USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > The story of Worcester, Massachusetts (1934) > Part 7
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As in every war there are countless tales of sacrifice and heroism. Lieut. Edmund N. Benchley, U. S. A., was graduated from the English High School in 1894, and from West Point in 1898. He was commissioned second lieutenant and assigned to the Sixth Regiment Infantry. His regiment landed in Cuba in the latter part of June. The battle of San Juan took place July 1. Several companies of the Sixth Regiment were separated from the ad-
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vance companies while crossing a river under heavy fire from artillery. The colonel of the Sixth Regiment ordered Lieutenant Benchley to re-cross the river with orders to the company commanders to advance their commands at once. He had partially completed this dangerous mission when he was killed. Capt. L. W. V. Kennon, Co. E, Sixth Regiment, wrote to Lieutenant Benchley's father: "He was cool and brave under one of the severest fires ever known and he performed his duty nobly and gallantly. Had he lived he would have been brevetted for 'gallantry in action'"
The terms of peace between the United States and Spain were signed at Paris in December 1898. Spain agreed to withdraw from Cuba and to cede Porto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the United States. The ac- quisition of the Philippines raised a storm of protest. The "Anti-Imperialists," led by Sena- tor Hoar, saw in the acquisition of tropical colonies the abandonment of the principles of freedom and self-government on which our Republic was founded. For better or worse we had begun a new policy of expansion and entered into the race for colonial supremacy. The United States was a world power.
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CHAPTER XII HISTORY IN BRONZE AND STONE
LI IKE the lasting fragrance of rose petals from a broken rose bowl the remembrance of past valor, bravery, and fame clings to our fair city. Worcester is not unmindful of the sacrifices and labors of past generations! Monuments and markers in no small numbers add interest to our streets. To quote the inscriptions on each of these would make monotonous reading but a field trip to each is quite worth while.
The earliest monuments are mere markers such as the "milestone" in front of the "Oaks"; and on the left-hand side of Lincoln Street, just a short distance to the south of where the road turns toward Boylston, is a large stone mark- ing the home of the first settler of Worcester, Lieut. Ephraim Curtis. At the time of the Tercentenary a number of markers were placed about the city and one of these also marks the site of the first settlement of Worces- ter. Another at Rice Square, near the corner of Grafton and Plantation Streets, marks the second attempted settlement of the city; while
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a third near this second one marks the home of Jonas Rice, which was the first permanent dwelling in Worcester. At Billings Square is a tercentenary marker recalling the twelve- year-old Samuel Lenorson and his experience with the Indians. At Lake Park another tablet on the Tower also gives tribute to the memory of this brave boy and describes his adventure.
At the corner of Belmont Street and Lake Avenue, a tercentenary marker locates an Indian village which was eventually sold to the white settlers. On Southbridge Street, where Malvern Road joins it, another similar one marks the "Indian Village Packachoag." Op- posite the Worcester Historical Society build- ing at Wheaton Square one of these markers indicates the site of the first mill in the city- that of John Wing and built in 1684. Still another marker placed at this time is that at Lincoln Square, recalling the two unsuccessful attempts at settlement of this lonely region; a duplicate of this one is also to be found at Main and Stafford Streets. All of these ter- centenary markers are simple tablets in keeping with the events thereon inscribed and in keeping with those days of simple living.
On the north side of Heywood Street an inscription on a large boulder also marks the
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first settlement. Another boulder on Salisbury Street near Massachusetts Avenue bears an inscription marking the birthplace of George Bancroft; and on the hill above Massachusetts Avenue is Bancroft Tower, erected in memory of George Bancroft, the historian. On the east slope of Rattlesnake Hill is the "Deeded Rock" where Solomon Parsons conveyed his land to God. The deed is recorded on the sur- face of this great rock. A bronze star on the City Hall plaza marks the spot where Isaiah Thomas read the Declaration of Independence, and on the step in front of the star is the descriptive inscription.
The site of the first schoolhouse in Worcester is marked by a tablet at the northern end of Court Hill near the Court House, and a tablet inside the latter building marks the county's first Court House. The second Court House in Worcester was built in 1751. This house, known as the Trumbull Mansion, now stands on Massachusetts Avenue and in it is the restored court room. A door leading into this room bears a descriptive tablet.
