When Bagley came up for graduation at the end of the four-years’ course
the doctors thought they discovered an irregular movement of the heart,
and recommended that he be dropped. Bagley took his case to Theodore
Roosevelt, then assistant secretary of the navy.
Roosevelt, looking at him through his glasses with a quick, critical
glance, said,--
“You are Bagley, the football player, are you not?”
Bagley said he was.
“Well, you are to stay in the navy while I am here. The service needs more
men just like you.”
Then Bagley went on his two-years’ cruise, and when he came back he was
passed through without question.
* * * * *
Captain Cook, Admiral Schley’s chief-of-staff on the “Brooklyn,” Captain
Clark, of the “Oregon,” and Commander Davis were room-mates in the
famous class of Crowninshield, Taylor, and Evans. The “Brooklyn” and the
“Oregon,” commanded by classmates and room-mates, fought almost side by
side down the desperate flight to the westward, the “Oregon” farther
inland, but both thundering their iron missiles on the “Colon” as she
struggled to her doom.
It is an interesting fact that Captain Clark, then holding the title of
acting ensign, but really a midshipman, was the first one to communicate
with the captain of the ram “Tennessee” when she was captured at
Mobile Bay, while it was Captain Cook who received the surrender of the
“Cristobal Colon.” The third member of this trio was retired several years
ago or he would have had a command in the same action. The affection which
these youngsters bore one for the other was very much like that which
existed between Captains Evans and Taylor.