Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-08-26
rARRAGUT's FIRST FIGHT.
He Was But 10 When lie TOOK
Part in a Desperate Battle.


Farracut obtained a midshipman's
commission before he was years old,
which case has probably no parallel In
the history of the American navy. de
was 10 wears and month old only when
he Joined the Essex, brave and self
reliant, adventurous, but dutiful boy,
afterward emminently fitted to command,
because early accustomed to obey.
The Essex was built at Salem, and
paid for by the patriotic contributions
of the citizens of that place. Capt.
Porter took command of her in August,
1911, young Fhr:a3ut being with him,
and the frigate was then lying at Nor
folk, Va.
On the 18th of June, 1912, only about
eleven months afterward, the Congress
sf the United States, declared war against
Great Britain, and his declaration was
read to the crew of the Essex on three
successive days, so that no British sub
ject on board if there chance to be one,
should be required to serve against his
flag.
There were none who were not liable
to duty, the Essex sailed on her memofs
BILE cruise in the Pacific Ocean. She was
the first American man-of-war to pass
around Cape Horn, as she had been the
first to double the Cape of Good Hope
and her experience was rough one; but
it was followed by series of almost I'm
interrupted successes and victories, until
she finally encountered the British frigate
Phoebe and the British sloop- ofwar
Cherub early in February, 1914, off Val
paraiso, Chilli.
A combined attack was made upon
her by these two vessels while half the
men belonging to the Essex were on
shore (but upon a signal being given,
the men were all aboard the Essex in
fifteen minutes, and all but one prepared
for duty.
After one of the most desperate bat
ties ever fought upon the ocean, under
the adverse conditions of contending
with two vessels of the enemy of greater
superior force, herself disabled by furi-
Gus storm, all her officers but one killed,
and the Essex on fire, she surrendered in
defeat, like that on land at Bunker
Hill, which was more glorious than the
victory.
The commander of the British forces,
Capt. Hillyar, was wounded and died
before the engagement ended.
In his note book young Farragut says:
During the action | performed the
duties of Captains aid, quarter gunner,
powder boy, and, in fact, did everything
that VAS required of me. shall never
forgot the horrid impression made upon
me at the sight of the first man had
ever seen killed He was boatswain's
mate, and was fearfully mutilated. 1t
staggered and sickened me at first; but
they soon began to fall around me SO
fast that it all appeared like dream and
produced no effect upon my nerves.
81 can remember we'll, he continues,
''while was standing near the Captain,
Just abaft the mainmast, shot came
through the waterways and glanced up
ward, killing four men who were stand
ing beside the gun, taking the last one
in the head and scattering his brains
over both of us. But this awful sight
did not affect me half as much as the
death of the first poor fellow. neither
thought of nor noticed anything but the
working of the guns"
Such was the literal baptism of fire
and blood of the young midshipman and
future Admiral, as if fate or that Divine
Providence which he always reverently
recognized, intended thus signally t.
forecast his illustrious destiny.
Later on in his journal young Farragut
wrote: after the battle had ceased
when on going below saw the mangled
bodies Of my shipmates, dead and dying
groaning and expiring, with the most
patriotic sentiments on their lips, be-
came faint and sick, my sympathies were
all aroused among the badly wounded
was one of my best friends, Lieut. Sew.
ell. When spoke to him he said, o
Davy, fear it is all up with me- bu
when it was proposed to drop another
patient and attend to him, he replied
No, doctor, none of that; fair play is
jewel. One mans life is as good as an
others; would not cheat any poor fell
low out of his turn. Thus died" con
tinues the journal, zone of the best an,
bravest men among us"