A bronze tablet on the wall at Court Hill marks the spot that General Washington passed on his way to take command of the army at Cambridge; while a tablet on the wall of the
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theatre located on the northerly side of Elm Street, near Main Street, marks the spot of Stearns' Tavern where General Washington was entertained while en route to Cambridge. Gen. Henry Knox traveled from Ticonderoga to Boston with cannon for General Washing- ton, and a marker in bas-relief of Knox with oxen which were used in drawing the cannon also adorns Court Hill.
A bronze tablet on the Bancroft Hotel locates the farm of the Rev. Thaddeus Mac- carty. At the corner of Grove and Lexington Streets a marker reminds one that he is on the site of the Hancock house built by Thomas Henchman, which was later the home of Levi Lincoln, Attorney-General of the United States, and of Levi Lincoln, 2nd, and John Davis, Governors of Massachusetts.
The City Hall is itself a monument, for on this site stood the first house of worship in 1719, known as the Old South Meetinghouse. Just north of that until 1898 stood the original Town Hall built in 1825. Two bronze tablets on the main walls of the corridors of City Hall describe the historic interest of this site and also of the Common in the rear. Besides tablets giving formal data in connection with the erection of the present City Hall, a tablet
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placed there in 1929 marks the event of the founding of the Republican party in Massa- chusetts. During the exercises commemorat- ing the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of George Washington there was unveiled on the City Hall plaza a tablet commemorating the birth of the first President of the United States.
At the northwest corner of the City Hall stands a portrait statue of George Frisbie Hoar, honoring the memory of that great lawyer, scholar, orator, and statesman. On the north side of the statue is engraved a fine tribute to this virtuous servant. Another mon- ument erected . to the memory of one of Worcester's illustrious sons is the Timothy Bigelow monument on the Common. This was erected by his great-grandson in 1861 and covers the grave of Colonel Bigelow. It is of Gothic design constructed of white Italian marble. A short distance from this monument an oak tree was planted some years ago also honoring his memory.
Elm Park covers the area bounded by High- land Street, Park Avenue, Russell and Elm Streets. At the easterly entrance to the park, opposite Cedar Street, is a bronze marker designating Elm Park as the first purchase of
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land for a public park in the United States and paying tribute to Edward Winslow Lincoln, Park Commissioner, 1870-1898, who brought about the making of this delightful spot ..
One of Worcester's residents of some few years ago desired the perpetuation of the family's memory and at the death of Mrs. Rogers she left a fund with instructions in her will that a monument should be erected to that end. After some delay, a site at the corner of Highland Street and Park Avenue in Elm Park, with a lovely background of wooded hills, was selected and the Rogers-Kennedy Memorial, designed by Maurice Sterne, was built, at a cost-of $100,000. It is a sculptural work done in bronze and Italian trani stone, thirty feet high, recalling the early settlers. Its dominating feature is a bronze group of two figures-a man and a woman-thirteen feet high. Around the base of the monument sixteen scenes with twenty-four figures depict the various phases of the settlers' lives, such as house building, boat building, harrowing, harvesting, spinning, dairying, fishing, and schooling.
The remaining outstanding monuments in Worcester pay tribute to the service in war of her sons and daughters. The soldier's monu-
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ment erected in 1874 on the Common is sixty- five feet high and is constructed of Westerly granite. Lubke in his "History of Art" says it is one of the three Civil War Memorials in the United States worthy of special attention. The sum of $50,000 was raised partly by public subscription and partly by municipal appro- priation to pay for this monument, the art product of Randolph Rogers, a leading sculptor of America at that time. The inverted cannons at the four corners of the base were captured from the Confederates.
The finest equestrian piece of sculpture ever carved by the late Daniel Chester French is the General Devens statue in front of the Court House. The movement to erect this memorial was begun in 1892. In 1902, at the request of Senator Hoar, the General Court of Massa- chusetts passed an Act authorizing the cities and towns of Worcester county to contribute money for its erection. The county gave $5000 and the City of Worcester $7500 and with contributions of citizens. the total reached $40,000 which was the cost of the monument. The memorial statue is dedicated to "General Devens and the Men of Worcester County in the War for the Union."
