St. Mary's beacon., 1858-03-25
The Iase Commoaore u. c. Psrry.

The Late Commodore II. C. Perry.
The Sudden death of this distinguished OFF,
Ger calls fcr more than, o passing notice. He
was amoog the prominent men Of the day, a
long and well-tried servant Of the govenment.
and lezssiiria spirit Of the navy. In his char
acter were combined many Of the elements
which firm the accomplished and successful
ofFscars. He was good sailor, and understood
his tltsfs well either rs captain or commodore.
He ~ brave, ambitious, jealous, and enter
prisinr. Jealous Of his own honor and the
honor of his country possessed Of untiring in
dustry and indomitable perseverance,, when
work was to be done he never spared himself
nor those around him. His mind was constant
iy teeming with schemes on professional sub
iscts. having for their Object the honor and
efficiency of she service. The prominent posi-
tens ne has held before the country and the
impofsant trusts which have been committed
10 him were nat the results of luck or good
fortune. but were due to his merit and his con-.
slant anxiety for active service. His faults or
imperfections g IN officer were those Of tenn
per and manner-not of the heart, and might
fairly Be attributed to the rough school in
which he was educated. Let the memory Of
them sleep with him in the grave.
Commodore Perry entered the navy as
midshipmaa in the year 1909, was promoted
to the rank Of lieutenant in 1918, and made
q commander in 1926. While passing through
the grades of midshipman and lieutenant, he
served on board various ships, and was al
ways distinguished for his zeal, intelligence,
and activity. During the period Of his SER
vice as commander or master commandant,
he commanded the sloop-of-war Concord,
TT II
out in her as minister 10 Russia. Early
in 1887 he was promoted to the rank Of cap
tain. His first command afioat In this grade
was Of the Fulton steamer. In 1910 he was
appointed TO the command of the steam-frigate
Missouri for special gunpractice. In 1S43 he
he was ordered as commodore of the squadron
stationed ON the coast of Africa. Here his char
acteristic care and activity were displayed IN
the exercise Of the ships the retribution he in
fiicted ON some of the native tribes for outrages
on American citizens, and the establishment
of sanitary regulations in the squadron, the
most of which arc still in furce, and have
proved Of the utmost importance in preserving
the health of officers and men ON that sickly
coast. On one occasion, while leading his men
TO the attack on body of Africans, he was
seized by powerful negro chief, and o violent
personal struggle ensued, in which both came
to the grUund. The Commodore was unable
to use his weapons, but clung to his naked,
swaRthy foe till assistance arrived, and he was
either killed or made prisoner
In 1876 he was ordered to the command of
the steam frigate Mississippi, then stationed in
the Gulf of Mexico and in ls47 he relieved
Commodore Connor in command of the home
squadron, which was then assembled at Sac
cri6cios, near Vera Cruz. There the vigor of
his character was fully displayed. He hoisted
his flag on the 21st of March, al, and conf
menced Immediately the landing of heavy 81
Founders and S-inch shell-guns from the ships
for the formation Of a naval battery on shore.
The guns were dragged through the heavy surf
and the deep sand for nearly two miles by the
men, and then used with tremendous effect
upon the walls and Notifications of the city,
contributing very essentially to its carly sur
render. Il capitulated on the 26th, and the
walls and houses opposite this battery were
found 10 be drilled like cullender. Leaving
Vera Cruz with the squadron Immediately af-
ter the surrender, the Commodore, before the
end of juno, had captured and occupied every
Mexican seaport on the Gulf that was not pre-
viously in our hands. Tuspan, Lagma, To-
basco, and other places were seized, and all
supplies of the enemy by sea entirely cut of.
He remained in command of the squadron until
peace was concluded, and then returned to the
United States.
In the intervals of sea-service, Commodore
Perry was never idle. His employments were
various and important, experimenting expcri-
ments in ordnance and naval gunnery: the
command Of different navy-yards, receiving
ships, and refaezvous attending to the build
ing Of the United States naval steamers: i: and
other duties requiring high professional attain
ments. In 1913 he was sent 10 Europe To
visit the navy-yards and docks, and to collect
information with regard to the improvements
in naval ornaments, and other matters. His
important communications on these subjects.
on file at the Navy Department, will show the
intelligence and fidelity with which he dis
charged this duty.
In the summer Of 1852 the complaints of our
fishermen, in the Gulf of st. Lawrence, of
British injustice, attracted the serious notice of
the government and the country. It was
thought necessary to Immediately despatch an
officer possessing discretion and discrimination
to the scene Of difficulty.R Commodore Perry
was selected for the occasion, and sailed in
haste in the steamer Mississippi for Halifax,
81. Johns, and the waters of the Gulf. He
made all the necessary Investigations, received
explanations from the British authorities.
quoted the whole matter, and returned TO
New York after only q months absence.
His last command was the expedition to Ja-
pan, 50 unpromising at the commencement,
but which, by his firmness and sagacity, was
brought to successful issue. To Judge of
what be accomplished there would require an
with the history, laws, and Gus
toms Of the singular people inhabiting this
country. So many failures had been made by
other nations to open intercourse with them
that the London Times said, in an article
which appeared about the date Of his sailing,
'sit was 10 be doubted whether the Emperor
of Japan would receive Commodore Perry with
most indignation or most contempt" The
management Of this delicate affair was trusted
by the government entirely to his discretion,
and he vindicated the confidence placed in him
by obtaining all, and more than all, he was in
structed to ask for, and that without lesseniDg
the dignity Of our flag by any humiliating
concessions, on giving any wound to the pride
and self-esteem of the japanese.
Aifer the conclusion Of the treaty with Ja-
pan, the Commodore's health became impaired
In the sickly climate Of the south Of China,