The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-01-03
FOUGHT FOR MURPHY"
Admiral Farragut's First Victory
at Sea.

Early in the spring OF 1914 the beau
tiful harbor of Valparaiso, the chief sea-
port of Chill, wss the scene of several
stirring events. Capt. Porter, afterward
admiral, on returning from his famous
cruise in the southern seas, repaired to
the Gillian seaport before beginning his
long voyage to the United States. Dur
ing his trip among the warm seas he had
won great glory for the American navy
by capturing nearly every English whale
ship known to be off the coast Of Peru
and Chill, and by takingfrom the enemy
property valued at over two million dol
lars. Besides relieving the American
whalers of all danger he had inspired
the Peruvian and Gillian authorities
with respect for the power of the United
States.
While putting up for a short time in
this South American port his ship, the
Essex, was attacked by the English men,
of-war Cherub and Phoebe. The gal
liant fight which followed was one of the
bravest in naval history. Though the
Essex wa injured by a squall before the
battle commenced, and the weight of
men and metal was heavily in favor Of
the British, the American man-of-war
had strong chances of victory until the
hawser Of the Essex parted and fire was
discovered below decks.
The burning of the ship decided the
fate of the conflict. The flames spread
rapidly, driving the gunners from their
places and terrifying the Efforts
were made to subdue the flames, but
under the heavy fire of the enemy's guns
this was impossible. They crept nearer
and nearer to the magazine, where sew
eral hundred kegs of powder were stored
away. Approaching the danger that
awaited the ship and its gallant crew
Capt. Porter called his men together and
gave them liberty to make the attempt
to swim ashore. Many made the at
tempt and succeeded, but others were
drowned.
hauled down and the surrender made.
Among the seyenty-fve prisoners who
were transferred to the decks of the
Phoebe was a boy midshipman, who
was not more than 10 years of age. He
had been active in the battle, and now
that all was lost he refused to leave the
ship until his captain was ready to go.
Dressed in his bright but battle worn
uniform the young midshipman at
tracted no little attention from the En-
glish sailors. There was a manly, deter
mined look ON the youthful face, which
betokened strength of character and
will. When he stepped from the deck
of the Essex to that of the Phoebe no
cast a lingering glance at the burning
ship. and seemed to be taking a long
farewell of his old friend.
''See the little youngster." remarked
one of the old sailors on the English
ship. HE looks a if he was the cap
tain"
Captain Of his mothers apron
strings" volunteered another.
A general laugh followed these re-
marks, but the boy, without deigning to
notice the jeers, stepped lightly from
the bulwark of the ship to the deck.
Taking his place among the prisoners he
quietly waited for further developments.
The English seamen were actively en-
gagged in transferring everything of
value from the burning vessel to the
Phoebe. The magazine, storeroom,
staterooms and ven the captains cabin
were ransacked for valuables. The
flames, meanwhile, were being put out
gradually by the Englishmen.
As one thing after another was brought
from the hold of the doomed ship and
thrown recklessly across to the deck of
the successful m~an-of-war, the Ameri-
can sailors closed their teeth with rage,
and almost longed for a renewal of the
conflict. Articles that had become dear
and familiar to their gaze during their
long journey in the southern seas were
now passing before their eyes into the
hands of the enemy. 1t was a sight suf-
fcient to cause bitter feelings in any
heart.
Finally one of the sailors came up
from the hold of the Essex clasping a
small pig in his arms. The pig was
~squealing from fright, while the sailor
shouted put to his comrades in a loud
voice:
"a prize. boys, a prizei By Jove! its
q A&AC 5AAANNA
He leaped upon the deck of the En-
glish ship. There was a commotion for
a moment among the prisoners. The
young midshipman stepped up to the
sailor with the pig, and claimed it as his
own.
"It's my pet pig" said the midship-
man, "and he doesn't belong TO you.
His name is Murphy and he has been
with us ever since we left the island of
Mocha. Viii you give him up
mo; you are a prisoner and so is
your pig shouted the sailor, at which a
general laugh was set up by the others.
The young midshipman, however, was
not to be robbed 50 easily. His face
flushed up with anger, and seizing the
pig with both hands he said sharply:
'sBut we always respect private prop
erty. and this pig belongs to me-"
The pig in question by this time began
to feel uncomfortable in the hands of its
txco cta:--~-+ -1 ~~-c~F-~ was ra-
newed and increased tenfold. The salcr
chung to his prize, and the young mid
shipman kept his hold with equal deter
min1tion.
- -- A.