By the side of the State Armory is a cannon
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WORCESTER MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM
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captured in the Spanish War. It was cast in Seville, Spain, in 1798. Near the breech of the gun is an elaborate monogram, surmounted by a royal crown; the letters C.A.R.O. probably indicate Charles IV who was King of Spain in 1798. The tablet at the base bears an inscrip- tion commemorating the soldiers and sailors in the Spanish-American War of 1898. Another memorial to the soldiers who took part in the Spanish-American war is the beautiful statue of a weary fighter, which was designed by the Worcester sculptor, Andrew O'Connor, and which stands in the triangle in front of the State Armory. Although the movement for the erection of this memorial was started in 1910 it was not until a few days after the United States entered the World War that it was dedicated. Previously a bronze cannon taken from the fort at Santiago had stood on the site.
· Worcester's latest contribution to her sons and daughters for their service in war is the imposing new Municipal Memorial Auditorium at the corner of Highland and. Salisbury Streets. The estimated cost of the building is $2,200,000 and it is the finest in central Massachusetts. It is built of Indiana buff limestone with trimmings of polished granite and the only metal on the exterior of the
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building, besides the nine bronze doors, is the tops of the four light standards which are placed between the doors of the front entrance and on either side. These are of bronze. The auditorium includes a large and small hall which can be combined to seat 4,700 people. This sizable room fills a long-felt need in the city. The building fronts on Salisbury Street and the Highland Street and Institute Road sides have an automobile entrance and drive- way going straight through the building to regulate traffic. With elaborate exercises in September 1933, this building of classic sim- plicity was dedicated "To honor the service in war of her sons and daughters and to nourish in peace their spirit of sacrifice a grateful city erected this building MCMXXXII."
This chapter cannot be concluded without a reference to the Worcester Historical Society building at Armory Square, for here are exhibited relics of untold value which enable one to follow the progress of our city from its earliest settlement to the present time.
CHAPTER XIII
WORCESTER IN THE WORLD WAR
I HE underlying causes of the World War may be found in the intense nationalism, com- mercial wars, and boundary disputes of Euro- pean nations for over a century. So bitter were these quarrels that Europe became an armed camp. Great Britain, France, and Russia were allied against Germany, Austria, and Italy. Only a spark was needed to ignite the tinder box of Europe.
The murder of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria by a Serbian student in the Bosnian city of Sarajevo on June 28, 1914, was the spark which started the most terrible war in history. Austria insisted that the plot on the Archduke's life had been planned by Serbian officials and demanded that the murderer be punished and all Serbian political societies sup- pressed. Although Serbia agreed to most of these demands, Austria was not satisfied and Germany had rallied to the cause. Events moved rapidly. On July 28, 1914, Austria mobilized her troops, and two days later
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Russia followed the example of Austria. On August 3, 1914, Germany declared war on France, and immediately invaded Belgium. This violation of a solemn treaty forced Great Britain to take up arms, and during the fateful days of August 1914, one great nation after another was drawn into the conflict.
The United States had no part in the quarrels of Europe. We were a peace-loving people. For over a hundred years we had followed the advice of Washington to stay on our own side of the Atlantic. President Wilson issued a proclamation of neutrality and for more than two years we held ourselves aloof from the struggle. However, step by step, we were drawn into the war. On May 7, 1915, a German submarine blew up the Lusitania off the coast of Ireland with the loss of over a hundred American lives. German and Austrian agents set fire to our factories, incited strikes, and destroyed munition plants. On March 24, 1916, a number of Americans lost their lives when the French channel steamer Sussex was torpedoed. President Wilson's protest against this outrage had no effect. The German government attempted to secure the aid of Mexico and Japan against the United States and had the effrontery to promise the former
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countries the "lost provinces" of Texas and New Mexico as a reward.
Finally, the patience of the American people was exhausted. On April 2, 1917, President Wilson delivered the most momentous address ever read to Congress. "The world must be made safe for democracy . . It is a fearful thing to lead this great and peaceful nation into war," he said. On April 6, 1917, for the first time in over a century the United States was at war with a great power.
