The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-26

lt marks notable epoch In the history
OF the United States. Sept. 10TH 1918,
Commodore oliver Hazard Perry won a
signal victory over the British squadron
In Lake Erie. The British commander,
Capt. Barclay was killed and every ship
or the enemy's fleet was taken and added
10 the American navy.
Rhode Island is preparing 10 celebrate
the day In fitting style. Gov. Gregory,
his stan and Rhode Island regiment,
will be there. They will be ably assisted
by the Pan-American commission. the
vice presidents and honorary members
or the board women managers for
Rhode Island. These are: John 3. Ken
yon, president Henry ]. Spooner. vice
president: Howard o. Sturges Etienne
c. Delabarre, Jesse II. Metcalf, secretary
and treasurer; Pan-American commission,
State OF Rhode Island.
Charles Fletcher and Charles III. Per-
kins. vice presidents for the Exposition
managers.
Mrs. William Gregory and Mrs. Chas.
Dean Kimbal: Members OF the board OF
women managers.
George n. kingsbury. executive super
intendent.
VI SWIM Wtthb
bury who Is also resident commissioner,
has been actively promoting plans TO
make the day conspicuous success both
as TO the attractivenes Of the program
and size OF the crowd Rhode Island
should be heartily Joined by her sister
states in making this notable anniversary
great day at the Pan-American Expo
sition.
Lieut.. Elliott OF Maryland was second in
command In the engagement and was
voted medal and sword by Congress.
Capt Hugh Nelson Page OF Virginia dis
tinguished himself for bravery I'm the
night and was 'voted two jewel-hllted
swords, one by the Congress of the United
States. the other by the legislature of
virginia. Other commanders from other
states also bore conspicuous parts In the
great battle, but 20 Rhode Island mainly
belongs the palm OF victory. Her citi-
zens were In the majority. both as 20
officers and men. Few battles OF the
revolution were pregnant with more inn
portant results
After winning n battle against a SUI
perior force and better guns Commodore
Perry and his lake squadron went TO the
coast of Michigan and assisted the army
In driving the Britishtroo ps from that
state. a brief sketch OF Commodore
Perry and his officers and a condensed
resume OF the battle has especial inter-
est AZ this time. The celebration OF Sep-
temher 10th as Rhode Island day natur-
ally revives memories OF the gallant band
who Fought the battle and added a signal
victory 10 the list of American triumphs
oliver Hazard Perry was born August
2Sd, l,s5. at Newport, r. l., and died Aug
ust 2Sd, 1919. near the coast OF Trinidad
OF yellow fever. contracted on the shores
or the Orinoco river He was thirteen
years old when his father took him 10 |
sea In small frgate, the General Greene
lie served AS midshlpman on the frlgate
Adams which sailed from Newport ga
1902 70 join Commodore Morris squadron |
al Gibraltar Tn 1909 he went 10 sea i'm |
command OF the Revenge. an armed
schooner employed IN coast defence He |
nrst gained distinction off the coast OF !
Florida by rescuing a stolen American |
vessel under the very guns OF the Brit |
fsh man-of-war Gore" of doifble his |
force. Later he was made master com /
ma andant OF the hotilla at Newport
February. lSl3, he was ordered 10 ioin |
Commodore Chauncey with the picked |
men Of his Newport 1otilla The next |
month he was assigned TO duty on Lake
Erie where the vessels which were to
compose the naval squadron of the lakes
were being built. He actively superintend- |
ed their construction and i'm May three
gun boats and two briggs were launched
md equipped He made a perilous trim
part OF the time in small four-oared |
boat, May the 2Sd, to confer with Com
tack on Fort George lie spent the night
OF the Ath in the city OF Buffalo The re-
suit ef this expedition was the opening Of
the port OF Black Rock and the collecting
of five additional American vessels which
he conducted to Erie and added to his
own fleet.
September the 10th. the American feet
lay In Put-in-bay near Sandusky when
Perry discovered the British SQUADRON |
In the offing and went out 70 meet Il.
Captain Barclay. the British commander.
had the warships Detroit and Queen
charlotte the schooner Lady Provost.
the brig Hunter and two smaller vessels.
the Chippewa and Little Belt numbering
sixty-three guns. five hundred and two
onicers and the men. Perry had the bries |
Lawrence. Niagara. Caledonia Scorpion. |
Ariel Somers, Porcupine. Tigress and
Trippe-hfty-four guns and four hundred
and ninety men.
In the beginning OF the engagement the
whole strength OF the enemy was direct
ed against the flag ship Lawrence Srs
was about 10 be dismantled when Perry
left her In command OF Lieut. Yarnen
crossed in a small boat under heavy fire
10 the Niagara. then I'm command OF
Lieut.. Jesse Duncan Elliot OF Maryland
Elliot crossed over 10 the Somers and
brought the smaller vessels OF the feet
Into the action and arranged them so as
20 bring deadly cross fire 20 play on the
enemy The Scorpion was commanded bv
the sailing master. stephen Champlin:
the Ariel by Lieut.. John ". Packets;
the Trippe. by Lieut.. Thomas Holdup In
seven minutes after Perry took COM
mand OF the Niagara, the British flag
ship Detroit. the Queen Charlotte. Lady
Provost and Hunter were compelled TO
surrender.
Captain Barclay was among the killed. |
The Chippewa and Little Belt endea-
vored 10 escape but were overtaken BY
the Scorpion and Trippe and surrendered |
an hour later. Perry wrote his famous
dispatch to General Harrison on the back |
OF an old envelope. resting IL on his cap.
I'VE have met the enemy and they are |
ours Two ships, two brigs. one schooner
and one sloop. Yours with very great re-
.~>r. o.tncr, N DErnnVv Il