The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-12-11

during the difficulties with France by cap
turing six French priva.eers and rscaptur-
ing an American vessel, IN less than a
year. In 1903 she was ia the Mediterra-
mean, under command of Decatur, and 1t
was hsr crew and commander who were
the leading heroes in the feat Of destroying
the American ship Philadelphia, in tho
harbor Of Tripoli The Philadelphia, it
win be remembered, had fallen into the
hands Of the eaemy BY getting aground on
reef. The Enterprise was aAsrward
changed into brig. In 1913, under the
command Of Lieut.. Burrows, she captured
the British ship Boxer" The command
ers of both vessels fell in the engage
meht The new rig having impaired her
sailing qualities, the Enterprise was retired
as guard vessel.
Another name in the list Of the new
war ships is that Of an old American ship
in which Philadelphia has a special inter
est She was built at Salisbury, Mass.
Cooper, in his naval history, remarks -
"The Alliance, as her name indicates, was
launched about the time the treaty was
made with France. She was the favorite
ship Of the American navy, and, it might
be added, of the American nation during
the war Of the Revolution, filling some
such space in the public mind as has since
been Ocea2ied by her more celebrated sue
cessor, the Constitution. She was a beau
tiful and exceedingly fast ship
The beginnings of the Alliance were by
no means suspicious. Named in honor of
the treaty between the United Colonies
and France, she was placed under French
officer, Captain Landais, and commissioned
to carry the Marquis Lafayette to France,
on his return to his own country on leave
Of absence in l779 With an ill.assorted
crew, largely composed of ship-wrecked
Englishmen-of-war sailors who had yolna.
teered, she sailed from Boston on the 18th
of January and reached Brest on the 9th
Of February. On her passage serious
mutiny was discovered and quelled.-
Shortly after her arrival she was placed by
DR.. Benjamin Franklin. (thcn represent
ing this country in France, } in squadron
Of five vessels, commanded BY Paul Jones.
In the famous naval action in which the
HBon Homme Richard" and the Scraps
were the leading actors, the Alliance, still
under command Of Captain Iandais, did
as much damage to friends as foes In
June, 1880, Captain landais sailed in the
ship for America, but was deposed during
the passage on the presumption Of insani-
ty. The command was then given to
Captain John Barry. 1t was in Barry's
hands that the Alliance made her reputa-
ton. "She was, says Watson, ''in many
engagements, and always victorious-she
was fortunate ship, was a remarkably fast
sailer, could always choose her combat
she would either fight or run away-beat-
ing her adversary either by fight or fight. "
A "fo'castle yarn" concerning the Alliance
is, that she was once chased by an enemy's
two-deeker, aud that she ran fifteen knots
by the log, with the wind abeam, in max
ing her escape.
The peace of 1883 found the United
States in no condition to maintain navy
The few national vessels we're sold. An
effort was made to retain the famous AL
lance, but survey being held on her il
1885, she too was sold, in preference tt
mourning the expense of repairs. Benja
min Eyre, one of our old Kensington shiI
carpenters, was the first purchaser, and b.
him she was resold to Robert Morris
Her first mercantile trip was from Norfoll
to Bordeaux, with cargo of tobacco
Her next was to Canton, China, whence
she returned in l7ss, Her last voyag,
was to Cadiz, Spain, with -four. On hel
return, in 1870, she was sold for the ma.
terials in her hull. She was broken up
and her remains were laid upon Petty'i
Island Tin the Delaware, opposite this city,
rather curious mode, we should now thinL
Of disposing of the timbers of On old ship
Relics of her were once very common in
Philadelphia. Lafayette had mementc
Of her presented to him by Watson, ant
among General Jackson's treasures was
miniature ship, carved out Of piece o.
her timber. Thompson Westcott, Esq. o
this city, has the material for cane
"heavy and nearly as black as ebony.
No doubt there are many more such relic
in Philadelphia, and the owners would d.
a graceful thing by loaning or presentin.
them to the Centennial, to form an 'sAlli
ance cabinet" As late as 1850, the re
mains Of the Alliance were frequently seer
at ordinary stages of low water. Within
the last i've years, at remarkably low tides
the remains Of timbers of the old favorit,
have been seen. 1t is an interesting co
incidence that the keel of the new Alliance
floats in the waters under which the relic
of the old ship are hidden.--Philodeiphi,
Ledger.
December l775-ls75.