The call to arms was answered by the follow- ing units in the famous 26th Division made up wholly of New England troops: Company G, 101st Infantry, commanded by Capt. Thomas F. Foley; Company A, 104th Infantry, com- manded by Capt. John A. Parker; Company C, 104th Infantry, led by Capt. William Stevenson; Company H, 104th Infantry, under the leadership of Capt. Eugene Burr. Battery E was commanded by Capt. Arthur P. Trombley. Battery B was commanded by Capt. Milton Haynes and later by Capt. Lawrence Page. Battery E was under various officers overseas, including Maj. Frank Cava- naugh and Capt. George W. Jones.
The "Yankee Division," as the 26th is more familiarly called, made a splendid reputation
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during the war. From Neufchâteau, where the division trained, to the Meuse-Argonne, the Yankee Division consecrated the soil of France. It was the first complete division of the National Guard to land in France, the first division to meet the Germans in any fighting of moment, and was the first division to have the flag of one of its units decorated by the French. It fought in every major engagement from the time the Germans began their third drive on Paris to the Meuse-Argonne offensive.
In the early days of September 1917, the Worcester units sailed from Hoboken, New Jersey, and landed in France, September 21. The Yankee Division was seasoned at Neuf- château, near the Swiss border, remaining until February 6, 1918, when it was transferred to the Chemin des Dames sector, northeast of Paris. In this land of desolation, during long, weary nights, the soldiers of the Yankee Division stared across the bleak, shell-torn ground. As the hours slowly passed, the tree stumps, posts, and battle-formed mounds began to assume fantastic shapes, imaginative creations of troubled minds and homesick hearts.
Night after night raiding parties were sent out, but nothing of moment occurred until
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February 27, 1918. On that night the German artillery was more than usually active. Com- pany G, 101st Infantry, was preparing to attack. Corp. Homer J. Wheaton was passing out hand grenades to his squad when he dropped one in such a way that it would explode in five seconds. Feeling his way in the darkness he threw himself upon it, and in the ensuing explosion his body was torn to pieces. Thus he saved the lives of eight members of his squad. Thermopylae can offer no greater tale of heroism than the sacrifice of this unsung hero. This deed inspired a Worcester teacher to write these lines :
Go not to Thermopylae And lands so far away, To learn of deeds and heroes great Whose names will live alway. For Worcester has a history That fills our hearts with pride Of men who served their country well And for its honor died.
Their lives will teach us how to live And how to give as well So that our deeds in turn will help Our Country's fame to swell.
Corporal Wheaton was awarded, posthu- mously, the distinguished service cross, for
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the heroic deed which cost him his life. The citation, which was sent to his nearest relative, reads: "Corp. Homer J. Wheaton was killed February 27, 1918, while endeavoring to pro- tect the lives of his comrades, and I have awarded him, posthumously, the distinguished service cross." This was the first award of the "Pershing" distinguished service cross in the American Expeditionary Force.
On March 19, 1918, the Yankee Division was ordered out of the Chemin des Dames sector, but just as it was ready to leave, the Germans began to drop shells over the back area. The preliminary bombardment to the gigantic drive of March 21, 1918, had begun. The Yankee Division was ordered to the Toul sector, and there the terrible battle of Aprê- mont occurred. Lieut. Henry R. Knight of Company H, 104th Infantry, was killed, April 12, 1918. The Germans attacked with their shock troops. Hand to hand they fought. The French on the left were forced to retire, leaving the flank of the '104th exposed. Lieutenant Knight's platoon, outnumbered two to one, was surrounded while bursting grenades poured death into the group. He emptied his pistol, and, although badly wounded, using a German rifle as a club,
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fought until a grenade exploded at his feet, killing American and German alike.
During the early days of June 1918, the 104th Infantry was encamped at Royaumiex, a town never before shelled by the Germans. Sunday, June 16, was a beautiful day. A group of Worcester boys was playing baseball when, without warning, a German shell dropped between first and second base. Chap- lain Walton S. Danker of the 104th, who was walking toward the little church to begin divine service, was mortally wounded. The death of Chaplain Danker was a severe blow to the 104th Infantry.
