The Portland daily press., 1890-08-23
WILLIAM HENRY ALLEN.
Inc Distinguished officer Of the
American Navy for Whom Fort Al
len was Named.
To the Editor of The Press:

To the Editor Of the Press:
The purchase by the city of the lot on
MuDjoy Hill for park purposes, and the ex-
tension of the Horse Railroad thereto, calls
attention to the history of the earth works
there and occasional inquiry as to why 1t
bears the name Of Fort Allen.
Goold, in his Portland in the Past" sup
poses it to have been fort of the Revolu-
tionary period and that 1t was probably
named In honor of Ethan Allen, who sur
prised and took the fort at Tieonderoga in
May, 1775.
There may have been a fertilization in
that vicinity In the time of the revolution,
but the particular earth work In question
was one of those thrown up during the war
of 1912. when Portland was threatened by
British fleet at the time when all Of the
Eastern coast of Maine was in possession of
the English. There was at tina: time great
excitement in Portland and earth works
were hastily thrown up for the protection Of
the harbor.
The Eastern Argus of September 8, 1914,
says:
We are happy to find ample provision Is In rap
ID progress for the defense OF the town. The
IOTL al FISH fOlnL Is lar In ADVANCE fOr compile
tIon and troops are on the march ID cooperate
with our forces stationed here. . . :.
General Irlshs brigade Immediately repairs to
this post part, we understand, have already ar
rived and others are coming in Part, or the
whole Of General McMillan's brigade are expect
ed, adding to these the experienced United States
artlllerists lately arrived we hope to be able TO
meet the enemy at the waters edge. Confident
In ourselves, with force Of 5000 or 6000 men,
we are able to defend the town against the land
ing Of any force the enemy will send.
Tha ruus of Novamhar * 1914 has fhfa
para graph:
ness the naming OF the two new batteries erected
In this town. pleasure, because these two i'm
portant positions bear In memory the names Of
renee and Allen.
Fort Lawrence, as is we'll known, was the
battery where ground was broken for the
Atlantic & St. Lawrence railroad July 4,
1876. and among the speeches made on that
occasion. one refers to having witnessed the
work on that battery in 1914, when it was
being built. and the Argus adds shat the
4th of July. 1916. witnessed serious, but
most hopeful breach in the time honored
walls of Fort Lawrence"
Who were the naval heroes for whom these
forts were named?
OF course, one Of the m was the renowned
james Lawrence of the war Of 1912, born
October, 1881, and died in action June 6,
1913. The other must have been William
Henry Allen. an officer Of the American ma
Wy, born in Providence, r. l., October 21,
1874, and died In Plymouth, England, Au
gust 10, 1913. He entered the navy as mid.
shipman In 1900, and In 1909 was appointed
lieutenant in the frigate United States.
October %, 1872. he distinguished himself
in the action between this vessel and the
British frigate Macedonian which resultad
in the capture Of the latter. He received
the command of the brig Argus in 1913. with
which he cruised in the neighborhood Of
England. capturing property to the amount
as was estimated OF $1,000. 600. On August
IA, 1918, he fought the British brig Pelican,
losing the Argus and himself dying of his
wounds the next day at Plymouth, England.
Allen street, New York, was named in his
honor, and his memory will still continue to
be honored by his name being given to the
pretty park which Is destined to be one of
the most attractive ornaments Of our city.
G.. j.