Evening journal., 1895-10-19
our aalary of Naral neroes.

distinguished, and our city never sent
more representative delegation to apy
public function. The cheers Of the
thousands who greeted the action Of
Miss Gray in breaking the bottle OF
champagne over the bow OF the VII
mington as she slowly started
down the ways, were drowned by the
thunder .of the salute fred : by the
North Atlantic Squadron. which
had been ordered there for the express
purpose OF greeting their sister ships Of
war on their baps!smal day.
The sight was one Of aplendor and will
never bo forgotten by those who saw II
Every Dslawaresn who was present will
return prouder than ever Of bis state and
her traditions.
This is case OF honor deferred being
honor conferred. for both Delaware and
Wilmington have played such an
important part In the affairs Of the
nation that the honor which Secretary Of
the Navy Herbert has conferred upon US
should have come from some earlier
ADMINISTRATION
Delaware has galaxy OF naval heroes
Of which any state In the Union might
well bo proud They distinguished them
selves IN the great revolutionary sirng-
gle and aided In the second csstigation
Of Great Britain IN the war OF 1912
During the Civil War Delaware ad
mlrai devastated the Southern coast and
materially contributed to the stupsndous
work Of putting down q rebellion, which
thrsatsned to rsnd our country from the
Atlantic to the Pacific
Tbs names Of Delawarss naval heroes
are emblszoned In letters Of living light
upon the records Of the Navy'D Department
from the time when Thomas Read, the
frst to attain the rank OF commodore In
command OF feet OF the American navy,
70 that Of Admiral Dupont, the hero,
whose influence and genius were felt In
Mexico, China and the confederate states.
LIST ms glance At the personal achieve
ments Of the most conspicuous Of theso
hsroes.
Commodore Read won distinction ~
brave soldier and daring and enterprising
navigator, just as his kinsman, Colonel
James Read, had 81 the head OF the NavT
Department during the dark days OF the
revolution. In 1875, when bat 80 years
old, this talented man. Commodore Read.
WAS made commodore Of the Pennsylvania
navy. With his ships he kept the Britieh
out Of tho Delaware bay and river His
parBonal magnstlsm was SO great that on
one occasion four captains volunteered 20
serve under him ss seamon before
the mast. In 1876 hs was ap
pointed to the hlghost grade attainable
So the Continel navy, and placed IN com
mand Of one Of the four largest ships lu
the service. While hia ship was still on
the stocks be could not rest Inactive and
he and his oficers volunteered for land
service and Joined Washlngton's forces.
They rendered iuoaleulsble service IN the
celebrated crossing Of the Delaware At
Trenton the commodore oommandsd
battery of guns which had been taken
from his own frlgato, and, for hi
valuable services. was aecor ded tho
thanks Of the general officers. At the
conclusion Of his naval aud military
service he entered the merchant service
and, In the course OF his voyages, dis
covered the Caroline Islands. one Of
which still bears the name Of his ship
A bIographer, in speaking Of him, says:
"While integrity. benevolenco. patriotism
and courage united with the most gentle
manners. are respected and admired among
men, the name OF this valuable citizen and
soldier VIII be revered md beloved. he was,
IA the nobltst iml o. [ OF the word, a-man."
One OF the fathers OF the American
Navy WAS Colonel James Read. q brother
Of the commodore In addition to hls
valuable services In the Navy Depart
ment hs fought as = soldier at Trenton,
Princeton and Germantown. Ia 177S he
was appointed one Of three commission
ers Of tbs navy for the Middle States,
and. later was invested with full power
to conduct the Navy Board subsequently
becoming the virtual head Of the marine
department While in Sweden the
queen was 80 impressed with his
character and sttainments that she made
him knight OF the order Of the
Auaranth.
We must not forget Captain James
Montgomery, who sailed his little Draft
on. Of the Christians and captured three
valuable Bndsh prizes. which we're max
Ing their way up tho Delaware river IN
der escort. Captain Thomas Geddes and
his sloop war Petspseo made their
ilauence felt IN the struggle FOR indie
pandenco While other Delaware man
were lighting on the high seas, Cesar
Rodney and Thomas Rodney were ofici
aiing ia tho capacity Of judges Of the
Admiralty Court
While we might mention other Dela
wareans who did more or less service IN
the Revolutionary war. We must pass
On to the second struggle with Great
Britain which began IN 1912 and lasted
three years. In this 6ghs for the
establishment Of the rights Of the United
States as nation and Of Americans &c
individ1alF, one OF the FIRST men to fall
was Lieutenant William s. Bush, whose
Delaware blood dyed the decks Of the old