Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1898-05-20
uncr. Sam. first Navy.

hastily equipped with guns and sent
to sea rs cruisers; but their defects as
war vessels soou became 30 apparent
that Congress determined at once to
set abont the building Of a navy On
Oct. 3, It's. Congress ordered two
cruisers built: and on Dec. Ii the or
der was Increased to five 32-gun ships.
They were to be ready Ter the sea by
the following April. The names Civ.
en- to the thirteen vessels were Boston.
Congress, EfTingham. Delaware. Han
cock, Montgomery. Providence. Raj.
eigh, Virginia. Trumbull. Warren.
Washington and Randolph. These
were the first war vessels constructed
in the United States.
The first commander in chief was
Ezekiel Hopkins Of Rhode Island, a
younger brother OF Congressman
Stephens Hopkins. He WAS appoint
ed to his high office on Dec. 22, l71o.
At the time OF his appointment
Ezekiel Hopkins was a Brigadier
General in command Of the Rhode
Island troops acting under commits
sion from the Governor. He had
spent part Of his life on board mer.
chant ships and had also been a ship
builder; consequently he WINS fitted
both by experience and ability to fill
the important office given to him.
In a short time a fleet OF four ships
and three Shops ready, and with
these Admiral Hopkins set out to win
glory for himself and country.
Among his Licutenants was the fam
ous John Paul Jones, who was prob.
ably the most brilliant and daring
naval officer Of the wars with Eng
land.
The Bahama Islands, in the West
Indies, were then an English colony,
with New Providence rs their prin-
cipal seaport and seal Of government,
and hitber the new Admiral sailed
with the new navy. He attacked the
city, captured the harbor, fort and
town, and brought back with him to
America the English Governor us II
prisoner, eighty and a very
large quantity of ammunition and
other military stores. This brilliant
achievement was a godsend tn the
d~ishearteued and impoverished pa
triots. 1t renewed their courage and
replenished their stores. Admiral
Hopkins was the hero Of the hour,
and received a vote OF thanks from
Congress for his great deeds, which
had redounded to the glory OF his
country.
Shortly after his return from the
Bahamas he met two English ships
of Block Island and captured both OF
them. Two days later he had an en-.
gagement with the English 29-gun
ship Glasgow, but did not succeed III
capturing it. The public severly CEN
sured his conduct Of this battle. and
in June, l776, he was ordered to APP
pear before the Congressional com
mittec. After II hearing Ind been
given him the committee sent a fav-
CRADLE report Of his actions to Con-
gress, which the latter body approved
so the Admiral was cxoncrated from
all blame.
lie was now placed in charge OF a
large number OF war vessels which
Congress was having built. The task
was a difficult one. Money and mate
rial were hard to get. \ powerful
English feet blOckaded the harbors
and prevented the sailing OF some OF
his ships when completed. The PEG.
pie became impatient. The press ac-
cused him OF slowness, OF being n lag
gard in his country's service. His
temper was never OF the best, and he
emphatically resented the clamor OF
complaints. Again he was summon
ed to appear before Congress for in.
veStigatioD. Then the tcsty old sailor
lost his temper entirely, and sent a
point blank refusal to Congress
couched in vigorous but undiplnmatic
language. The result Of all this was
that he was dismissed from the SER
vice January 9, l777.
Ezekiel Hopkins at once equipped
Il fast and powerful p~rivatcer, and
again went to sea. lie sailed 10 the
East Indies, where his daring and
skill found rich rewards. During Que
cruise he captured n sufficient num-
Der OF rich English merchantmen 10
cause his profits to foot up over sl.-
100000. At another time no fell in
with q large fleet Of English mer.
chnntmcn protected by Il man f-war.
lie bodily joined the fleet. and every
night cut ont md captr red a vessel.
until he had sent ton home and could
spare no more men from his crew.
lie became the most successful aud
daring OF all the American priyatccrs
men. When the wal ended he return.
ell to Rhode lslrnd and became ono
OF her most prominent and busy citi.
zcns.- Boston Transcript.
--.----
hdios!
/ .un1 NJ unrIn a.,I t..I.tI..