Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-25
Johnston BIakeIy-NavaI Hero.
Wilmington IN. @ MessengerJ

wilmington On. c. Messenger
Among the many distinguished na'aI
officers OF the war Of 1872 there were none
whose career was more brilliant and TO-
mantle than he whose name heads tAS
article.
In the year 1888 an Irishman, win hs
wife and two young children, sailed ZION
Ireland for America. and landed nfst a-
Charleston, but after a very brief stay 10
that place they removed to Wilmlnb'ol'
and lived. so tradition reports, upon tL'
lot at tho corner Of Front ana .NtN.
streets now the property OF Mt. S"..
Sprunt. Not many months AFTER uS'' go
tlement here the parents alel, aiu a.
buried in the then common feleptt.le y.
the dead, the graveyard adjoihlns
lanes church. and the helpless llttle -
were left 10 the cold charity OK lhe 49,
one of those children, but -. ~r1
when thus deprived of the W4tcnl-. ga "a,
OF his parents, was Johnston Blahe4l f
who tempers the wind 10 the sn0rh il..-.
raised up a friend for that helpieso ~
the person OF Edward Jones, a very p..,..,
nent member OF the par aIll ~ ~ Tented
SOLICITOR General Of the STATE. he e- ana
the orphan boy, directed his educal,,0l. 80. -',
was as a father unto him. when ~ 49,.
of are Blakely was appointe1 H.-''f III,
man in the United States navy, "' "a
talents and aptitude Tor the gullcs =. .,i-n
=
and the war with England IN ISL ~.
oped his remarkable ability ana ntIoi ..,.,.
In 1914 he was appointed 20 tht LID
mand OF the sloop or war wasp "" .,,i.ss
In that year he sailed on thss Ia
which was one OF the most Dtiit gus
our annals. In June OF that year Ler,
peared on the English coast ann ,.,,...iisf
his presence by the capture OF inc 70 ~
ship-of-war Reindeer after an aC.,,l'sssgi
but nineteen minutes. lie was Hul,. 49,
In every engagement, and the shlps y fo
enemy who were so unrortuNtse go.
meet him were compelled 20 dcni'S 49,,
his superior prowess and % ~ L,.tfv
10 his gallantry and skill. inc 49, 4,
Vas electrified and awaited his return N
bestow fresh honors on him oa' 10
he returned no more. On the 1tH ~ ~ az
vember. 1874 the brig Atlanta N tt1'.Lclv.
Savannah with dispatches lfoW t.orn,a-
and that was the last authen.iS W. ho
ton ever received OF him. he-it ne
foundered at sea or went GOV IN ne
roar of battle was never hno gii tho
restless ocean gave no sigh ~ IN rs
wild winds syllable tbs mys''''
fate. ,.. of 4
Thus persisted ut the early ase . ,aosi
years Johnston Blakely, one OF N..bon1
gallant officers IN our navy, W. al a
we think we have the right 20 Si', Grst
wilmington boy. for this was 80 ~
home i'm America Here II Wa- s-sgs
infant days were passed. ana nste r,.ri
into lusty youth, and I'm the oil ei.@',.-sfers
OF ST. James the ashes or DIS "cSrfrry.
have reposed for more than 10
He wrote his name full hisn up,,ss6a.
scroll OF fame. and Is il al all 49,, 3
shio nat we should claim Tor our Own
portion OF that glory which he sne'
his country's history -, o,e ehilt
BY his marriage In 1873 ne hsa , or. Gene.
a daughter. named udney, sil ann IN ias
raj Assembly OF North Carohht "a %
unaninously decreed thas she Noe,
educated al the expense OF .as os,.
which resolve was faithfully es sried aal
sny s'v~ s.,,h her husband 20 81 w.;
, Where she died during the hrs' ye''
ns NJ Iones. the patron OF Blak.S ,ors
moved from Wilmington 20 3ie3 ia
chatham county, n. c. "hefe nc
1872.