Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1897-03-09

revered relics of the revolutionary
times and of her illustrious sons; and
she feels that she has the right to in
sst that the national government shall
no longer be uumindful of it's duty to
the flower of the American navy, the
Constitution"
At the conclusion of the congress
mans speech he was given an ovation of
applause such as seldom is given 20
the most gifted of orators. The resolu-
ton was passed without objection, and
in short time the old frigate which
bore our banner aloft with honor and
glory will be properly cared for. Meet
ing the congressman on the evening of
the delivery of his speech, and con-
graduating him on the success of his
effort, he said: II am no orator /
never made a good speech in my life.
| was gratihed with the passage of the
resolution, but the applause did not
turn my head The representatives of
the people of this country were not APP
plauding me. They were patriotcally
applauding the stanch old frigate OF
which | spoke, and for whose preserva-
ton | was pleading. They were also
applaudirg the grand poet and his
poem. Had it not been for the lines Of
Holmes, the Constitution would have
been torn to pieces as an old hulk, worn
out, and no longer useful"
The gentleman is modest and sincere.
Nevertheless, his speech was delivered
with the eloquence of fervid earnest
ness. He is not an orator. and he is
wise enough to know it. But his
speech ought to pass into history with
the splendid poem which he quoted
Oliver Wendell Holmes prevented the
destruction of the Constitution. Con-
gresham Fitzgerald secured the appro-
priation which will result in her per-
manent preservation.
It is pity that the Kearsarge could
not have been preserved. Shewas lost
by careless seamanship on a reef in the
Atlantic ocean. The gallant cruiser
ought not to have been on duty. She
should have been kept in the Washing
ton navy yard forever But our states
men are shortsighted The republic is
young. Our people have not become
accustomed TO making sacred history
for the future. They make history for
the present. and fortunately it is in
tended to be patriotic history, and viii
read well through all generations; but
they are reckless Of the nice little de-
tails which go to make beautiful the
history Of nations.
But we have a relic of the Kearsarge
which will be preserved carefully for
all time. tits the oak rudder post of the
historic cruiser In the museum at the
navy yard the rudder post stands. I'm
bedded in it is a conical she'll which
came near destroying the ship. It was
fired from rifle on the confederate
cruiser Alabama. But it did not eX
plode An explosion would have re.
suited in the sinking of the Kearsarge,
and the escape of the Alabama. The
shell was found there after the cele-
brated engagement. A sldllful gunner,
risl1ing his life. and of course rislSing
the safety of the vessel, sat astride
the rudder post and drilled hole into
the shell until he came to the powder.
Then he poured in waterand saturated
the explosive. After that. he drilled
off one end of the dangerous missile
and took out of it the explosive ma
terials. The rudder posi- was then
mended and strengthened with steel
bands, and the Kcarsarge sailed away
after other confederate privateers.
Finally, the rudder post was taken out
and new one put in its place. The
old rudder post. with its shell inclosed,
is at the navy yard; and it is all that
remains of the famous ship.
SMITH D. FRY.