The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-03-27

to tho general: "Wo havo mot tho
onomy, aud they ara ours"
IN Ills dispatch to tho secretary Of
| tichavy tho commodore wrote: "When
wont aboard tho Niagara loft tho
Lawrence IN charge OF Lieutenant John
j. Yarnall, who. was convinced from
mo bravery already displayed by hlin,
would no what would colnport with tho
honor Of tho ilag."
For Ills heroic conduct In this engage.
mont tllrcO statoS conferred upon him
testimonials Of his valor commolnora
two Of his services. Tho state Of Now
York conferred upon him gold medal
appropriately inscribed, Pennsylvania
presented him with II silvor medal suit.
nbly inscribed and commanding his
bravery. Virginia, his native state,
presented him with costly sword In Il
silver scabbard, plated with gold. bear.
Ing tho following inscription: I'm H..
timony OF tho undAuntcd gallantryof
Lieutenant John Jollliro larnall. OF
tho United statos ship Lawrence. undor
Commodore Porry, In tho capture Of
tho English fleet, tho atato Of Virginia
boslows this sword" These roles nro
still IN tho possession OF Lieutenant
Yarnall's descendants.
Mrs. Emily j Ross in a latc papor
published by her gives tho following In.
cidcnts. She says: during the lato
war tho sword was won by General
Kelley in several battles. having been
loaned to him by Mr.. Ynrnall Ia do.
uccndant Of tho leutcuant), who waa
pleased to have It used in tho service of
that country which had 80 highly hon.
oted his ancestor IN its bcstowal.
Friends. however, fearing for tho losa Of
80 valuable relic, induced Mr.. farnall
to have it returned to him"
We turthor quote from this interest.
ing writer: Virginia during tho civil
war was like tho old Gracm's land-the
dobatablo land DotwoOn tho north md
the south, and was 40 constantly over
run that no ono ielt certain OF retain.
ing property or valuables OF any dlscrip.
ton. An old slave women devoted to
tho family, aud who at tho advanced
age OF nnety-eicht, still romans herself
relic OF the regime, conceived the idea
that those sacred mementocs wero not
safe Ia the place whero they wero
usually kept, aud might DO appropriat.
cd by marauding bands merely for the
value OF the metal OF which they were
composed. Alary's master proposed de-
posting them in tho salty vaul. OF q
bank, but with the authority no one
knew bctter how to assume than these
old and devoted slave women Of south.
ern families, she said: No, banks mightbe
robbed or burn down. Sho had cared
for old massa's sword all her life and
was still able to do so. One morning
tho sword and medal had disappeared
from their accustomed place, and for a
time all was dismay and CONSIDERATION
as it was supposed they had been stolen.
However, on being questioned. Mary
told her master. that she had hidden
them, but refused to tell where they
had beou secreted; nor did she do so
until after peace was declared, when 90.
ing to the orchard. she dug them up
from the roots OF an apple tree"
In the year 1915 Lieutenant Yarnall
was detailed to accompany Commodore
Decatur, who was sent out by the gov.
ernmeut with instructions to chastise
the pirates Of the Barbary coast, who
had committed heavy depredations
upon our commerce in the waters OF
the Mediterranean, thus Gripping our
trade In the Orient The expedition
having proved successful, ut its close,
tho commodore placed Yarnall in COM
mand OF tho mnn.o(-war LEperv:er
and coniided to his keeping dispatches
to tho government. The vessel sailed
far IA h,,t ohnI . h. 81
States, and from that day 10 this no
tidings have been heard OF her. She is
supposed to have founderod ut son, and
all on board OF her doubtless found
watery grave beneath the pillows OF the
ocean.
In stature Lieutenant Yarnall was six
feet in height. OF commanding presence,
strong and muscular, inclined to 10
tleshy, and possessed frank. open and
intelligent countenance. There is
portrait Of him in existence, now lin
possession OF tho family OF William
Lippincott. OF Philadelphia, which is
said to be q faithful and correct like
ness Of him, and is the only one which
has bcen preserved OF this remarkable
man.
Peter Yarnall, who will be reco!lected
by some OF our old citizens, the former
proprietor and landlord Of the old Unit
cd States Hotel, which Mt ono time oc.
cupicd the hite OF the present Windsor
Hotel, was brother OF our hero. Our
city lnny well be proud OF tho record OF
this Wheeling boy, and ought to keep
green the memory OF his deeds and
character. His fathers remains were
inferred in the East Wheeling grave
yard. which civilized community has
permitted to DO dcsecrated, and to 70 to
ruin and decay, and to become public
commons. where shattered and broken
tombstoncs and sunken graves. over.
grown with noxious weeds and vines,
in silent. bu. eloquent voices evoke
from tho living. rs they pass by, the cx-
clamation: "What q shame" but
awakcns no effort TO arrest tho vandal
spirit which hus visited with the boaom
Of destruction tho sacred spot where lilo
tho romans of some Of our worthicat
and most respected citiznns OF tho past,
aud over whose dust and ashes roam un.
restrained stray cattle, and whore tho
vilc and infamous in lawlcss Indulgence
ply thoi: nciarious games aud indulge
in their wild orgies.
Tho broken and dismantled tomb.
stone OF tho father OF tho subject OF this
sketch has been removed IRON the spot
where his ashes lilo, and stands propped
nm in nm alley on tho Wcst sdp Of tho vord