The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-05

Hopkins OF Rhode Island, aud . Gal
liant Sailor He Was


The outbreak OF the revolutionary war
found the patriots without navy. Congress
had TO create one. Four merchantmen were
first purchased. hastily equipped with guns
and sent to sea IA cruisers, but their defects
as war vessels soon became 30 apparent that
Congress determined at onco TO set about the
building Of navy. On October 8. l775 Con-
gress ordered two cruisers built. and on
December Is tho order was increased
10 fvo 32-gun ships. five 2s-Run ships
and three. 24-gun ships They were To be
ready for the sea by the following
April. The names given TO the thirteen
vessels were Boston. Congress, Efbngham,
Delaware. Hancock. Montgomery, Providence.
Raleigh. Trumbuli. Virginia, Warren, Wash
ington and Randolph. These were the fest
war vessels constructed IN the United States
The first commandor-in-chief was Ezekiel
Houkins OF Rhode Island. younger brother
OF Congressman Stephen Hopkins. He was
appointed TO this high Office ON December 2e,
i775.
AT the time OF his appointment Ezekiel
Hopkins was q brgadier general in command
of the Rhode Island troops, acting under
commission from the governor. He had
spent part of his life on merchan. ships and
had also been shipbui.dcr; consequently he
was fitted 10th by experience and ability 10
fill the important Office eivon him. In short
time feet of four ships and three sloops
were ready and with these Admiral Hopkins
set out to win glory for himself and country.
Among his lieutenants was the famous John
Paul Jones, who was probably the most bril-
liant and daring naval officer Of the wars
with England.
The Bahama Islands, in the West Indies,
were then an English colony, with West
Providence as their principal seaport and
seat OF government and hither the new ad-
miral sailed with the new navy. He attacked
the city, captured tho harbor fort and town
and brought back with him to America the
English governor as prisoner, eighty can
mons and very large quantity OF ammuni-
tion and other military stores. This brilliant
,achievement was godsend TO the dis
heartened and impoverished patriots. It re-
newed their courage and replenished their
stores. Admiral Hopkins was the hero Of the
hour, and received q vote of thanks from
Congress for his great deeds, which had re-
bounded TO the glory of his country.
shortly after his return from the Bahamas
he met two English ships off Block Island,
and captured both of them. Two days later
he had an engagement with the English 29.
gun ship Glasgow. but did not succeed in cap
turing IL. The public severely censured his
conduct of this BATTLE and In June, 1T0 he
was ordered 20 appear before the Congress
sional committee. After hearing had been
given him the committee ssnt favorable re-
port of his actions to Congress-, which the
latter body approved, 80 the ADMIRAL was ex-
onerated from all blame.
He was now placed in charge Of q large
number of war vessels which Congress was
having built. The task was difficult one.
Money and material were hard TO get. A
powerful English feet blockaded the harbors
and prevented the sailing Of some OF his ships
when completed. The people became impa-
tient. The press accused him Of siowness, Of
being lsggard IN his country's service. His
temper was never Of the best, and he en-
phatically resented the clamor of complaints.
Again he was summoned to appear before
Congress for investigation. Then the testy
old sailor lost his temper entirely, and sent a
point-bla refusal TO Congress, couched in
vigorous but undiplomatic English. The re-
suit Of all this was that he was dismissed
from the service January Q, 1777.