Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-07-13
UNKNOWN SEA HEROES.
DR.. Edward Everett Hale Tells of Some
of Whom History Neglects.

DR.. Edward Everett Hale Tells of Some
of Whom History Neglects.
To look into the face of so great and
venera ole a writer and thinker as Ed
ward Everett Hale is to add to mans ap-
probation and to flash new ight upon
mans experience. Such was the priyi-
lege of a large audience at the Unitarian
church lately.
DR.. Hale was led to the pulpit by Rev.
Reed Stuart and introduced as one
whom, not seeking praise, a nation de-
lights to honor.
The doctor seemed feeble and bowed
with years, with fine face, lined with
traces of age and of thought. With his
hair, still brown, falling from his high
brow and conceaiing the ears, his appear
ance would have been deeply impressive
even had 10 words fallen from MS lips.
When he told Of inspiring deeds of BRAY
cry which took place IN the naval battles
for American independence, the flash Of
eyes, the fulness of the voice, spoke con
vincingly of the reverence which he felt
for those whose achievements he re-
counted.
The heroes of his lecture were I'M
known to many of that cultured audience.
Indeed. the doctor said that no one need
be ashamed to acknowledge ignorance
concerning them. for they have been left
out of history, though their deeds counted
for as much in the nations victory as did
those of Washington and Lafayette.
The reason that these naval actors have
been left out of the drama, as told by the
historians. DR.. Hale said. was they did
not consider that the incidents were SUI
ficiently picturesque to make d real
pretty story, but he said that in them
there is abundance of material for novel;
lists and ballad writer's.
He told of a young friend of his in the
East. a writer of poetry. who came to
him for a theme. DIR. Hale suggested
that he write about the Yankee privateer
Of the Revolution, telling him Il story of
Capt. Whipple, a Yankee priyateer,"
who, with one small vessel. captured ten
British ships and tOWed them into Boston
HarbOr, one by one. The ballad was
read and heartily applauded by the audi
ence.
For seven years the small cruisers of
the colonies waged war on the water. cap
turing 700 British vessels a year. using
the enemy's stores of ammunition and ar
tillery to supply the American battleshiDs
on sea and land, and winning the great
victories that more than any other led
to the great capitulatiOn of George III
Dr.. Hale facetiOusly remarked that
doubtless many Of the victories of the
Americans were due to the absence of
extras to give away the plans of war
fare. The first time in history that the
was in battle at sea, when Capt. Man
ley brought the British frigate Nancy
into Marblehead harbor with stores need
ed by the American army.
History furnishes but little concerning
many of these valiant men. and only from
the seldom-read logs of privateers is it
possible to learn concerning their heroic
deeds DIR. Hale has delighted to delve
in this obsolete literature, in poems of the
day that tell of great achievements in an
unpoetic manner, and many sketches were
read to the audience last evening.
No story more thrilling than that of
Capt. Mugford is found. Released from
a British ship, with valua bic information
learned while prisoner, of the expected.
approach of a vessel laden with British
stores, he took small ship and a few
men and sailed out of MarbIehead 10
meet her. With victory in sight, he died
crying: II am killed, but don't give up
the ship a bronze statue of Mugford
now stands in the quaint old town of
Marblehead.
John Paul Jones, said DR.. Hale is one
of the few naval men who got into the
books. He told Of the mans heroism as
displayed in the fight between the Bon
HOmme Richard and the Scraps; said
that he was the man who first bore the
American flag into English ports, and
told how the French, upon whose shores
he first took the flag, received him with
enthusiasm, remarking that France has
always been spasmodic in her affection
for the United States.
L have gone back into this history"
said DR.. Hale, mot to renew interest in
brute fights, for [ hope for speedy peace.
and the neyer-a gain-recurring necessity
for struggle between nations. but the les
son which our country needs to learn is
that of mutual dependence The APOSTLE
Paul stated truly that we are one body,
but many members.
In the great congress of the self-sat It's
fed, at the American boasting table, the
sailors seat is vacant, for he is with
Dewey at Manila, under the water line
with HObs0n, breakfasting at Santiago
with Sampson, and there is none to speak
for him. But there would have been no
table to sit at had it not been for the
seaman. There would have been no
American independence to boast Of The
same Morse blood of courage undaunted
flows in the sons of their sires who are
today enlisted in the holy cause They
should remember with pride the glory Of
their ancestors. ''-DetrOit Journal.