The morning call., 1892-03-27

Broke was dangerously wounded, aDd Watt.
our first lieutenant, was killed by ballet
from the foretop Ii thus came to pass. at
the age of 22 took command OF the Shan
non. put my junior, Mr. Fslkner. in charge
OF the prize, placed their own letters on the
wrists OF our prisoners and set sail for Hall
fax.
ut was Sunday when we arrived there
and everybody was In church. We were
concealed By fog till close to the harbor;
the yards of both ships were name d and
the British flag foated proudly over the
American ensign. The rumor of our CON-
ing spread like wildfre; the worshipers
abandoned their clergyman and rushed
down to the qhays, followed In quick order
by the choirbeys in their robes, and finally
by the Clergyman himself, who aid not even
walt TO divest himself Of his surplice.
I'm passing UP the bay there was a great
shout from the people, for they thought our
prize was the forty-four-gun frigate
cordial dislike, but when they
heard that it was the Chesapeakes
and that Lawrence, her commander.
was dead, not huzza was heard, except. l
believe. from brig lying at anchor. Ca.
tain Lawrence was highly respected for his
humanity to the crew of the Peacock, and
marks of real grief were seen in the eounte-
nanees OF all the inhabitants l had a chance
TO see. / can truly say that all appeared TO
lament his death, and 1 heard several say
lUal tity cOnSlueFeu the DlOOu WHICH ldu
been shed on the Chesapeake's deck as being
as dear TO them as that of their own country
men.
ION the day OF the funeral saw three
mahogany collins carried on board tie
Chesapeake. In one OF them the remains OF
Captain Lawrence were placed and then
.rOwed in q twelve-oared barge. to mlnue
strokes, to the shore, followed by q process
sion of boats al respectful distances After
landing at Kings wharf a regiment of
~ 4 ttr.n
Dead March in SauP took mp the iue Of
march. Six of the Oldest navy captains in
port carried the pail, which was one of the
colnrs of the Chesapeake, and on top of the
coffin was placed Lawrence'S sword. the
procession was very long and everything
was conducted in tie most solemn and re-
spectfui manner, and the wounded officers
of both nations, who followed the process
sion, made the scene very affecting. never
attended funeral in my life when my
feelings were SO struck. There was not the
least mark OF exultatioD, that L saw, even
among the commonest people"
These were fitting honorS to pay to the
remains of the gallant Lawrence, who in
dying had called out to thnse around
him. Don't give up the ship" Unques-
tionably he was a hero who had fallen
proudly in battle, bat when the interests OF
j country are at stake in momentous issues
the thought arises whether Captain Law
renee would not have been more OF a hero
Dy showing discretion ana maneuNeTlDR
skill rather than lmpetuOus yalor. England
at that time could better have afforded 10
lose a score If vessels than the United States
one, for our navy was so ridicuiously small
at the commencement Of the war as to be
held 10 contempt by the over-conlident Brit
ish. flushed with victory over the French
everywhere on the high seas.
When on the 18th OF June, 1872, war was
declared, tile number Of our vessels was
insignificant compared with the powerful
fleets which England could equip. The
guubGats built by order OF a previous adj
mlnistTatiOn had been found to be useless.
and they were all out of commission. EX-
elusive of these there were twenty-one
vessels, fourteen of which were in com
mission. OF the seven not in Comm.s-
sion, enc was on Lake Ontario, three were
undergoing repairs and three were beyond
repair. OF the fourteen in commission.
three were frigat of Al guns, one