ECHO OF SLAVE DAYS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12526, 16 August 1926, Page 6

ECHO OF SLAVE DAYS

VETERAN OF CIVIL WAR KNEW ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND R.L.S. HOW HE GOT HIS PENSION (By Telegraph—Special to “Times.”) AUCKLAND August 14. Abraham Lincoln, Bully Hayes, and Robert Louis Stevenson seem almost legendary figures to the present generation, yet there was in Auckland yesterday a vigorous old man of 84, who included all three in. bis reminiscences. He is William Henry Dunn, of Mercury Bay, a veteran of the terrible battle of Gettysburg 7 that final bloody struggle of the American Civil War, by which slaves were liberated. He has retained all liis faculties, and lsi9 proud and upright bearing proclaim him a war veteran. He has retained, too, the “billy goat” beard as seen in. the pictorial representations of “Uncle Sam.” He was born in the little town of Belgrade State of Maine, United States, in 1843, and comes of English parents. Asked if lie retained any memories of Gettysburg, Mr Dunn said as a soldier of the ranks he only saw what was going round about him. He was in the thick of the fighting, and he considered himself lucky to come out alive when 40 per cent, of the Federal Army went under. Several times Mr Dunn saw President Lincoln, mostly when lie was passing through the ranks. “He was the saddest man you ever saw,” he said. “All the men loved him. No, I never heard him make bis famous speech after Gettysburg. We lived fairly well in the army,” continued Mr Dunn. “At one time I remember 2500 head of beef were following us. Catnpaigning was very hard, however. When I joined the army I weighed 1701 b, and at the end of three months my weight was 1141 b. When my mother heard of this she cried bitterly. AH through the campaign I used a muzzle loading Springfield rifle.” MET BULLY HAYES In the early ’seventies Mr Dunn, by this time a building contractor, was commissioned by a German firm to build large stores at Apia. “My first experience at Samoa was a memorable c-*?e.” stated Mr Dunn. “Our vessel anchored not a hundred yards from the famous Leonora, the _ ship of Bully Hayes. We were waiting to go ashore when 'Hayes came abo’Ai'o. He asked ns if we wanted to go ashore, and when we said we did he replied, ‘Hop into my boat. If you don’t behave yourselves I will throw you overboard. Hayes landed us safely ashore. I got to know him well afterwards, and he was a jolly' good fellow. Two of his mates told me that when he got in a temper he threw overboard everything he could lay his hands on. He had many quarrels with his wife, and was often heard to say, ‘My God, what have I done to deserve such a wife?’ Hayes was very good to the missions. When he called at the outposts he would ask the missionaries if the trading boat had called recently. If the station was short of food he would load a boat with provisions, and send it ashore. On the other hand, if he met a man who had money he would devise some scheme to get it from him, and nearly always succeeded. R.L.S. A FINE SPEAKER “A long time after I arrived at Samoa Robert Louis Stevenson landed there with his wife and stepson, Lloyd Osborne,” continued Mr Dunn. “Later I got to know him very well. He was a fine man, and a beautiful speaker. Many times have I been to his home, ‘Vailima.’ On rainy dnvs he used to walk about barefooted with a raincoat on. M.y word, be was beloved by all the natives. When we met we used to talk commonplace, and discuss different things ahout the island.” Mr Dunn was on Samoa when the great hurricane which V'recked several American and German men-of-war occurred. He recalled how the Calliope was the only vessel to steam away. Twenty-nine years ago Mr Dunn left Samoa and settled in Coromandel, where he pursued his work as a carpenter. He has never married, and is now spending his days’ in rest. Until two years ago Mr Dunn had an idea he was not entitled to a pension from the United States Government because he was not residing in America. Then a friend prompted him to find out the true position, and to his delight he discovered he had been in error all through the years. Finally everything was arranged, and he received a cheque for £250 for back pay. and a permanent pension of 50 dollars a month. This has since been increased to 72 dollars. “Uncle Sam is good to those who servo her,” he smilingly concluded.