The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-05-21
From the New York Sun.

~ LA1iNIi1AN 4 iA-AAN Wa '''''
From the New York sun.
During the 1872 years Of the existence
of the nation the commodores, captains
and other officers of the navy have
made a magnificent contribution of pa
triotic phrases to literature. AS the
terse embodiment of popular sentiment
in trying situations and emergencies,
they are not surpassed by expressions
of a like character in any language.
The sea fighters started in this line
at the very beginning Of the Revolu-
tion, in fact, before that tremendous
struggle with the mother country was
begun. Captain Whipple, Of Prov-
dence, X. l., for instance, when notified
in 1775 by Sir James Wallace of the
British frigatc Rose that he would be
strung up at the yardarm for having
burned his maiestys ship Gaspee sent
the laconic reply to Sir James:
Always catch man before you hang
him"
The ion-hearted Whipplc, who, I'm the
preceding war with France in his pri-
Vateer GamecoCk captured in single
year twenty-three French prizes, voiC
ed in that defiant answer the scnti-
ments of all the rebels in the colonies
that catching them was an essential
preliminary to the hanging business,
JOHN PAUL JONES.
Who first raised the American flag
on a ship of war is one of the disputed
questions OF history. John Adams
claimed the honor for Captain John
Manly, a New Englander. Paul Jones
asserted that my hand first hoisted
the American flag" lie was then a
lieutenant on the frigate Alfred. There
were several American flags at the time
and Paul Jones does not describe his
particular one. Some historians think
1t was the pine tree and Tattlesnakc
flag with the motto, AN appeal to
God; don't tread on ne" Others as
sert that it was flag consisting of thir-
teen stripes, with the motto, Don't
tread on me-" and a rattlesnake
stretched diagonally across them.
Il have not yet begun to fight" was
one of Paul Jones's famous replies to a
British captain with whom he had been
fercely engaged for over an hour and
who desired to know if he had surrend-
cred. 1t was not Paul Jones who sur
rendered when the battle came TO an
end. That was the celebrated engage
ment between the Scraps and the Bon
homme Richard. The captain of the
Scraps having been knghted for his
gallantry on that occasion by George
Ill, Paul Jones, when he heard Of the
promotion, Enthusiastically remark
ed:
Never mind; if meet him again I'll
make a lord Of him."
COMMODORE BARRY.
The first commodore of the young
American navy was Captain John
Barry. In the spring of 1881 he was
nailed bv British ship on his way
from Havana. To the inquiry as to his
identity, he replied:
THE United States ship Alliance,
Saucy Jack Barry, half Irishman, half
Yankee. Who are you?"
Not the value nor the command of
the whole British fleet could tempt me
from the American cause" was the
reply Of Barry to Lord Howe, in 1776
when the latter offered him Is ,OOO
guineas and a commission in the Eng
lish navy to join the royal cause.
Equally patriotic was the reply of the
captive American sailor, Nathan Coffin.
when asked to enter the kings service:
Hang me, if you will, to the yard
arm. but do not ask me to become a
traitor to my country"
STEPHEN DECATUR.
stephen Decatur was one of the
DraVest men that ever walked the quar-
Ter deck. His famous toast at a pub
lie dinner in Norfolk. Va, in 1916, "Our
country In her intercourse with for
elSn nations may she always be in
the right, but our country, right on
wrong would if he had never said
or done anything else, have won him
q place in the memory of his country
men, The destruction by him of the
trigate Philadelphia in the harbor of
Tripoli was declared by Lord Nelson
TO be "the most bol nd daring act
of the age"
Decatur was as generous as he was
brave. Il cannot said he to Captain
Garden of the Macedonian, as the lat
Ter oHered to surrender his sword
take the sword Of man who has SO
DraNely defended his ship, but III
thank you for that hat"
This was in the 1912 war. and the
reference to the hat was a reminder
of bet between the two officers. made
previous to the breaking out of hos
tilities, in regard to the fighting pow
ers of their ships. At the first fire the
Macedonian lost her miz2enmast
Hearing sailor remark to one of his
mates that they had made a brig NJ
her" Decatur added:
Take good aim, my lads. at the
mainmast, and wen make sIoon ot
her"
To the hail of a squadron of Alrer-
Inc pirates, while cruising in the Medi-
terranean, Of Dove andate?" (Where
are you goingO Decatur from his lone
snip answered back, Dove mi place. "
CWhere please), and they let him 90
Toward the close Of the Algerinc war
one OF their captains sought for DELAY
In order to gain some advantage.
Not minute" replied Decatur, with