New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-31
MUSICAL COMMENT.
DIR WEEKLY WAR soNG-PERRY'S VIC
TORY ON LAKE ERIE-THAYERS
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES FOLK +
soNGs-NEws NOTES AND
.~-~-Ar-SrrNsU,NTc
ANNOUNCEMENTS.

brate one of the American victories In the war OIL
1872 /, is significant comment on the difference
In habits be tween literary and musical people that
while It is an easy task to find scores Of the old
ballads OF the wars OF the Revolution and lslZ. II
is extremely difficult to recover their music. Com
paratively little OF 1t was original. but even IN
the OF the popular tunes OF the day IL Is not
an easy task to find out what some OF them "ere'
Music printing was not so cheap and easy mat
ter sixty years ago 1t is now. and in many or
the where old English tunes were used their
original titles changed so that a vast deal OF
trouble must be undergone by him who would
know with certainty what melodies they were that
helped to give vent TO the enthusiasm OF our grand
fathers. A comes to mind In which the search
extended months, and did not stop short OF the
British Museum. which failed TO disclose the signt-
est information. The melody OF "Perrys Victory"
was found in a book of miscellaneous songs pub
lshed in Philadelphia In 1854 book that had evil
IDENTIFY been compiled from a periodical issue OF
kind that could scarcely be accepted as representa-
tive of the musical taste and intelligence OF the
American people to-day. 1t has, however. been
provided with harmones and a panoforte accom-
paniment. and in its new form will doubtless
awaken many an old memory that. without this
publication. might have remained asleep forever.
The battle Of Lake Erie was fought on Saturday.
September 10, 1873 and is entitled 10 be set down
of the most momentous sea fights recorded
in history. Upon It's issue depended the control OF
the Great Lakes and the dominion of the vast terri
tory in the Northwest. Greater bravery and hero
ism than that exhibited by Perry and his men
cannot be imagined. and there few pages In
history which tell a story OF carnage ike that
which was enacted on board the Lawrence. yes
sci that had been named after the Inflated COM
mander OF the Chesapeake who lies IN trinity
Churchyard. with those last words for an epltaph
which Perry Haunted in the face of confident
enemy from the main royal masthead OF his nag
ship.
The two squadrons engaged in the battle were
constituted as follows: American. commander.
Oliver Hazard Perry master commandant; brig
Lawrence (lagship). brig Niagara, brig Caledonia,
schooner Ariel. schooner Tigress. sloop Trippe'
schooner Porcupine. schooner Scorpion ana
schooner Somers. In all nine vessels. with fifty
four guns 1886 pounds OF metal. manned by 400
men. British commander. Captain Robert Heriot
Barclay: ship Detroit (nagshp). ship Queen Char
lotte ship Lady Provost, brig Hunter. sloop Little
Belt and schooner Chippewa. In all six vessels.
sxty-three guns, $50 pounds OF metal. manned by
500 men and boys. The advantage which these
figures indicate as lying with the Americans was
more than Offset by the British superiority IN
long guns. which enabled them TO begin the battle
and do great execution at long range before the
Americans could strike blow. and the greater ex-
perience OF the British seamen. Maclay says OF
the American men, "Only 125 of them (were) from
the regular navy, fourth were raw recruits and
a fourth were negroes. while 116 during the action
were unfit for duty, they suffering from
cholera morbus and lake fever"
OF the British forces the same writer says: zone
hundred and fifty OF these men were from the
royal navy, eighty Canadian sailors and
two hundred and forty of them soldiers, most
ly regulars" The American squadron had hunted
the enemy through the length or the lake and
finally caught sight of him near Putin Bay Island
On the morning Of September 10. Perry ran UP a
large blue flag bearing the words In large white
letters Don't give up the ship" and began to
manGuvre to get the weather gage OF the British
squadron Baked In this effort over and over
again by the freakishness OF the wind he finally
said 10 his sailing-master Run to the lee side of
the islands" Then you will have to engage the
enemy to eeward, sir" answered the officer. 81
don't care; to windward or leeward they shall fight
to-day" said Perry. and 10 the leeward OF the
islands his ships. Fortune favored them
nevertheless, for when the fight began he to
the wlndward OF the British squadron.
The action opened by the enemy at a miles
distance at II As o'clock A. The range was too
long for Perry's guns and he badly punished
for an hour. Then he gave orders 10 get at close
quarters. 1t had been a disastrous hour for the
Lawrence. which had 10 endure the concentrated
fire of almost the entire British squadron. Every
brace and bowline her shot away, her
spars were shattered. sails torn 10 shreds and OF
her 103 men At for duty at the beginning OF the
action 50 killed wounded. AS his men
went down Perry called on the surgeon aids who
had their hands full Of work in the cockpits
Twice did he call and the surgeon was left alone
A third time Perry TO the opening and
asked Can any Of the wounded men pull roper?
Then he the chaplain and the purser fired the last
OF the Lawrence's guns. Unable longer to direct
the battle from the flagship Perry got into a
small boat TO transfer his pennant to the Niagara
He succeeded under cover OF the smoke and carried
with him also the blue flag with Captain Law
rence's motto. The officers left in charge Of the
Lawrence pulled down her coors and she drifted
out Of the night. but now the tide Of battle turned
and at o'clock the enemy struck, the battle hay
ing ragged three hours and quarter.
Again Perry got into small boat and boarded
the Lawrence in order there to receive tho sur
render OF the British commander. Standing on his
quarterback using his cap for table. on the back
Of an old letter he wrote his famous message TO
General Harrison: I'VE have met the enemy and
they are ours-two ships. two brigs. schooner
ana one soop" The American loss was q killed
and Sc wounded; total l23; the British Al killed and
"a wounded; total, l35.
At last the world is promised an English edition
OF Thayer's Life OF Beethoven" The heirs have
closed contract with the German publisher
Weber. under which he has been put in possession
of all the material collected by Thayer which is TO
be used by DR.. Deiters, Thayer's collaboration on
the three published volumes. TO revise these VOL
umes and write the conclusion. Charles Scribner's
Sons have secured the English rights and will issue
the work. the fourth volume is COM
pleted, in two volumes Mr.. Krehbie has been in
trusted with the preparation OF the English edi-
ton.
A Folk Song Society has been founded In Eng
land with Lord Herscheil president and Sir HUI
bert II. Parry. Sir Alexander Mackenzie. Professor
c. Viiers Stanford and Sir John Siainer vice-presi-
dents. The society has this object In view To
collect and publish folk songs ballads and tunes.
great numbers of which exist, but have not been
noted down. and therefore in danger OF being
lost Meetings at stated times Will be held and the
songs form the subject OF performance and discus
sion. Collections OF the songs are 10 be published
hereafter Mrs Lee. of No Al Rosary Gardens