The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-07
MAKING OF AN ADMIRAL
BEFORE THE DAYS or THE UNITED
STATES NAVAL ACADEMY.
How Admiral David Glasgow Farra-
gut Was Trained for HIS vIcto-
ries I'm the War for the Union.
Philadelphia Public LEDGER.

Philadelphia Public Ledger.
Dewey's success at Manila has revived in
terest in the victories of Deweys old COM
mander. the hero of New Orleans and Mo
bile bay. We suspect, however, that many
who have read with interest the triumphs
of our first Admiral have never gone over
the record of the hard school in which he
learned how TO be an admiral He was no
lucky accident no creature of political
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
The Ferraguts Ito give the Spanish spell
ing) were an old Spanish family. active in
war, politics and ecclesiastical matters long
before the days of Cervantes. George
Farragut. the adnlral's father, left home in
1872. wandered for some time, and came to
this country early in 1916. Ardent as rev.
olutionists, he entered on singular career.
He was sailing master in the navy, a
major of cavalry, a surveyor. magistrate,
a daring boatman, a farmer, and follower
OF Jackson in the Seminole war. Cervantes
hardly led more varied life than George
Farragut. The admiral's mother came of
good Scotch blood. and inherited the cour-
age of her forefathers Davids earliest
memory went back to a day when, his
father being absent on military duty, sew
eral hostile Indians sought TO enter the
house. but were driven away by an ak in the
hands of the resolute matron.- 1t would be
interesting to know more about such pro-
genitors, but Mrs. Farragut died before
her distinguished son was eight years old.
Shortly afterward the boy left home, long
cruises followed and he never saw his
father again. George Farragut died in 1917,
when his son was in the Mediterranean. A
young midshipman is not likely to be
student OF ancestral influence, and by the
time Farragut was old enough 10 reflect on
heredty the family traditions were dim or
lost.
Young David's earliest years were spent
on his fathers farm in Tennessee, but his
father subsequently, received a naval sp-
poinment. was ordered to New Orleans.
and removed his family TO that city. David,
under his fathers tuition, became an apt
boatman. naval officer named Porter,
who fell seriously ill., was taken to the
Farragut residence and cared for until he
yellow fever. Porter's son. Commander
David Porter, a young officer with a capital
record of West. India and Mediterranean
service, was subsequently ordered to the
command of the naval station at New Or
leans. Porter expressed his gratitude to
Farragut, the elder and offered to adopt
a midshipman and George was an infant,
and eight-year-od David was the choice.
Porter took his adopted child with him to
Washington and introduced him to the sec
rotary of the navy, who promised to APP
point him midshipman as soon as he
reached the age of ten. The secretary was
better than his word, as Farraguts name
was placed on the list before he was nine
years and six months old.
A GOOD TEACHER.
A bright pupil fell into the hands of an
tious guardian, who sent his charge to
good schools and watched over him with
paternal care. In August, 1911, Porter took
command of the frigate Essex and the little
MILDLY went to sea. A winter gale nearly
wrecked the ship, but she beat into port
and the midshipmen. probably to their dis
gust were sent to school again. The war
of 1912 saw the Essex in active service. She
took several prizes, narrowly escaped a
powerful enemy and three times looked for
a fight only to meet with disappointment.
Farragut saw how q well-diSciplined crew
can suppress an uprising of prisoners.
Cannon, musketry and cutIass drill made
the Essex a famous ship One who reads
of PorterS kindness to his protege is re-
minded of Captain Sucking the affection
ate uncle, who did so much for Nelson in
his early years.
From skirmishing the Essex turned to a
cruise famous in history. Terrible weather
marked her passage round Cape Horn.
short that they We're glad to eat wild
horses; sometimes fruit, doves, and terrapin
refreshed the mess. Farragut learned how
to load provisions In waters when sharks
and alligators made the upsetting of boat
somewhat trying to the nerves. When only
twelve he took command of a British whal-
err and carried her into Valparaiso. The
English captain objected to boyish rule, and
threatened to shoot the young prize master.
Farragut promised to have him thrown
overheard. If he attempted it, and calmness
reigned supreme. During stay at the
Marquesas islands Porter made his young
midshipmen study to good purpose, but also
gave them sufficient time to frolic with the
native boys, who were admirable tutors in
swimming, spear throwing, and walking on
tiny, but the sight of PorterS cutlasS led
him to jump overheard and swim to shore
Every day taught the young midshipman
some new fact in geography or lesson in
discipline.
many prizes and supplying her wants from
the enemy, the EeSSeX was TO feel the Bit
terness of defeat The neutrality of the
port of Valparaiso, scrupulously respected
by Porter, was not respected by captain
Hillyar of the Phoebe. Indeed, Hillyar's
direct promise to respect the law of nuetral-
Sty WAS broken in the time of trial. How
ever, Captain Hillyar was a good seaman,
a brave man, and humane victor. Even
to-day the combat is exciting. How the
Essex strove to get out to sea, how squall
carried away the maintopmaSt, how the
Phoebe and Cherub attacked the crippled
American frigate, how long ana gallantly
she fought. how Hillyar kept away and used
every advantage to the utmost-that fight
can never grow dim. Farragut saw blood
flow was spattered with the brains of a
sailor and was knocked down hatchway
by dead body falling on him. He saw all
that was most horrible and most heroic In
a sea fight. OF course he had a boyish
heartbreak over the result, but in later
years he said that all his devotion to his
guardian could not make him forget two
facts-Porter was thirty-two, while Hillyar
was fifty Many were Porter merits. Still.
eighteen more years gave Hillyar a cool
Judgment which took no chances and made
assurance doubly sure.
Captain Hillyar paroled his prisoners ana
sent them home in cartel. An American
battery installing the vessel for an Ell
envy. opened fire, none of the shots taxing
effect Farragut said that this experience
taught him that it was not always danger
Gus to face a battery. He certainly remem-
bered this youthful lesson in after years.
Scarcely was he ashore when Porter sent
him to a school at Chester. The pedagogue,
who had been one of Napoleon's old guards,
did not believe in textbooks, but required
strict attention TO lectures. Drill. swim
ming and climbing We're we'll taught and
many a long walk with open-air instruction
in mineralogy and botany delighted the
boys. Farragut needed outdoor rambes.
for after the battle he had seen enough
chastity work among the wounded to crush
even boylsh spirits. Porter had done
great deal for him. but they were soon TO
Part and Farragut learned the value of
his guardian.
BROADENING EDUCATION.
Less than fourteen. young Farragut