The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-06-23
FRIGATE PRESIDENT.
The Vessel Captured From Us la 1915
stIIl Used as n british Driiiship.

One evening during the recent war
with spain several London newspaper
correspondents were seated around table
in the Cheshire Cheese discussing the
friendly attitude of England toward the
United states and specializing upon the
chances of an Anglo-American alliance
in consequence. In the middle of their
conversation the representative of an
American newspaper burst suddenly into
the ROOM says the New York san
"What do you fellows Think" he cried
excitedly Here you all are discussing
the friendly attitude of England toward
the United States. Friendly nothing
DO you fellows know that your brotherly
loving Britishers have seized an Ameri-
can war vessel and are at this very mo-
ment holding her at the West India docks
Do YOU
WHAT Which one?" chorused the
surprised correspondents, starting from
their seats.
BE calm, gentlemen BE calm, beg
of you" The newcomer drew n chair up
10 the table.
Another of your fool American jokes,
I suppose" young Englishman NUT
tered.
1.-The ship refer to, gentlemen, con-
tinued the American VIII; Il they were ali
seated, lis the United States frigate
President captured off New York some
slime in 1915 bv his maiesty's frlgate
Endymion, commanded by Capt. Hope.
The President is at present drill ship for
the Royal Navy Reserves, and Is stationed
as / have already told you, at the West
India docks. But there is nothing for
Americans to be ashamed of in this, for,
although we have no British ships in our
navy at present, history informs me that
we had more than our full share ut one
time. so do be calm l beg of you.
Waiter, you may bring me mutton and
nusty.
After the correspondents had applied
appropriate names 10 the man who had
been responsible for the excitement, "A
general discussion ensued as to whether
the President Of the British navy was
really the old United States frigate cap
tured in the war Of 1872, or whether she
was a more modern vessel named in
honor of that capture. The American
who was the cause Of the discussion
stoutly maintained chat she was the same
old President, save for her compulsory
change of flag some 50 odd years ago.
United States histories tell little about
the disposal of the President after her
capture by the Endymion, further than
that both she and her captor We're dis
1nantled in gale OFF the Bermudas. The
American correspondent statement,
however, is in some degree corroborated
by the navy department at Washington.
In reply to recent inquiry concerning
the matter the superintendent of naval
war records furnished the following in
formation First this extract was quoted
from 'Ihe Navy Of the United States.
from the Commencement, I775 to 1881
compiled by Lieut.. George +. Emmons,
i'plesident. Captured off New York,
1915 Jan. 10. While in command Of
Commo 5. Decatur, by a British squad.
ron, after IA running light of 16 hours,
during which IL. b. NJ, frigate Endy
mion, 10, Capt. Hope, found it prudent
To haul out of action, to repair damages.
(Both this vessel and the President were
soon after dismasted in gale.) Commo.
Decatur finally surrendered to the Majes-
tic race, Capt. Hayes, with loss Of "A
killed and 55 wounded, including, among
the former. Lieuts Babbitt, Hamilton
and Howell. Was the flagship of Commo.
Richard Dale, in the Mediterranean, in
1901 and 1902. DO. do. S. Barron, do.
1854 and 1905; and subsequently of
Comma. j. Rodgers, on our coast, from
1899 to 1872.
Then the communication continues:
Information Relative to the u. 5.
Frigate President, captured by the British
in the war of 1872.
:" On the sth of March (1Sl5l, after
having undergone partial repair, the
President, accompanied by the Endymion
sailed from Bermuda for England; and
on the 2Sth both ships arrived at Spithead.
Naval History of Great Britain, by
William James. volume 9, p. 246.
I'm the English Navy List of October,
1917, vessel called the President is spok-
on Of as follows: President, GO, Ports
mouth. she is referred to in the navy
lists of 1S24-20 as President, 81; Ports
mouth, building 1.-The presumption
is that she remained at Portsmouth until
the year 1850. From 1850 TO 1860 she was
at Chatham. Some tins between 1850
and 1867 she became drill ship at the
Nest India docks. She is spoken of as a
fourth-rats drill ship FOR royal navy re-
serves, 1863 tons.
"In the Naval Pocket Book for 1900,
she Is referred to as an ex frigate, 81,
drill ship, r. n. r., West India docks.
1.-The fair supposition Is that this Is the
original vessel captured from the United
States"