The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-07

The natives wished TO murder 'the Christian
dogs" and would have done so had 1t not
been for the protection of guard OF sol
diers furnished by the Bey. At every Inn
or lodging place il the supper was not sat
isfactory the soldiers bastinadOed the COOK.
The travellers had to endure plague quar-
antine. Farragut drove back an ASA SSH
with his pistols, and, while near FL .Jeon,
received a sunstroke. The pleasant features
of the trip, however, outweighed the an,
noyanceS. Farragut learned a great deal
about books, nature and mankind. In 1910
his old tutor was still living, and wrote him
a letter of congTa tulation on his achieve
ments.
The young officer was one of those who
are always at school. When his eyes
troubled him he delighted in hearing others
read aloud If he entered foreign harDor
he studied its docks and batteries, with a
view TO possible warfare. After leaving the
Mediterranean he passed some time in Mex
leo and in the West Indies. cruising after
pirates vending his way through swamps,
exploring shoals and doctoring yellow fever
patients. On the South American coasts he
saw the rise and fall of revolutionary gov
Crnments The war between France and
Mexico taught him that host of naval de-
tails had changed since Porter and Hiyar
fought off Valparaiso. Even a hurried
glance at Farraguts letters and journals
will show that he moved with his profession
ment from the chaff of mere empiricism.
Frequent service in courts-martial brought
out the rejecting and judicial traits OF his
character. A cordial letter from the vet
eran Commodore Porter proves that the
junior had been respectful and grateful to
the preceptor of his early years
When our war with Mexico began few off1-
GERS We're more hopeful of laurels than Far
ragut. and none was more bitterly disap-
pointed plan OF his for taking the castle
Of San Juan de Ulloa was rejected by the
Navy Department: he was under the dis
pleasure of his commodore; he was exposed
to much hardship in blockading duty; he
nearly died of yellow fever; two-thirds of
his crew were down with the same disease,
and he was worried nearly frantic by drunk
en- officers Yellow fever was followed by
cholera, and his death was considered GER
tain; but for two years though unfit for sea
service, he labored zealously in the cause of
improved ordnance. lie was almost equally
fond of gymnastic exercises and of scien-
tific lectures. He applied to the Navy De-
partment TO be sent abroad to observe the
management of the Crimean war; and had
his request been granted his report on the
foreign navies might have equaled McClel-
lans book on 1.-THE Armies of Europe" Far
Tagut was not sent TO Europe, but was as
signed to the important duty of founding a
ravy yard at Mare island, California. Here
we may say he learned how to rule New
orleans. The Golden Gate was wide place
the outlaws were desperate, the vigilance
committee only lesser evil. No telegraph
brought instructions from washington
Problems had to be solved on the instant
Firmness, discretion, physical bravery, NOR
al courage, tact, knowledge of law, were
all necessary to the commandanr OF the
Mare Island navy yard. Another cruise
along the coast of Mexico followed. and a
hasty visit to New Orleans refreshed Far
raguts memory of the great river he was to
enter in command of fleet
Our war records show what the great adj
miral did. These facts show how he was
made. He began his naval career when men
who had sailed with Paul Jones were still
living. He saw the war of 1872. and knew
veterans of the struggle with the Tripoiitan
pirates. When steam vessels crossed the
ocean, when ironclads came into use, when
new types of ordnance crowded out the old
he was in the front rank of progress. At
once the lover of tradition and the friend of
Improvement, he linked the days when Por-
ter the father cruised in the Pacific and
when Porter the son bombarded Fort jack
son. The most exciting and the most weari-
some features of naval life, the delights of
travel and the horrors of the sick bay were
familiar to him. Every type of craft, every
type of officer, every form Of government
had come under his notice. He knew the
hero and the weakling. the martinez and
the drunken fool. The record of his fifty
years schooling is suggestive to every pa
triot. David Glasgow Farragut was faithful
over a few things before he became ruler
over many things.