Arizona republican., 1898-08-03
COOLING A WARSHlP.
The Idea That Suggested the Famous
 White Squadron.

Notwithstanding it has been so much written about and so enthuslas- tically praised, the story of how the white squadron originated has never yet been told in print. Nor would 1t be now, had it not come, accidentally, into the possession of the writer
 Commander George Francis Faxon Wilde, who has just been ordered toI the command 1f the ram Katahdin, enc of the most wicked and destruc- tive of all the naval fleet, belonged to the famous class which entered the naval academy in the fall of 1861, and took the four years course in three years. Young Wilde was two years and nine months in getting through. He was graduated in the high honor list, away at the head of the class. He was Massachusetts boy, born in the old town of Braintree. He very early determined that he would follow the sea; not as a common sailor, nor in an official capacity, but as a midship- man in the navy. In the autumn of 1861 he learned that there was to be an appointment to the naval academy u. He was told that he was the eighteenth applicant, but that, if he chose to take the examination, he might run his chances
 That did not frighten him. He de- termlned to make the trial. He did not tell any one what he was going to do. If he won, 1t would be time enough to tell. If he failed, no one would know his failure but himself.
 On the day on which the examina- tion was to be held, he walked from Bralntree into Boston, distance of twelve or fifteen miles, because he had not money enough to buy ticket on the railroad, and he would not ask Tor It, for fear he would be obliged to tell his errand to town. He passed the examination bravely There wasn't tne hint of failure from beginning to end He entered the academy, endeav- orlng as earnestly to take high rank 1n the class as he had to enter it.
 ne result was gain Uf year. and graduation with honors. He began ar .t1ve sea life at once. He was prcmot- ed from midshipman to ensign in Nc .vember, 1866, and a month later was advanced to n;aster In 1868 he was made lieutenant, year later lieuten- ant commander In 1885 he was full commander and was given charge of the Dolphin, which at that time. was attached to the north Atlantic squad ron. -t..f--i =
 It was while he was on the Dolphin that he originated the white squadron TOT to this brave commander belongs the honor of making possible this snowy feet
 .l In July, 1888, the Dolphin lay in New York harbor, just off the navy yard The weather was intensely hot eyen on shipboard, with all the means or ventilation, and the heat was al- most insupportable. One day Com mander Wilde chanced to touch the s1dehcf the ship, and was burned by the intense heat He touched it again almost blistering his hand. The ex- posed surface of the ship was like the top of stove. Suddenly a thought occurred to him. He sent a boat ashore with note to Naval Cnnstruc- tor Wilson, asking him to come aboard the Dolphin. The constructor returned in the boat. Commander Wilde asked his visitor to lay his hand on the ships side. He did so, but qui ckly withdrew it.
 What do you think of living in a furnace like that?" asked the com mander.
 Its terrible!" said the constructor: "is there no way of cooling her off ?"
 T have thought of way, and you can help me I want you to send ne some white paint, with instructions to use it on this ship.'
 The constructor looked startled and grave. Naval regulations declared that all warships should be painted