The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-12

mis- crack frigate Guerrero. captured
from the French in 1906, and mounting
49 guns. while Hull in Old Ironsides
ranged alongside and engaged the bold
Briton, yardarm and yardarm. The
astonisheG Englishman was whipped in
just 80 minutes, but it took considerable
more than thar time for Dacres TO real
lie FUZZY the situation. There is also
displayed an English royal standard
caIrured at York. TORONTO. Canada.
April p, 1913, when that place was taken
by The squadron under Commodore
Isaac Ciauncey and 4 force of troo0s
under General Pike This is the onlv
rc-al standard remaining as a tro- nv
in the hands of the United States, and
is a fair offset for the SCARS and stripes
prominently displayed on the walls of
the historic London tower. II is a
beautifully embroidered, but battle
SCARED flag. uDon whose folds the le-
send, Fourth United States Infantry
Is worked. Major William II. Powell
of the army, desiring TO trace the his
tory Of this flag, thus relates his expert
ence:
4 spent many weary hour search
ing among dUs-y official records, uIsl
l CLEANED from them the following au-
theLric account of the battle Of Tipoe-
canoe, and the details of the surrender
Of General Hull at Detroit.
Under the act of congress approved
April II, 1S0S. the Fourth United States
lnfarrry was reorganized and the COM
3anles recruited in the New England
states. The noble Old city of Boston
evidently fathered the regiment, for in
the year 1909 a number of prominent
ladies' of that city made, embroidered
and presented to the regiment the flag
which now occupies place among the
trophies of Great Britain. The regular
4
joining the fort, where arms We're
stacked and a British guard imme-
diately placed over them. Then the COL
ors OF the Fourth infantry. which had
been VIGOROUSLY borne from the At
lantic to the Mississippi, and thence TO
the lakes, and fresh from the battle of
Margarag0 Cor Brownstone). were
brought out by the adjutant and while
tears streamed down the cheeks of OF
ficers and men, were delivered into the
hands of a British officer, and subse-
quernly sent TO England, where they
nave been kept for IS years"
In an old-fashioned, sleepy Spanish
town. celebrated only for its one large
cathedral. once viewed upon the walls
or the edtflce an English Union Jack,
and what struck me as peculiar, an iron
grating was used, evidently for the bet
ter protection of the flag. Upon inquir- |
ing, the following facts were elected: |
The Jack had once floated from the |
soanker gam of an English sloo0-of- |
war, which. during one of the European I
wars in which England and Spain were |
ranged on opposite sides, the cruiser
ventured too close in shore, got into the
breakers and with the crew mostly
fell an easy prey to the Span
sh forces. The flag was oszentatiOusiy
displayed on the walls of the cathedral.
and some years afterwards an English
-rgate happening into the harbOr an
Did quartermaster and a brother tar.
wandered inso the sacred edifice under
he tour of guide. Jack soied the
Union Jack, the polite native told him
lcw ii had been captured, and the two
sailors exchanged a rapid glance and
he next moment the astonished guide
'cund himself on his beam ends, while
he sailors, who could scarcely restrain
heir indignation at "A bloody Dago
having an English flag" had leaped
'ver the wall and effected their retreat
o the frigate. when the flag was hand
I'd over 10 the aseontshed comnan der
The town authorities made a formal
iemand for the return of the relic.
which was complied with on the part of
he comma nder. but no doubt with
nanv an inward qualm of conscience
md silent commentator of Jacks ac-
ion and manner of rescuing the preci-
Jus piece Of bunting. But with its res
GRAFTON on the wall effectual means
% prevent recurrence of the catas-
rophe were taken by the church au-
horities.
But to return to the flag room at
Annapolis. where many interesting rel
cs and flags connected with the most
stirring and gallant achievements of
'ur navy abound on every side, but
ack Of space Will only permit of the
nerest mention.
The ensign of the English frigate
Macedonian, captured by the gallant
Decatur in the frigate United States.
5 an interesting trophy The prize
vas taken into New York and put into
he service, being finally broken up at
Norfolk in 1885. Her original figure
lead is preserved at the Naval
academy. There is a tradition that
he first shot from the United States
Knocked the ball from beneath the paw
II a wooden lion which stood on the
quarterback The tri-
olor of France which once flOated over
he frigate Insurgente and was lowered
'efore the guns of the frigate Constel-
alton, occupies prominent place as
veil as the ensign of England taken
~ Captain Stewart from the Cyani in
lis famous triangular duel with that
-essel and Levant in the frigate Con-
titution. In this memorable engage
nent Old Ironsides was so skillfulIy
landed by her commander as to
scape after an engagement of 40
minutes. The fight occurred on the
9th of February. 1915, off MADEIRA.
Perry's battle flag, hoisted at the
masthead of the Lawrence as a signal
or action. is also displayed. The flag
Tas originally blue and it bore in
rhite letters. Don't Give Up the
hip the last words of Captain James
lawrence. after whom the flagship
vas named. who had been nortanv
Wounded in the action between the
'hesapeake and Shannon When
Ferry shifted from the Lawrence to
he Niagara during the engagement.
e carried this flag with him and
oisted it upon the latter vessel.
The ensign of the Kearsarge. which
dated from her masthead in her fight
18th the Alabama. finds a resting place
[ the academy. as we'll as the flag
sed by Admiral Farragut on his last
fficial duty. 1t was on board the
January. 1870. at the '
bsequies of George Peabody at Port
Ind, Me- Looking up at this flag as s
salute was fired at Portsmouth, N I
l., in his honor, the admiral remarked.
1t would be well if l died now, in {
arness.'
The ensign of the Java, another tro-
ny won from an English frigate by
Id 1ronsides, under cambridge. to- I
ether with one from the English
oop-of-war Penguin; the ensign of i
lie English brig of-war Boxer.
ehooner Highflyer and numerous other
ags captured from Great Britain. all .
nd a place at the Naval academy.
18th interesting incidents connected
18th each. The trophies bear witness
the prcwess and valor Of the United
tates navy and are eloquent proofs