New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-03
"FAIRAGUT dashed TO THE MAST"

| "FAIRAGUI LASliCD ~ LIE
TESTIMONY or ONE WHO KNEW HIM AND HEARD
THE sToRY-A PICTURE THAT IS HISTORICAL
| WHY THE ADMIRAL WAS BOUND TO THE MAST
| tn the Editor or Tke Tribune.
| SIR: "Farragut dashed to the rigging OF the
Hartford In Mobile Bay" win down to history rs the
central figure OF great nautical spectacle III ths popu
lar conception regarding important national event
only piece Of poetic fancy as is ntimated by the au
thor OF recent article In Scribners Monthly Magazine
Il ought to corrected But strong hold mas IL al
ready taken upon the Imagination OF the whole people,
wise and simple alike, its refutaon will require
much stronger evidence than has ever yet been pre-
sented upon the side OF Faraguts detractos Moreover
II ia difficult to see how the popular idea by pos
siy be dsp owed. resting as 1t does In many MINUS
| upon the testimony OF the principal actor himself.
IL was my very great good fortune to have been non
ored by a what intimate acquaintance with the Al
mra for long period before and during his last Illness
He WAS not IN the habit Of speaking voluntarily OF his
own EXPLOITS, and always did with extreme modesty
and simplicity when such subjects were introduced Dy
others But have often heard from his lips and drawn
from them by questonings many OF the particulars OF
the Mobile Bay engagement and Of his own part theren
and can say that my impression OF the scene as de-
rived from his narration has always been precisely III
accordance with Mr. william Pages welknOwn picture
and with the popular belief
Farragut was dashed to the rigging 4" during that
action In rs nearly possible the exact position c1-
the picture. Or course ne was hOt Doulu IoI
and fight IN q way to prevent all freedom OF motion
but small rope plsse loosely around his BODY ana
around the shrouds and tied This done, not merely
s the article alluded declares. precauton TO save
his body in case he should be killed " but to save his
life y preventing him from being killed by the fall in
the much more probable contingency of his being stunned
o. wounded In such to deprive HIM OF con-
scionspcss or of tIe power to maintain his hold
Furthermore the modesty. ore the contempt, OF
Mr. PAGE should prevent his taking any notice OF ibis
new attack upon the authenticity OF his representation
take the liberty OF saying in his behalf that he took his
instr ctions for the pose of the portrait and for the
details q: dress and properties from the Admiral
himself i'm person aud in the studio. There can n no
manner dUuDt that Dir Pages picture gives pfecs'y
rim. Admirais recollection OF his position ana ~
pealnce and surroundings in the crisis OF ke actl au
that il. in the trucst possible sense Vi inc "Oru lid
tOllcal picture. ,ors
THE article in question also alleges that many officers
and men of that fleet unite in considering II (hr lse -
an CYcr!rawn picture" This IL quite Hkey III II Wen
known that a class OF men has existed I'D tlee uhIcu
states wv both before and since the Adnrais ucath
whose envy exceptionally pure aHd none chat'c-
on Expressing themselves spitenl annoysnees whlc
be lived ana III petty detracohs since u" dIeu. IL
ploblb that Judgment 81 the auho' on hc ruS1c
in yiHeI's biased inuOccntly perbaps,p the
cfioi Is oi that class. D., a., 800 ,
Pofjiiu iluatiy sometime errS; hut IN the case vi
Farr,eu - in those Uf Washington anu Lincoln, IL mas
found worthy object. And IL Is wen Tor the peope 70
nervc M IN ,pIc detrartOrS tlcy are ieaIhing 10 40
t.nt IN the ages of 81 isScal ana nldd'-asc romance
md chyarY tbey vii mud no nohkr example Oh true
malhood than presented III our own iapd anu times
b, our great Admiral. A. do
I'm, \ y,