Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1877-08-02

NUMBER SO.
the supreme government Of the land,
and that. also as a general thing, he
has little or no respect for local state
or municipal authority. Perhaps
this may be the natural result Of that
familiarity which begets contempt.
The mobocrats may remember that
they are themselves the immediate
creators OF the local governments,
and that as they have made, so they
may at pleasure unmake, through the
periodicals process of ballot boxing,
governors, mayors and sheriffs. But
whatever may be the philosophy Of
the mob's respect for natural authori-
ty and its contempt for that OF local
character, the fact remains, and its
lesson should not be forgotten. The
power whose mere name secures the
sancity OF the mails, should be ex-
erted equally for the defense OF in
terstate commerce. II state govern
ments are unable to defend the lives
and property Of their own citizens,
that is matter that may be left to
our citizens and the states. But
when a citizen OF Illinois is. in dan
ger Of lawless outrage and his prop
erty OF destruction at the hands OF q
Pennsylvania mob, for instance, why
should he not be entitled to at least
as much OF the nations protecting
power as would be sxerted In his be-
half were he a sojourner among the
Fills? sss... 49,. ...-r
Farragut In the Rattle Of Mobile.
There has been some controversy
as to the historical accuracy OF the
statement that Admiral Farragut was
lashed to the rigging OF MS flagship
In the memorable battle Of Mobile
Bay. 1t is not q matter Of great i'm
portance, yet having become historic
1t Is well that it should be authenti-
Gated IL possible. This is quite ef-
fectually done by letter from Major
James Montgomery, secretary OF the
late admiral, who was not only an
eye witness OF the whole engage
ment, but has personal knowledge OF
the incident referred to and has fre-
quently heard 1t related by the Ad-
miral himself. Furthermore, Major
Montgomery has In his possession
the written statement OF several
officers OF the feet fully corrobor-
ating his own statement With this
preliminary explanation we quote
from his letter: ~.
Shortly after the line Of battle was
formed and the vessels In column
got we'll under way, Admiral Far
ragut went into the port main rig
ging and took position q short dis
tance above the sheer-hole. His OBJ
ject was to control the movements OF
his feet and to obtain an unobstruc-
ted view of the movements Of the
enemy. As the firing increased and
the hulls OF his vessels become en-
veloped In smoke. he went up the
rigging step by step, until he reached
the junction OF the futtock shrouds.
where, standing on the ratlines and
an arm passed through the rigging.
enabling him to use his marine glass,
he remained until the batteries and
ram were passed and the smoke
cleared away, when he returned to
the poop-deck. Whilst in the posi-
ton described. Captain Drayton.
commanding the flagship. fearing
that he (the AdmiraD might be woun-
ded and fall to the deck or over
board. sent the signal -quartermaster
to him with small piece OF rope
a hammock -lashing-with the re-
quest that he would secure himself
to the rigging. The old hero sent it
back saying, Il do not want itp
whereupon the Captain returned 1t
with the message, TELL Admiral Far
ragut that he will oolige me by ma
king himslf FAST" upon which the
Admiral took the rope. passed it
twice around his body. and then
coiled the end several times to the
rigging admitting it was a sensible
precaution, and adding, as he fas-
tened 1t, @There; tell Captain Dray-
ton Tn all right" In the subsequent
encounter with the ram Tennes-
see, his ~actual position" was In the
port mizzen rigging, a few rstlines
above the deck. and whilst there ne
was again secured to the shroud,
with small rope. by his devoted
Flag Lieutenant and friend. Lieuten-
ant Commander J. G. Watson, cer-
tilted to by himself As stated. the
Admiral took this position for the
sole purpose Of commanding an un-
obstructed view OF the entire scene
OF action, the dense volGme OF smoke
which rested upon the bay rendering
1t impossible to sec any distance
from the decks.
This testimony is entirely eonclu
sive, and must be accepted as finally
settling an interesting historical
incident
ssSOmething Like"
The Rome county Sehool cnnarfn.