Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-11-25
Captain Joseph Fry.

Captain Joseph Fry.
writer in the Baltimore Gazette furnishes
the following sketch of the late commander
of the Virginius; Captain Joseph Fry:
He was born in Florida, and served MANY
years in the United States Navy from the
latter he resigned to join the Con federacy. in
which be held the rank of Lieutenant. AS
such he served on the Mississippi, first under
the command and on the flagship of Commo>
dore Hollins at New Orleans. After the fall
of that city he had command of a small gun.
boat which the Federal fleet drove into one of
the smaller Western rivers, the "White," I
think, and finding it impossible to save her
he burnt his boat. landed his battery on a
bluff and opened fire that sunk one of his pur-
suers and drove the remainder off. The feet,
however, returned, and throwing a BODY of
some five hundred marines in his rear, while
some four or i've steamers opened on his front
made 1T hot for his two guns and sixty or sew
enty men. Fighting all around to the bitter
end. Fry never did surrender. and the first
knowledge ne had Of the battles finish was
when restored to consciousness in Federal
hospital, when he found himself severely
wounded in the shoulder. and learned that bis
little baud had been nearly all Killed or
wounded before the bluff was taken. AS
ter he was exchanged and was assigned to
duty, his wound breaking out afresh. COM
PEELED him reluctantly to yield regular service,
and, still suffering with his shoulder and
semi paralyzed arm, he undertook the lights
er duty of commanding a Confederate
steamer. the Eugene" in the blockade rum
ming. In this steamer, one of the few sail
ing regularly under the Confederate flag. Cam
tain Fry approved himself a skillful, daring
commander, and was uniformly successful
On one occasion the Eugene" loaded with
gunpowder, grounded outside of Fort Fisher
under the guns of the blockading squadron.
and when, 10 view of the heavy cannonade
which was opened upon her, he was COM
manded from the Fort, from Wilmington. and
finally from Richmond, to abandon his boat
and save his crew from what was considered
the inevitable explosion. Fry positively re-
fused to do so; stood by his ship, lighteped
her, got good tide and carried her safely in
"a measure of cool gallantry not easily SUR
passed, as he was utterly defenseless, carving
no armament. He simply stood the chance
OF being blown up, without the excite>
ment of battle to sustain his nerve, while on
the other hand the adjacent coast made es>
cape easy. From this service Fry was with
drawn to superintend the. construction of tor
pedoes, and for that purpose went to Scotland,
where the closing of the ports rendered his
efforts fruitless. After the war heard of
him in New Orleans, working on some patents
tor saving ships and curing timber, and very
poor. OF his connection with the Cubans T
know nothing, and can only suppose his pov>
erty and natural love of adventure combined
to bring about his murder.
As an old naval officer, having personal ex.
perience of the laws of blockade, he both
knew the icga! limits of his liability if cap
tured, and trusted tho flag he bore for protec-
ton from all other penalties. Had the Vir-
gnlus been Cuban privateer, as alleged, as
such she would have carried battery. and
Captain Fry would never have surrendered
without resistance. lad he borne Cuban
commission, three or four shots over his
steamer, within reach, almost, of Jamai>
cas- coast, would never have brought him to.
The truth must be he commanded an Ameri-
can steamer, and believed that the flag under
which he had so long served, and which had
conquered him, could and would insure him
at least civilized treatmeant
AN UNCOMMON MAYoR.-New London.
Connecticut, has a mayor whose vigor in exc
cutting the laws caused the common council
to vote him salary of $780, This action
called forth criticism and was condemned as
extravagant from many of the citizens. Their
pAoeesta1ious iaVe Caileu IOrCh a very sensible
letter from Mayor Waller, wherein he saws
that he believes he deserves fair salary,
which $500 is not, and adds: 81 will not re-
sign in any event until all wholesome police
aud sanitary regulations are fully, fairl , and
impartially executed within the limits of our
city. will act as mayor to accomplish said
purpose with salary if I can get it, without it
if cannot, and, if need be, will paw
salary for the sake of being mayor until I
have by faithful performance of duty gained
the favor of good citizens and the eDmity of
bad ones /"
NEAT SURGICAL OpERAT1oN.-A very
difficult but successful surgical operation was
performed on Thursday last by DIR. N. D.
Baker assisted by Drs j. B. Snodgrass and
r. NJ. Marshall, in the removal of IN eye for
Mr.. Broderick of this city, who for. long
time has been suffering from cancerous af>
lection of that member. The operation was
successfully accomplished and Mr.. B. is doing
as we'll as possible under his aff1iction