The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-08-16
WITH HIS OWN HANDS.
How Farragut Iashed Himself to the shrouds at
the Battle of HObile.
From the ". T. Sun.I

William Page, the artist who painted the
famous portrait Of Admiral FarTagut in the
rigging of the flagship, which was subsequently
purchased by committee of citizens for
$1,000, and presented to the Grand Duke
Alexis, said TO reporter recently, at his home
near Richmond Valley, Staten Island:
was much interested in reading the dis
cussiOn which arose some months ego concern
ing the statement of naval officer that Admiral
Farragut was not dashed or tied TO the rigging
while directing the movements OF the feet
during the engagement from his high position
on the mast Of the vessel. / can give the state
ments of the Admiral himself, and think they
viii settle the question. / have often wanted
to explain what Admiral Farragut said TO me
about this matter. When he was sitting for
that painting | was living at Eagleswood, n.
j., and he came regularly from New York for
the sittings. When they began, asked him
TO describe his actual position during the con-
flict
He then explained how he had first as
cended the rigging on one side OF the vessel TO
give orders TO the men below He found, how
ever, that the smoke interfered with his view,
and the officers on deck could not see his
movements or motions correctly. While he
WAS in the rigging he noticed piece of shell
strike a lew feet above his head and cut away a
portion of the maintop beneath which he was
standing, with his feet resting on the rope
ladder. CHANGING below, he noticed that If he
should be wounded or killed as he merely
held on by his hands, he might roll down the
shrouds overheard, and his body might not be
recovered owing to the smoke and quick move
ments of the maneuyeTing fleet. AS his son
was on board he desired to prevent such a
result. so that OF finding the smoke so thick
as to intercept his view where he was he de-
scended to the deck and crossed to the opposite
side, but on his journey across the deck he
found piece of rope, which was precisely what
he wanted, and took it aloft with him, tying
the knot himself which fastened him to the
rigging.
{" ] procured for him piece of rope 20 use IN
the posing of the painting, and the knot shown
there was the one made by himself. Probably
any sailor will recognize it as nautical knot,
or one likely to be made by q seafaring man.
When | went to unite it. its formation puz-
zled me, and the Admiral himself had to
undo it.
when he was relating these details TO me,
he did so without any mannerisms other than
candor and quiet modesty, giving the impress
sion that he possessed - brave and subdued
The Admiral was rather short
in stature but waS 8 very rare exception 20
artists subjects in that his figure was of the
exact classic or Greek proportion called eight
heads, meaning that his head was precisely
one-eighth the length of the entire body.
80 There are two of those life-siZe portraits in
existence. One is in the court of St. Petersburg
aud the other is in possession of Mrs. J. W.
Watson, of this city, daughter of Mr.. Page,
and whose husband is treasurer of the Central
Raj road of Neyy TerSay -