The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-01

ship floats. The gallant Perry flew that
signal at his masthead in the memora-
BILE battle of Lake Erie, at the glorious
close OF which he had the inspiration to
pen that dispatch which has canOnized
him in our history: 1--WE have met the
enemy and they are ours" II was writ
ten on his stiff hat in lieu of table,
on the half of an old letter, and the adj
ditional information in it gave the size
and number of the enemy, namely,
two ships. two briggs, one schooner and
one sioop." Perry was a hero in peace
as we'll as in war. During fearful
winter storm. while lying in the harbor
of Newport he heard that a merchant
vessel had been driven on a reef six
miles distant. He at once manned his
barge and said TO the crew: Come. my
boys. we are gOiEg to the relief of
shipWrecked IS amen; pull away. That
act was applaUded by the country al
most as much as was the battle on
Lake Erie. During the Mexican war,
General Scott requested the loan OF
some guns from the fleet, to be used
on shore. Perry complied, but on one
condition, that wherever the guns go,
the officers and men must go also.
FREE TRADE AND SAILORS
RIGHTS.
Commodore Porter, father of the late
Admiral Porter, happily phrased the
sentiment of the country in the motto
which he flew on his flag in the war of
1872: Free trade and sailors rights. p"
In those distant days it became the
text for many a patriotic song and
thousands of political speeches. A
British captain, meeting Porter, flung
out an answering signal to this effect:
God and country, British sailors best
rights. Traitors offend both" The be-
lief in England at the time was that
the crews OF the American ships were
all British deserterS. Porter answered
his enemy next day with fresh signal
flag: God, our country and liberty!
Tyrants offend Them
When the Constitution, under the
command of Commodore Hull, engaged
the French frigate Guerrero, dra-
matte scene was witnessed on the deck
Of "Old Ironsides." AS the French
mans guns began to thunder out, Lieu
tenant Morris, second in command
asked Hull if he should give the order
to fire.
Not YETI replied Hull.
Nearer and nearer came the two
ships. Again Morris asked for the or
der, and again came the answer, Not
vet" A few moments later, high above
the roar of the guns, as the Constitu-
ton completely covered her enemy,
Hulrs voice rang out, Now, boys, pour
it into themr
The Guerrero was literally torn to
pieces, 1.-The blood OF the killed running
out of her scuppers," says naval his
torian.
PREBLE HAILED THE MAIDSTONE
The dashing Preble, during a cruise
in the Mediterranean, ran across an
other ship. 1t was night and he could
get no reply to his hail. This colloquy
followed:
Preble-I now hail you for the last
time. If you don't answer I'll fire
shot into you.
Stranger-If you do I'll return
broadside.
Predict should like to catch you at
that. / now hail for an answer. What
ship is that?
Stranger-This is his Britannia ma
jesty's S4-gun ship of the line Donegal,
Sir Richard Strachan. Send a boat on
board.
PrebIe-This is the United States A.
gun ship Constitution. Captain Ed
ward Preble and I'll be id if / send
a boat on board any ship. Blow your
boys.
We were at peace at the time, and
the two captains suspected that each
was a pirate. They lay to during the
night. Explanations followed in the
morning, when the British ship proved
to be, not the formidable Donegal, but
the 22-gun frigate Maidstone.
Commodore Macdonough sighted the
enemy on Lake Champlain on a Sunday
He ran up the signal for di-
vine service, and, kneeling on the deck
among his men. offered appropriate
prayers. During the engagement
British shot struck the hencoop on the