The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-22
A HERO OF THE OLD NAVY.
COMMODORE DAVID PORTER AND
THE EoXARDO AFFAIR.
How Ho Suppressed Piracy In the CUR and

Every American is familiar with the carly
career of Commodore David Porter; how as a
lad he entered tho first navy OF the infant re-
public; how In 1T0s, at the age of 10. he became
a Midshipman; how In the following year he
distinguished himself during the struggle Of the
Constellation with tho L'lnsurgente by cutting
away a wounded spar on his own responsibility:
how he shared the fate OF the crew of the Phila.
delphia, and was imprisoned at Tivoli, and how
his cruise in the Essex was by far the most
gallant and romantic episode of the war of 1872.
Popular knowledge regarding Porter. how
ever. ceases with tho return of peace. tho pop
ular belief doubtless being that ho then retired
into some Nalhalla OF comfort, sustained by the
gratitude of his countrymcn and cheered by
their universal plaudits. But tho sequel in
reality was vastly different; and in its record
of futile self-sacrifcc and success and of pntri-
otism COMPOUNDED by conservative oficialism. 1t
presents n tale Of melancholy interest.
The war of 1912, being n practical demonstra-
ton of the strength of popular government,
stimulated the Spanish possessions OF the New
World to rebellion. One after another the col
onics of Central and South America asserted
and maintained their Independence. or course
the United States sympathiZed with these revo.
lutions; yet out from them there arose n critical
condition which demanded the armed attention
of the Government.
The new republics. Buenos Ayrcs and vcnez-
uela in particular. commissioned privateers,aen
against the merchant marine of Spain. These
soon swept tho Spanisb traffic from the Gulf
and the Main. This success increased the
predatory service, and with ,, hcrs came n
rockl.ss iact of discri,ni,o,i, ,,v cr., -,
slaves. lpborcrs. asherm,n. farmers co,stwise
and world W ile ruabans that copld comm,na ,
schooner with u couple of guns put to sea; and
whenever they met an uiarmCd and heavily
loden craft ,ben followed a,,acr hlo,dsh.d
rnpIne and s%cu,tlinp without rernr6 IN vI,,t
colors tIonted fr,m i,s nepk mr. what re,ist.r
rested in its cabin locker Th, Vves, Indian
comnerco NJ ev.rv NATHAN md os,.cio,Iv NJ ,ho
United States. was se-ioulv intcrrun,ed. and
those win Mt first had hccn rr,is.d n ,n,rh,,.
were denounced AS pirates brethren NJ the
coas, and enemics NJ nh mankird
The Initial States SOM foun1 TIM, to,oranca
was dcemed a sign nj weakness some crris.rs
and frirates were despatched IN the Gulr NJ
N,oxic, With ins,ruction. IN convoy Am,ri,on
vessels cxtirno,e niracv. and k..n , sharn ava
AGAINST IN. slave ,rudc' TN. service nrovod ox.
haustinr and dangerous Asmnst ~. tho ,ir,,i.
az ""'
cal craft were OF hght draught. pursuit had to
be made in open boats under tropical heats by
dav and with malnriol chills Nv NIGH, TWAS
."' "N w" 'a,'' -" ~ "ts".> "
IN such service that oIirer Hazard Perry, the
hero of Lake Erie, lost his life. Whenever the
nira,es wore onc,un.ercI ,bcv vvore von,uisb.d.
o''"'es wore ei'e'"n'eie" 'HtS "c'e ''""uiSheu'
but day by day the question of first catching
them became more pcrplrxiuE and uncertain,
N.,,wbjl, portar w.s boIIin, IN. oeic. -,
-, '1 '"o NV y,
Naval Commissioners. an easy berth with good
pay and moderate home duties. But in 1928,
vic, tho suhi.ct cf Vast India, dsnr.d.,;,,s
'eS' ~. WV"
had become a problem ms notifying as 1t was
inexplicable, he voluntarily resigned his Com
,,is.i,rorshi, aud a,,ounc.a his r.odi,oss IN
=" "' ~ y
settle the buccaneers al once anu ior all time.
This offer vas gladly accepted by the Monroe
.tun'"''''"'o" wv" " p'o"P' continuance III
the experienced Commodore'ss suggestions. Por-
..n.,n,n n, ht,,.o,, s.,oa,aJ -, ~.
utausn. . ne 'nhse se'eo.eu a. nostoh
quito. the Gnat. the Nudge. the Sandhy. and tho
tautrinnor ,,1 no,uIa,,r .o,,,oa ",ho NJ
"ai''nippe'. u popu'"''s 'cfneo 'he MUS.
quito fleet" He also procured eight small
schuoners, CARRYING three guns each. of which
the most famous was the Beagle, the others
animals. The flagship was the Peacock. and
hNe cruisers ioi'o"eu IN us wake lhere was
also a New YORK ferryboat perhaps as a test of
armament was both serviceabie and formidable,
Portcr's good judgment soon reaped the nat.
Key West, and from there secured the coasts
Of San Domingo and Cuba. lie crushed out
nests OF pirates on Porto Rico and the Isle of
Palms. Every month there were innumerabie
adventures. cutting ont expeditions. hnnd.to-
hand fights In which the women OF the free
hooters showed the greater ferocity, midnipht
chases through bayous and creeks, desccnts on
caves and keys. and bonrdings with cutlass and
pike. while tho Jolly Roger tapped definntlv
nailed TO the masthead. The diary OF David
Glasgow Farrarut. who. MS everywhere. bore n
fnithfuI. courareon mart In this service. reads
like n romp nee OF the sea rather than the record
OF CONSIDERATIONS Young manhood, The bucca-
neers were dispersed. il not wholly destroyed.
ana American merchantmen sailed unmoiesteI
nndcr such viEiinnt conyoyins. All Ills, low.
ever. was accomplished at the cost Of much
sickness and OF many lives. In 1879 yellow
lack droye the fleet into northern waters. In
1874 Porter was compelled. through tho break
ing out OF an old wound, to take a furlough,
Samuel /. southland was Monr0e's SECRETARY
of the Navy. a public functionary OF the old
school, whose particular ATTITUDE Tor the Naval
Department had been founded by excellent
work as a law reporter. lie il was who on his
appointment had been unable 10 make ready
answer to the quip of "a friend:
Nov. Mr.. Southland, can YOU assert that YOU
know the bow from the stern OF a friente -
between him aud Porter there was antago-
nism. The Secretary felt that ho was ignored;
the Commodore fretted from lack OF apprecin-
ton. The one felt his Official aud the other his
about Porter's right to return without permits
sion. There were remonstranccs over a suita.