The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-06-24
pHrINBAY.

nearly sixty years ago, the brig Lawrence,
flagship of Captain Perrys Lake Erie squad
ron, was riding quietly at anchor in harbor
formed by group Of small islands near the
western extremity of the lake. As the heavy
shadows which had rested all night long upon
the waters Of the bay grew less and less
dense, and the forms of the surrounding
islands began to make their appearance
through the morning mists, the usual signs
of renewed life became apparent on board
the feet.
The shrill whistle of the boatswain could
be heard summoning the crews to their MORN
ing duties, the watches upon deck were re-
lieyed and allowed to go below, and the hum
of voices showed that the sleepers had all
been awakened and the business of the day
begun.
Suddenly the sailor upon the lookout at
the mast head of the Lawrence bent forward
and hailed the deck. From the elevated
position where he stood carefully scanning
the horizon sight startling but not unex-
pected had met his view. Beyond the inter-
vehing islands, and concealed by their wooded
shores from the decks, the lifting shadows
now revealed six large vessels slowly moving
down from the northwest. This was the
British fleet which, under command of Cap
tain Barclay, one of Nelson's bravest veterans
had left the Canada shore upon the previous
evening with the intention of settling the
disputed question of naval supremacy upon
the waters of Lake Erie before the sinking of
another sun.
The intelligence of its approach was
quickly communicated to Perry by the officer
of the deck. The promptness with which
orders we're given for the squadron to get
under way, and the activity displayed in their
execution, showed that the young commander
was not unprepared for the emergency
Anchors we're weighed, sails spread, and the
small boats lowered and manned with
oarsmen prepared 20 assist the
light breeze, which it was feared might not
prove strong enough to impel the vessels
into the open waters of the lake. AS they
slowly beat out from the harbol towards the
spot where the British fleet lies awaiting them,
the broad blue battle-fag of the commander,
inscribed with the dying words of the la
mented Lawrence, is run up to the peak
of the flagship amidst the enthusiastic
shouts of the men. These are answered
by responsive cheers from the crews of
the other vessels, as the ensign floats out
upon the breeze, and the inscription is
revealed to them by the clear light of the
morning sun. Before nightfall the thunder
of the guns had died away, and the hard
earned victory was won. great naval battle
had been fought, and, along with the entire
British feet, the control of the lakes had
passed permanently into the hands of the
Americans.
The harbor from which Perry set
sail nd at day1reat son to ,o meet t.t,rtsS the
after the battle to bury the dead and repair
the shattered ships of both squadrons is
formed by a group of about twenty small
islands situated near the western extremity of
Lake Erie, and has ever since been known by
the name of Put-in-Bay Tradition states
that its existence and its superior facilities as
an anchorage for the fleet were first pointed
out to Perry by Canadian half
breed, who had volunteered for the
cruise in Sandusky. Its advantages for
such purpose in time of war are certainly
conspicuous. Lying well out from the shore,
though available for vessels drawing twelve
feet of water, Putin-Bay, unlike the other
harbors of the lake, has no bar to obstruct
its entrance, and is free from dangerous
rocks. Its position, to, is an important re-
commendation. Looking toward the Canada
shore, it adjoins the passage to the upper
lakes, while at the same time affordiRg a
favorable point for the defense of the neigh
boring coast of Ohio, and the mouths of
the many streams which here empty into
Lake Erie.
The group of islands encircling the waters
of Put-in-Bay has become at the present day
favorite place of summer resort The op-
portunities afforded here for boating and
fishing are unsurpassed, while the visitor,
quite out of sight and hearing of the roar and
hustle of the busy word, insensibly forgets
Its cares, ana enjoys the uellclouS sense OF
repose which belongs peculiarly to the place.
There is little in the appearance of the
islands to suggest the thought of war, or to
recall the fierce conflict which once took
place in sight of their shores. The echoes OF
the great guns have died away, and the
smoke of battle no longer hangs over the
water. No more warlike spectacle is seen
there than an occasional revenue-cutter al
anchor in the tranquil bosom of the bay. In
place of the blood of heroes, with which the
waters of the lake were crimsoned, is only the
red juice of the grape, which every autumn il
produced abundantly upon the numerous
\ islets. Whether owing to the mild climate, ol
to some peculiarly in the nature of the soil
here seems to be the chosen home OF the
vine. The Catawba, driven by disease from
the neighborhood of Cincinnati, thrives luxu
riantly, and never fails to reward the cult
vator with its ripened clusters. Not all o.
the islands, however, are under cultivation
Some of them are steep masses of limestone
rock rising abruptly from the water, and worr
by the action of the weather into fantastic
forms. Others are still covered with growth
of forest trees.
The summer idler at Put-in-Bay will Otter
take boat in the early morning, and repair
ing to one of these little islets, remain during
the heats of the day reading, writing, or re-
clining under the trees, and looking off owe
the broad surface of the lake. In such
seclusion he has leisure to listen to the many
keyed voices of nature, which at other time
fall unheeded upon the ear. The hum of tn
bees wing, the distant song of a bird fron
! some inner recess of the woods, and the rust
ling of the leaves in the summer breeze, ar