Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-25
GIVE HIM A SWORD
Movement to Honor Commander
Wainwright.
A FUND ALREADY STARTED
Westinghouse to Remember One
of Their Own Citizens.
FUND ALREADY
STARTED
S q g G E TIONS M A D E

a letter published recently in The Star
calling attention to the fact that Com
mander Wainwright, who made the daring
and gallant fight with the little Gloucester
in the great Santiago naval fight, was a
native of Washington has resulted in
movement to present Commander VAIN
wright with a sword on behalf of the peo
pie of Washington.
Cities and towns throughout the Union
have been prompt to make claim to the
heroes of the Spanish war who came from
among their townspeople, and many sword
presentations have been made. The delay
on the part of Washington to recognize
Commander Wainwright was due to the
fact that it was not generally known that
he was a native of this city. This fact
having been published, the idea of laying
claim to him and presenting him with
sword appears to have had a rapid growth.
Contributions to n Sword Fund.
The Star has received letters on the sub
ject, some making offers of contributions
to sword fund, and all urging the pro-
priety of a popular subscription for this
purpose.
A number of pubNc-sprited men who take
pride in everything that does credit and
honor to Washington have interested them
selves in the matter, and in advance of any
organized movement or any publication on
the subject except the letter published in
The Star above referred to, over $500 has
been subscribed to start a Wainwright
sword fund.
interest in the matter are C. ], Bell, F. p.
b. Sands, c. C. Glover. Van NJ. Johnston,
John c. Poor, Thomas Hyde, S. w. Wood
ward. Tyler & Rutherford.
hnrp hos hoo ti,ocy aoira
ton in the movement, but with the start
that has been given the movement steps
are to be taken to select a committee to
receive funds and take charge of the mat
ter.
Praised by Secretary Long.
Among the letters The Star has received
on the subject is the following from an
old Washingtonian:
was greatly interested in a letter which
appeared in a recent issue of The Star
from Mr.. F. P. B. Sands, calling attention
to the fact that Commander Wainwright
of the Gloucester had received from this,
his native city, no recognition of his gallant
conduct in the battle of July 3 off Santiago.
our failure to seize the opportunity to do
him honor seems indeed strange when CON
trasted with the appreciation shown to
other gallant officers by the cities and
states who proudly call them their sons.
As a matter of possible interest to many
who may not realize in what esteem VAIN
wrights conduct is held by the executive
department having cOgnizance of his rec
ord, l beg to quote the following excerpt
from a speech recently made by the Score
tary Of the Navy in Chicago:
The Navy's Unknown Heroes.
You cheer for the men behind the guns;
you give swords and banquets here and
there to admiraI-and both most richly
deserve the tribute-but remember that all
up and down the line there are individuals
whose names never got to your ears, or if
SO, are already half forgotten who have
earned unfading laureIs
In the long watch before Santiago the
terror Of our great battle ships was the
two Spanish torpedo boat destroyers, those
swift, ffendish sharAs of the sea, very en-
Sfnes of death and destruction and vet
when the great battle came. it was the un-
protected Gloucester, converted yacht,
the former plaything and pleasure boat of
summer vacation. which, without hesita-
tion or turning, attacked these demons of
the sea and sunk them both / have al
ways thought it the most heroic and gal
lant individual instance of fighting during
the war. 1t was If some light-clad
youth, with no defense but his sword threw
himself into the arena with armored gladi-
ators, and by his very dash and spirit laid
them low. And yet who has given a sword
or spread a feast to that purest flame of
chlValrous heroism. Richard Wainwright7 ~
1t Is not too late now to awaken to the
TACT that Wainwright is a WashingtoDian
and to profit by the timely suggestion thus
prominently made. a sword presented 10
that brave man, which, ! may add would
replace the one lost by him in the mar
tyred Maine will shine In the luster Of
his daunteSS courage; 1t Will remind him
at all times when away on service that he
Is not forgotten by those whose duty keeps
them here; 1t VIII show to the rest of the
country that we, too, treasure our good
name and will honor those who honor us
This city is the nations capital: it is none
the less an individual community, a living
entity, having a distinct and distinguished
personality. There are WaShingtOnians
many of US, of several generations stand
ing. We have reason to be proud of many
men and many deeds but Of none more
than of Wainwright and his feat of arms
| viii be glad to associate myself with
any whose connection with the business
and social interests of the city may entitIe
them to the honor of taking the first step
! toward presenting a sword to our distin-
guished fellow townsman.
His Father Was with Farragut
Another letter making a contribution
calls attention to the fact that Commander
Wainwright's father was with Farragut
and highly commended by him for his
bravery. He commanded the flagship Hart
ford at the time of his death in August,
1852
This writer suggests a silver service in
stead of a sword.