The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-09-29
DEATH OF CAPTAIN LAW
RENOE'S WIDOW.
Interesting Neminiscenees-Tbe Late
wife OF Commodore Perry.
ICOrrsspondence Of the Evening P;st.l

Julia Montandevsrt, widow OF captain
James Lawrence, u. s. N, died on the
Is instant, in her seventy-eighth year.
Her funeral took place this afternoon 81
Trinity Church, and her remains VIII Dc
taken TO New York and buried under the
in Trinity churchysrd, where
rest the ashes of her brave husband. Ine
death of one so connected and OF sucn rare
personal worth should not pass unnoticed.
THE DEATH OF LAWRENCE.
Fifty.two years ago, the first day of June
last, occurred one of those events Wnleh
suffice to make an individual permanently
renowned, and add memorable incident
TO the annals of q nation. On that day
Captain James Lawrence United States
Navy, whose distinguished services In the
war with Tripoli, gallant victory over
his Britannia Msjesty's ship Peacock,
acknowledged ability ss an ot1cer and
probity as 9 man, as well as dignihed man
ners and handsome appearance, had al
ready made him famous and endeared-
obeyed the challenge of Captain Broke. OF
his Britannia Asjesty's frigste shannon,
and went out from Boston hsrbor to hight.
1t was gallant but imprudent act. Weeks
of drill had prepared the Shannon for this
long contemplated action; her men were
in capital discipline, and the vessel herself
equipped for immediate battle; whereas
the crew of the Chesapeake had been two
months ashore, after 8 long cruise, Law
renee was just appointed commander, and
the men we're nearly strangers to him the
frat lieutenant was i'll on shore, and the
second inexperienced. Thus unprepared,
Lawrence still felt it his duty to accept the
challenge.
At hslf-psst IL A. NJ. the two vessels
were thirty miles from Boston light; the
Shannon first fired; the Chesapeake re-
served Ter fire till she got to close quar-
ters: then sent broadsIde into the enemy
with great effect; but her rigging was 30
cut up as to render her unmanAgesble; the
two senior officers were badly wounded !
the order for boarders was unattended by
| the bugleman, who had deserted his post ;
the lieutenant of marines was mortslly
shot, and the gallant commander had re.
| ceiyed second and fatal wound; thus In
| fifteen minutes not q commissioned officer
remained on the quarter deck; the enemy
boarded without opposition, 8 fierce but
| disorderly fight eDsued, and the Ohesa.
peske wss captured. Lawrence was taken
| into Halifax and died in fodr days. His
| cool Courage, the desperate odds against
which he fought, his last words when borne
| from the deck, "Don't give up the ship
subsequently Perry's watchword of victory
combined to endesr his name ard hal.
low his memory; and now, after more than
half century, bis noble widow is laid be
side him.
The vivid recollection of this event wal
Il a. L., Il - T.,
Edward Y. ThAyer. of Philadelphis, one o.
the most respected members of the histri
onic profession in that city, and s mos
agreeable and accomplished gentleman
He was a midshipmRn on board the Chesa
peake, and took Captain Lawrence in I
boat from the wharf to the ship the da,
of the fight. An officer desbribes his sp
pearance, as he went from place to plsO
amid the scene of carnage remarksbl.
handsome boy of fourteen-as most beau
tiful and pathetic. his "reminiscences o
the battle and the heroic commander wer
full of interest.
MRS. PERRY.
For many years the venerable widows Q
our two most eudeared naval heroes-LaW
renee and Perry-have given proud AM
pleasant interest to the local society of thi
place. In their dignihed self respect an,
genial courtesy they have been worth
representatives of the noble men to who's
memories they were reiigiously devoted
Mrs. Perry died four years ago, and We
buried at the side Of her llustrious hus
band in the old cemetery here-a loft,
granite obelisk marking the spot. Afte
thirty wears of widowhood she caused
T1UIet % De placed IN Trinity Church il
toftimonY of hos nn-arniftad love and 70
spect for him she was called to mourn il
the noon of her life and his honorable fame
Every year, on the anniversary of the bat
tie of Lake Erie, an artillery company, in
stituted here in commemoration of ths
eVant. drew up before her door A.1 eafute7
the widow Perry; and for some years he
son-an able lawyer, held in great affectio,
and esteem by the citizens of NeWpor.
and whose early death was deeply lament
ed-Wss their commander. During Ii
last years of Mrs. PeIry's life it was yer
interesting to converse with her of the pas
and examine the many trophies and toke1
of her husbands renown, while listening {,
her affectionate "reminiscences.
MRS. LAWRENCE.
Mrs. Lawrence occupied q small bu
eligibly located cottage, the chief orns
ment Of whose little parlor is an exceller
portrait of her gallant husband. o..
naval officers, during the many years tn.
she has resided in Newport, always calle
to pay their respects to her; and on OF
occasion last year, when three of the mo
distinguished, before greeting her, be-
their heads before the portrait in recoRr
ton of their honored comrade, she W
moved to tears. Just before her death 81
requested an attendant to read aloud lit
memoir of her husband, IS if, feeling Il
powers Of her mind failir g, che desired Il
renew in memory every incident of ! i
brief but brilliant career. Too feeble 4
listen to the whole, she requested that e..
leaf should be turned down and the IL
mainder read next day. A few hours sfto
she was struck with paralysis, and nev
Epoks again.
Few women have passed through great n
vicissitudes. Her health was 30 delicate ;.
the time of her husbands death thst I'll
event was concealed from her, though wit
grert precaution and difficulty. Lswrenp
died in June, and his wife knew It not uni
September. Meantime having given biri
to SON (who lived but fifteen months
she constantly inquired as to the where
abouts and welfare of her husband, won
dered why he did not write, and asked
constantly to have the news read to her
One day q sailor shouted under the window
in praise and pity of the msrtyred captain
of the Chesapeake, but fert unstely his un
conscious widow was in deep sleep, and
the vigilance of her family nurse kept thu
sad tidiDgs from her until she had strength
TO bear them.
Her affections, thus rudely despoilsd
were conferred on her daughter, the pride
and comfort of her beresved life, but nc
sooner had this idolized child reached
maturity and married 3 gallant and fs-
vorite officer OF the navy her father had
adorned, than symptoms of an alarming
illness appeared, 8 milder climate was rec.
commended, and in few weeks Mrs Law.
renee returned childless TO the United
States. 1t was while passing the summer
of that year at Newport that she deter.
mined to make it her home; and many Of
the old residents remember her then with
her beautiful grsndchild and handsome
Italian nurse q mourning but digniaed
and urbane lady who soon endeared her
self to the people among whom she thence
forth to lived. Her dark expressive eve
and thick white hair, her agreeable man
ners and kindly self-respect as we'll SIS the
interest of her conversation, will not soon
be forgotten by those who knew her in the
,@r;,,o 80 hor I'D oaa hafopo - la