McKinley. (About 5 months later he would become the nation's 3rd president to be assassinated,)

The Logan memorial still stands today within a few blocks  of our Canadian Embassy. I am proud to say I visited it numerous times during my DC research trip in 2013. It is also just a few blocks off in another direction, from the buildings of  Congress.

Past blogs have brought you some of the Logan story including his work with the Grand Army of the Republic. He is well  known as the  creator of General Order #11, with the order that  all GAR members MUST head out and place flowers at the graves of the CW veterans. An event that was to occur on what became known as  Decoration Day, and today's Memorial Day. Next year will mark its 150th anniversary.

The cover page also carried another story that caught my eye.

Impossible to read, but the article tells of a company that wants legislation created to give it access to certain short roads, to have them paved and the entity would bring in coaches that would run ... "on electricity as it was just as efficient as steam." Them wanted certain routes laid out for them that would allow the company to charge 3 cents for short ride and would offer 8 tickets for 20 cents. Parcels could also be carried. Possibly at additional prices.

The coaches would run on big rubber tires. Whoda thought!  They even wanted permission to control the road and charge others to drive their own monstrocities on the portion they controlled. 

No mention if they planned to have the electric vehicles drive themselves... but that's ridiculous isn't it.

But the story I was most interested in was over on page 6.
 

I have often mentioned Delaware born Leonard Chadwick, his Spanish American War Medal of Honor, while serving with several Canadians also so awarded during the Cable cutting incident.  Past articles also brought you details of the Queens Scarf he was awarded for actions during the Boer War. But there is something special about the above article that I will come back to shortly. 

Several times during 1901 Chadwick, his MOH and QS got newspaper coverage. Here is another short clip...        

.This gives some of the brief details about both war actions and notes that he his accomplishments were very remarkable for such a young age. It states there were 4 scarfs, but actually there were 8, four to privates and 4 to Sergeants.  (Maybe I'll write the editor. Nah, probably too late.)  

Chadwick's ship, the USS Marblehead, is shown above and stripped down to do battle during the Spanish American War in Cuba of 1898. The center photo is  just after the three month war. Note the ladies on deck. It is obviously some sort of a celebration of successful battles.

The bottom shows one of the working launches, staged for the cameras, and showing some of the crew who did the cable cutting. Chadwick has been said to be the third from stern and appearing to have a hacksaw in his hand.( Left of flag.)

Not long ago I noted that family had contacted me and provided me with several photos. One of these was of his actual Medal of Honor. Here again is that great keepsake.   

Engraved on the back of the medal are his name, the battle and date and ship served on. 

Regular readers will have seen this image before. It is one of the 8 scarfs made by HRH Queen Victoria when 82 years of age, and just before her passing was mourned the world over. This is not Chadwick's scarf, which has been missing for decades.

If you are new to the site, use the search engine in upper right of this blog and search for stories about this hero and the seven others, including Canada's Richard Thompson.

Many years ago distant family emerged in the Delaware area and like the old Delaware Medal of Honor Society, were all searching for an image of Leonard. Some claim the above is all that is out there. Others say that from South Africa around 1900 emerged this image....

I am not aware of any confirmations that this is indeed Leonard Chadwick. But I do have a wonderful Christmas present for the old Delaware men, the family of years ago searching, the MOH world,  my readers, and especially another branch of the family that contacted me most recently.

The 1901 article my medal detector found for me, and  above noted, actually only shows the first few paragraphs and the last few.

What came between them is this Christmas present for all.

Enjoy!  

This is a 1901 newspaper story identifying Leonard and showing him in his sailor's uniform, complete with cap that has the USS barely readable..the..."Marblehead" would be further along the banner.

Next Sunday I will be bringing you a story that will probably rock the Victoria Cross world. If you know anyone who had any interest whatsoever in these men and their medals... you ought to invite them to have a peek.

till then,

Bart