Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-11-25
A GRAND OLD SHIP.
Condition Of Farragut's Frigate
the Hartford
GLORIOUS RELIOoF THE LATE WAR.

The Vessel That Bore the Brave Commo-
dore's Ensign Through Many Fights. To
BE Repaired and Put In Commission
Fsrragut's Reply to the Sailing Master
The speakership Contest - Defiant
Pension Bureau Omcials Who Decline
10 Resign-Omcial Notes.
WASHINGTON CITY, Nov. ga deter
mined effort will be made this winter, both
in congress and out of it. to save Admiral
Farragut's old flagship, Hartford. from de-
struction. Patriotic sentiment and navalpride
will alike exert their influence to secure an
appropriation sufficient to repair the hull
of the historic ship, fit her out as q sailing
vessel-if not enough money can be got to
provide her with new machinery-and send
her TO Annapolis to be used as @ school and
training ship for the naval cadets Of the pres
ent and future There has been q great deal
of backing and filing about this good old
vessel that bore Farraguts dag through the
fire and smoke of half dozen pitched naval
conflicts of the war. The two houses, being
of different politics, all measures for repair
ing the old ship have been pigeon-holed from
party jealousy, probably.
Sohuition OF the Old snip.
The Republicans are now In full power, and
the old ship will probably be put in commits
sion The Hartford is at present anchored
IN the stream of Mare island navy yard
She is stripped of masts and rigging, and q
light roof with canvass sides protects her
deck from the weather. From a recent re-
port of Naval Constructor Feaster at the
Mare island yard it would appear that her
hull is in a remarkable state Of preservation
that is, the old timbers that were put into
her when she was built at Boston In 1858
Strange TO say, the new timbers and plank
ing which went to repair the Hartford after
the terrible damage done her in Mobile bay
have rotted away, but her original ribs Of oak
are sound and hard as iron
She Bore Brave Farragut's Flag.
The Hartford bore Farragut's flag and his
person in every fight. From New Orleans,
Nickburg, Port Hudson, Grand Gulf, the
Red river, until the last grand achievement
at Mobile bay, in which the old ship was lit
orally cut to pieces, her cabin was his home,
her mast bore his flag, and her name shared
with his the glories of his victories. 1t would
be browning shame that this ship should be
destroyed for her metal
The ship lies to her anchor and swings to
the tide. Her copper is covered with growth
OF moss ana weeds nearly two inches long.
Her machinery has been stripped from her,
her cabins demolished, and she is but a bare
hull The brass plate, inscribed in honor OF
the great admiral
Damn the Torpedoes
Go Ahead, Sirl!"
still remains screwed to the break of her poop
deck
The Veteran Custodian.
One man, wounded sailor, who served
with Farragut at Mobile bay, lives on board
night and day, and is the ships sole custo-
dian. The wind flap her canvas screens and
howl along the empty docks, but the old
sailor is not disturbed He sounds the pumps
daily, but never finds leak The old hull is
as tight as drum. When night comes he
lights his pipe and draws his cot Just beneath
the brass plate referred to, and dreams peace
fully of that August morning in 1864 which
so long as life lasts he will never forget