The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-09-10
CONTINUED From Page one).

4 =
| appropriate for. our celebration; for. on
the 10Th Of September s. years ago. our
| Ahodc Island commodore. Oliver Hazard
! Perry, won the brilliant naval victorv
on Lake Erie, which overthrew British
! supremacy on the Great Lakes preserved
the integrity Of our northern frontier. and
contributed largely TO results which have
permitted the establishment Of this expos
ition Al Buffalo. in the United States OF
america without Rhode Island Perry
ana his Rhode Islanders com
posed considerable proportion OF the Of
hcers and men OF his little acet-the place
I where we now stand might perhaps. be
foreign soil
The occasion neither requires nor per
mits the recital ~ detail of the story of
ferry's intelligent and persistent efforts
~ preparation for the UNEQUAL contest
nor OF the intrepid valor and consummate
skin with which ne fought and won his
splendid victory
The situation along this lake frontier
was almost disheartening The disgrace
lul surrender OF Detroit by Gen Hun the
ineffective efforts OF our little army on
the Niagara frontiers the defeat al river
Raisin--followed by the massacre OF pris-
on9rs BY the Indian allies OF the British.
and other disasters 10 the American arms
seriously inperilled our cause and the
SAFETY Of our entire territory bordering
on the Great Lakes
The enemy held complete command OF
Lake Erie. With naval squadron under
the command OF Capt Finnis and. sllbse-
quently, after It's reinforcements bv the
rev and strpngly-built warship Detroit
commanded by Commodore Barclay
veteran officer of skill. courage and cx-
perience who had served with distinction
unoer Nelson az Trafalgar
PERRYs TMPERIsHABLE FAME.
Such was the outlook faced by Perry
re surmounted almost insuperable diff
culties Under his keen and tireless s,,-
perVision, the principal part OF his little
neet was built on the shores OF the lake
from green timber cut for the purpose
In the adjoining forests: by unremitting
effort and energy his crews and amament
were finally obtained. though much lack
ing what he sought and desired by his
ingenious engineering his feet WAS lifted
bodily over the Erie bar where the denth
Of the water was some three or four feet
less than the draught OF his largest brig.
with an inferior force IN guns and men
still further reduced IN efficiency bv the
serious illness OF many and the inexper-
ience OF large number OF his men and
an insufficient corps OF officers he eager
~ sought. and on the 10Th of September.
1913 encountered the British squadron i'm !
der Barclay
Bearing down upon the enemy Perrv's I
brig, the Lawrence fVing the battle 1ar I
inscribed with the dying words OF tho /
hero whose name his vessel bore. Don't q
siNe up u"e ship for more than two
hours endured the hrunt Of the UNEQUAL
connict and received the continuous and
concentrated fire of almost the entlro
british feet, Perry fought the Lawrence
with unconquerable spirit. skill end de-
Only three OF the smaller
vessels OF his squadron were closely en-
gagged as the Niagara. brig of similar
power and armament to fhe Lawrence
and the remaining four small riphoats ~
his feet had not been brought into ef-
fective action. II Was half-nast O'Clock
ana The Lawrence was an unmsnaeesbte
wreck. al her guns disabled and of her
rev NJ ioo ~ for duty AZ tho opening Of
he engagement y had been killed and 81
Noundsc--a slaushter upon one vessel AL
most or quite unequalled i'm naval his
ory
Now came The bold and timely act
which revealed the wonderful saeaoitv
md heroism of Perry and transformed a n
,pparent defeat into n glorious victory
Ordering his boat Perry was rowed
through tempest ~ shot shell and mus
tetry fire. 10 the Niagara. some half
nile distant Gaining her deck he as
umed immediate personal command. sig
'alled again for close action swept down
Ipon and cut through the lines of the-
nemy with such impetuosity ana vigor.
nd opened and continued FIRE 50 effec-
I've and destructive that within about
ftsen minutes from the time he had
iven his nrst sharp order from the deck
4 the Niagara the battle Of Lake Erie I
Ad heen won and our gallant commo-
ore could SIND his famous message. we !
ave met the enemy. and they arc ours
wo shirs. two hrgs one schooner and
ne sloop
.rt,f-
tances have sp briefly and inperfectlv ,
1dicRted. gave % oliver Hazard Perry
nFerishahle fame, and is one of those
reat deeds done by her sons which have
onfributed 10 Justly entitle Rhode Island
the designation of a great state
RHODE ISLAND a GREAT STATE.
Yes. say II advlsedly and rcpeat IL. ,
,o. Rhode Island is great state ,
] have long deprecated the very com :
ION custom Of speaking Of Rhode Island ,
; the smallest state i'm the Union" and I
referring 10 her as little Rhody"
ndlN az may be the sentiments which I
spire the appellation. II conveys an e
'roncous impression; and I have even {
et intelligent people who actually be- 4
eved thai Rhode Island was our small ! r
u state IN population. n not in impo.s- 4
lce-an error more widely spread / fear. r
ian would seem possible :
VI Course th'pe lsiand IA smallest in | r
rritory only; bat ] think we will All p
tree that extent Of territory is not what p
axes state great. nor does lack of I
% necessarily make her small N II =
ere so, the great state oi New York 4
ould not be our Empire state" "the n
rgest slate w the Union: for more
IAN half the states exceed her In extent 4
territory many very largely and one ! 2
ate has more than three times and an n
hef more than avo times the area Of ~
10 state of New York ,
] ndcr our system 80 government Don, "
atiou ig perhaps tho important stard- r
Il hy which we rhould measure tho d
latlNe axe of states although other r
emcnfs and character. sites must be- con =
dered in estlnatiug their greatness =
ln population RA.lo Island stands | =
ur'h among The SIX New England d