Relieved from duty late in June, the Yankee Division looked forward to a rest. Plans were changed, however, and this gallant division was headed toward Château Thierry to relieve the 2nd Division. During the next three weeks, the Yankee Division wrote some of the most glorious pages in the fighting history of New England. On July 18, 1918, the Aisne-Marne offensive began. Torcy, the first objective, was captured. Two days later A and C Companies went into action. Epieds, Death Valley, and Trugny were captured. At Trugny, Maj. Thomas F. Foley led his battalion into what seemed certain death. Here he was gassed and
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wounded and for gallantry under fire was awarded the distinguished service cross.
Then came St. Mihiel, located at the apex of a deep wedge driven into the French lines. It was planned that the Yankee Division and the 2nd Division should start from opposite sides of the wedge and meet in the center on September 13, 1918. During this battle, two of Worcester's finest young men were killed. Capt. Willard Smith was one and his citation reads: "Capt. Willard Smith, deceased 9th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near Remanauville, France, September 12, 1918. Captain Smith was killed while assisting in maintaining liaison between the troops advancing on the open ground to the west of Bois du Four and those in the woods. It was due to Captain Smith's fearless example while leading his men that the line was held intact at this point."
During the St. Mihiel drive, Capt. Ralph E. Donnelly was in command of Company H, 101st Infantry, when the men on their march were checked by a machine-gun nest. Knowing that the machine gunners must be located before his men could advance, Captain Donnelly mounted the parapet and drew the deadly machine gun fire. After the armistice was signed the French
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government awarded him, posthumously, the war cross. The citation follows :
"A brave officer and splendid leader. On the morning of September 13, 1918, while leading his men in an attack on the St. Mihiel salient in the vicinity of the Grand Tranchee de Calonne, Captain Donnelly received mortal injuries, which later resulted in his death. One of the most fearless officers in the Ameri- can army as proven by fearlessness in all actions in which the 101st Infantry was engaged."
On September 26, 1918, the Meuse-Argonne offensive began east and west of the Meuse River. The Yankee, 29th, and 79th Divisions were ordered east of the Meuse. Then fol- lowed the terrible days in Death Valley, over- looked by the hills of Bois d'Ormont, Bois de Belleu, Etrayes Woods, and Haumont. At Haumont, October 16, the soldiers of Com- pany A, 104th Infantry faced a frightful machine-gun fire. Led by twenty-six French tanks, the soldiers went "over the top." Sud- denly the tanks were blown up by ground mines, leaving Company A unprotected and soon the dead and wounded covered the ground like a carpet of khaki. There was no rest. October 23 marks the beginning of the
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battles which resulted in the capture of Belleu Woods. On November 7, 1918, the Yankee Division went into action for the heights of the Meuse, and while engaged in this battle the armistice was signed, November 11, 1918.
That the work of the artillery is less spectac- ular than that of the infantry explains the fact that there are not so many stories of heroism connected with this important division of the army. The advance of the infantry would have been impossible without the work of the gunners, who, drenched with deadly gases and sprayed with shrapnel, remained at their posts often for thirty hours at a stretch. At the battle of Xivray-Marvoism on June 16, 1918, three thousand German shock troops attacked the Yankee Division, keeping the artillery in action for thirty consecutive hours. Battery E suffered far more heavily than the Worcester infantry units.
While we have described the record of the 26th Division to which the Worcester compa- nies of the National Guard we're attached, we must not forget that Worcester soldiers fought in nearly every division of the American Army, especially the 76th Division. Worcester men, numbering 12,500, served in the army and navy.
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With pride we remember also the men who served in the nation's navy. One of Worcester's heroes lies buried fathoms deep in the hull of the Lake Moor, torpedoed April 11, 1918. A German torpedo, smashing through the steer- ing machinery, broke the steam pipes, and the scalding steam filled the engine room killing all the fire-room staff. On deck the boatswains were piping, "Life boats away." But the engines under full head turned the vessel in circles. Lifeboats could not be launched except by stopping the ship. An officer called for a volunteer to go down into the engine room and shut off the steam. Men who would willingly face a hail of bullets shrank from live steam. Then "Jimmie" McGourty called, "I'll try, sir," and wrapping his heavy pea jacket around his head, backed down the compan- ion ladder. A slackening of the headway of the ship and then a dead stop told that Machinist McGourty had shut off the emer- gency valve. For an hour or more the life- boats circled the doomed vessel while captain and crew stood with bared heads while wind and wave sang the "De Profundis" of James A. McGourty, Chief Machinist.
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