St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1899-10-21

Journey of the Hartford in Dewey's
wake, because it was upon her old deck,
and in the fleets of which she was the
flagship, and under the command OF
Farragut, that George Dewey learned
his first lessons of actual warfare.
When the Hartford reaches Atlantic
ports she will, in her new sphere occu-
py the unique position of being the first
one of Uncle Sans fighting craft to be
used exclusively for the training OF
green landsmen into the ways of typical
man-o-wars-man. The mayor of Hart
ford has requested that the staunch
and sturdy old ship be sent to that city.
and the secretary Of the navy has is
sued the appropriate orders. SO that, as
soon as she arrives on our Atlantic
coast. she will sail to Hartford, where,
for the city of Hartford, the mayor will
present a silver service as magnificent
as any that has yet been given to our
modern cruisers and battleships.
After that the Hartford will cruise
about the principal coast cities. visiting
those places where, almost IS years
ago, the Hartford cruised with Admiral
Farragut on board, the hero of the ma
ton; just as the Olympia has just been
cruising about bearing proudly the hero
Of Manila.
But not only the people of the coast
cities are to be interested in the re-
iuvenation Of the famous Hartford, but
the people of the middle west and far
west are being given an opportunity to
infuse their vigorous blood into the en-
listed branch Of the navy, and 300 able
bodied men of the sections named are
recruited for terms of four years, and
they are to serve first on the Hartford,
studying practical seamanship. Sim
liar crews are to be enlisted and serve
on the old Constitution. 1t is the the
DRY Of the older naval officers that en-
listed men of the new navy ought to
know how to sail any kind of a ship;
whereas it has recently been customary
to enlist men and set them instantly at
work on the steelclad cruisers and bat
tleships of the new navy. 1t is believed
that patriotism will be infused into the
young men by having them serve on the
old battleships, where they will learn
their history, and with it the history of
the glories and achievements of the
navy. After that, with other young
men to take their places, they may be
sent on board of the modern cruisers
and battleships.
They must learn how to 60 aloft, to
run abaut the rigging, and be at home
with sure footing, in calm and storm.
They must learn all about the fore,
main and mizzen masts, their spars,
garnets and shrouds. They must learn
to furl, unfurl and clew garnets, just
as the American sailor. did under John
Paul Jones, Ingrdham, Farragut, Foote
and Porter. Upon the decks Of these
historic old terrors of the seas the
sailors Of the rising generation must
learn all that is to be known of our
navy; and, practically. they will thus
be taught TO feel that they have grown
up with the navy from its incipiency.
They will love their calling better, and
love their country better for the ex-
perience.
With this idea in view, Lieut.. Alex
ander Sharp, Jr.. has been on q tour
of the western and far western states,
selecting the 500 recruits who are to
man the Hartford. He has also been
designated to be executive officer of
the ship, when she is in commission,
again carrying the flag to foreign ports
on her way back to the waters in which
she won fame and everlasting glory.
II is well indeed that the old battle
ship is to have such man for execu-
tive officer. He is one of our naval
heroes, and deserves greater celebrity
than has been given to him. His name \
has been overshadowed by the names
OF Schley. Evans, Philip. Clarke and
others OF higher rank who participated
in the hattie OF Santiago on July 3,
1898, whea Spanish Admiral cervera's
Heet was destroyed. But he was an
sctive participant n that battle, q the