The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-08-06
THE MAKING OF AN ADMIRAL.

Union-TIe Received Thorough In-
 struction in the School of Experience.
 Dewey's success at Manila has re- Vived interest in the victories of Dew ey's old commander, the hero of New Orleans and Mobile Bay. We suspect, however, that many who have read with interest the triumphs of our first admiral have never gone over the rec ord of the hard school In which he learned how to be an admiral. He was no lucky accident, no creature of polit- ical favor. As boy, youth and man he had been in the navy fifty years when the war for the Union gave him his great first opportunity.
 Q The FerragutS (to give the Spanish spelling) were an old Spanish family active in war, politics and ecclesiasti- cal matters long before the days of Cervantes. George Farragut, the ad- miral's father, left home in 1772, wan dered for some time, and came to this country early in 1776. Ardent as rev olutionist, he entered on a singular ca reer. He was a sailing master in the navy, a major of cavalry, surveyor, magistrate, daring boatman, far mer and a follower of Jackson in the Seminole war. Cervantes hardly led more varied life than George Farragut. The admiraps mother came of good Scotch blood and inherited the courage of her forefathers. David's earliest memory went back to day when, his father being absent on military duty, several hostile Indians sought to enter the house, but were driven away by an axe in the hands of the hesolute ma ho int n know more about such progenitors, but Mrs. Farragut died before her distinguished son was eight years old Shortly af- terward the boy left home, long cruises followed and he never saw his father again. George Farragut died in 1877, when his son was in the Mediterranean. A young midshipman is not likely to be a student of ancestral influence, and by the time Farragut was old enough to reflect on heredity the family traditions were dim or lost.
 Young David's earliest years were spent on his fathers farm in Tennes- see, but his father subsequently, re- ceived a naval appointment, was or dered to New Orleans and removed his family to that city. David, under his fathers tuition, became an adept boat man. A naval officer named Porter, who fell seriously i'll, was taken to the Farragut residence and cared for until he died. Mrs. Farragut soon after died of yellow fever. Porters son, Com mander David Porter, a young officer with capital record of West India and Mediterranean service, was subse- quently offered to the command of the naval station at New Orleans. Porter expressed his gratitude to Farragut, the elder, and offered to adopt one of his three sons. William was already a midshipman and George was an infant, and eight-year-old David was the choice Porter took his adopted child with him to Washington and intro duced him to the Secretary of the Navy, who promised to appoint him a nlidshipman as soon as he should reach the age of ten. The secretary was bet ter than his word, as Farragut's name was placed on the list before he was nine years and six months old.
 A bright pupil fell into the hnds of an excellent teacher. Porter was a conscientious guardian, who sent his charge to good schools and watched over him with parental care. In Au- gust, 1S11, Porter took command of the frigate Essex and the little middy went to sea. A winter gale nearly wrecked the ship, but she beat into port and the midshipmen, probably to their disgust, were sent to school again. The war of 1872 saw the Essex in active service. She took several prizes, narrowly es- capped a powerful enemy and three times looked for fight only to meet with disappointment Farragut saw how a ell-disciplined crew cn sup press an uprising of prisoners. Can- non, musketry and cutlass drill made the Essex a famous ship. One who reads ofv Porter's kindness to his pro- tege is reminded of Captain Sucking the affectionate uncle, who did so mucf for Nelson in his early years.
 From skirmishing the Essex turned to cruise famous in history. Terrible weather marked her passage round Cape Horn. Sometimes the men founc their rations so short that they were glad to eat wild horses; sometimes fruit, doves and terrapin refreshed the mess. Farragut learned how to loaC provisions in waters when sharks and alligators made the upsetting of boat somewhat trying to the nerves. Wher only twelve he took command Of z British whaler and carried her into Valparaiso. The English captain ob jected to fboyish rule and threatened tt shoot the young prize master Farra' gut promised to have him thrown over. board if he attempted 1t, and calmnesE reigned supreme. During stay at tht Marouesa Islands Porter made his young midshipmen study to good pur' pose. but also gave them sufficient time to frolic with the native boys, Wht were admirable tutors in swimming spear throwing and walking on stilts A malcontent sought to raise mutiny but the sight of Porter's ctlass led hin to jump overheard and swim to shore Every day taught the young midshlp man some new fact in geography ol lesson in discipline.
 After long run of successes, attel taking many prizes and supplying he wants from the enemy, the Essex wa: led to feel the bitterness of defeat The neutrality of the port of Valparai so, scrupulously respected by Porter was not respected by Captain Hillyal of the Phoebe. Indeed, Hillyar's direc promise to respect the law of neutrali ty was broken in the time of trial However, Captain Hillyar was goot seaman a brave man and human victor Even to-day the combat is ex citing How the Essex Strove to ge