Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1843-05-09
From The Beliimore Am.rion.

DQtNmOre
COhhODORL P0R FER The following not,
'rom an old irehd Of the late Commodore. make,
"e"'on OF some Interesting incidents in the early
ale "i that gala officer
"sSsrs EdHors-'rhc tribute to departed worth
cahho' be more eNempliied than IN the contest Ia,
ein''E rs fellow citizen the person who has dts.
lInguishes himself. The pride of human nature i.
ia 'his case some what pardonable. for feel that
W some sense the honor whrh we would pay il.
rejected upon us. The feeling Is by no means
new one, Tor even the ancient days To which W.
ever Iook back rs being more hnnorabl than these
sne"eu Tue same weakness in the strife of sev Ell
rie' Tor the honor of lIumrrs nativity,
These reflections have been elIciied by the dis
pn'e regarding he birIh place OF Comm .dore Pur
ter. writer ia your paper signing himself I" Fed.
rtni hiII' has cunitndIciCd the assertion IN the n
EXPIRES That Boston was the birth place Of that
distinguished hero. The father removed from Del.
aware where he sprung from a most rssIe table
''hliH''he desceudenisu whom sill living there
!" Mas,hchusetIS, where, IN he city of Boston Com
DH'id Porier was hcrn IA IL 80 The family reno.
we'd to Bll'im"re about 1893. AID rented The house
designnied by Federal HIM. The house MAS butlr
ny a Mr. Mackay. an English merchant. bersrc the
'eNolulh"ay war The father Commanded the L.
h''u S'aies revenue cutter on the Chess peakr and
DAVID NJ a bry, sailed wiIh his iathrt lie was a
man iuli OF invention hut ia nature aud severe
IN discipline Well does the writer remember the
hial piey with which the SOU submit ed To the sway
Of hIs father.
u was about this period that the elder David
Porter Projected The establishment of ihe Observatory
on Federal Hill then q novelty IN Tins country Be.
ing without The Ia curry out the PROJECT, he
had the skill io form. the late Christopher Hughes
Then the most Prominent aud independent cIIz ~
IN mat part oi the Gown, gave To Capt il Porter
me use Of the lot OH which the frsI Observatory was
built
In 1895 the son lcfi the revenue cutter service
and made hts first voyage To the West Indies The
wrIier ni ia Is can even recall the tleasare
with which he buari.d The schooner in the basin To
welcome the return OF his young emp n IN and
friend after Ihis his first enterprise on The seas moi
Then dreaming 'hai Thai element 10 be the scene.
"i iuure exploits unsurpassed in The Naval hisio.
~ al The wurld, BY which he has Won 70 IN elf ali
imperishahle numc
la 1895 the late General Sucker procured for
him his warrant as MHlshpm. m, aud he made hi.
hrsl cruise IN The Constellation. under Capt TruI.
Ton, irm This pori,-ihe late Commodpre R,dger,
Marynnder, being fret Leureuan, OF I,e shrp-
HIS subsequent exploits identified with the
glory Of tne nation that II Geemed ssary 10
descani on them.
lie inherited much Of the inventive genius ofthe
iaihor beng fond of drawing and mechanics and
having muth taste frr mathematics lie was m,si
ardent IN Temperament, full of patriotism uf chIvay
aud his private virtues were of the highest order
warm and uHchansing friendship. and lull of all the
noble instincts that adorn humIniry.
AN OLD FRIEND AND SCHOOLMATE
May 5. 1913.