The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-26

II We had Farragut or a Porter or Rowan
or Worden. would these names fail to lend
additional nerve and tenacity at the crucial
moment? 1t is not possible. Man is Of
rent Of noble doings will ever draw the
silent fires. Let us preserve and perpetuate
these memories. There will be inspiration
In having about US the names, whether OF
ships or men. which our foIbesrs have
made illustrious: there will be pride In
keeping untarnshed the history they helped
to make.
For the purpose Of perpetuating names
which gained renown In the old navy. II 10
necessary to rebuild the old ships In the
newer material; and with loving solicitude
we would watch their second birth. When
ever. and captured or sunk by the enemy.
the memory should doubtless remain with
US, as would the memory Of lost child or
friend; but her name should then remain
but memory, at least until the hand OF
time has smoothed the burrows. There
are many who are opposed to repeating
any names that have passed. Regarding
ships that have been captured. there can
b no question; they are gone-possibly
TO be used by the enemy in future con-
which have been destroyed In battle or lost
In other ways should also keep their place
only in the glowing page OF history.
There Ia talk Of changing the laws regard
ing the naming OF our ships: il is to be hoped
that names may be authorized which will
jecting our glance into this subject only far
enough back IN begin with the creation OF
our New Navy the first misnomer that We
meet with Is the Philadelphia. The eS-
PLANTATION Of that alp u easv to find When
the policy Of our lawgivers first veered II
naval organization upon modern basis. we
were entering upon q new field. The con-
struction OF steel men-of-war was a new
industry: there was doubt in the minds Of
many regarding the ability Of either de-
now 90 proud Of. To use two expressions
which were imported at that interesting
time and have Eince been accepted In
general use, the personnel OF the navy
was believed to he all that II should be
vrs@els for the merchant service had been
built in this country could the steel plates
and france be produoedf and II produced.
could they be skilfully worked into the com.
nlex structure Of an armed and aImored
fighting ship The reply was found In the
action Of Congress- which passed laws pro-
hibiting the importation Of any. article or
material for use In building the ships, guns,
and armor for which money was voted. To
that. wise policy we now owe busy ship
yards, and the finest armor-producing
plants and the finest gun factory in the
world. All attention, all interest. was cen.
tired upon construction, the mechanical
feature Of the problem. As evidence OF
the acknowledged importance OF that anes-
gress which. by this benefcent legislation,
thus paved the way to the creation OF such
vast industries, the dominant party was the
one which. by precept and example, had
been. was then, and Ia now committed TO
s Sssa 0pPo pTatseo % Ne Honser T.Hs
then that. In the qualification OF our FIRST
sncceeses. sight YVES lost Of the personnel
and Of the military proprieties. and that one
Of the earliest steel warships was named
after the city IN which was located ed the
from which she was launched. In vain
could one exclaim that Philadelphia had
previously existed on the navy list and
bad met her death In war.
II In true that. after her capture, the de-
struction Of that ship was accomplished
account Of the exploit fills q bright page:
II was In October, 1908, As an INCIDENT OF
the blockade Of Tripoli,. the Philadelphia
was chasing q corsair and, not having good
struck upon a reef. Everything was done
that a seaman's skill could suggest to get
her OF: but she had run up 90 high as to
heel over until no guns could be brought
TO bear upon the pirates. who Immediately
bridge 6ooded the maya zines. bored holes
IL the bottom, disa bIed the punpe and then
hauled down the nag. A strong northerly
wind two days later piled the water up so
high that the corsairs were able to haul
her on and take her In to an anchorage
under the Pacha's castle. To prevent her
being used against our own feet. Stephen
Decatur was permitted to 60 In, with q
ward named the Intrepid. to destroy her.
During the night OF Feb. 10, 1904, they
boldly sailed In. got alongside, boarded.
and. after desperate hand -to-hand fight,
cleared the decks. Get fire to her In several
blaze OF the burning hulk. This heroic
incident should be Kept alive by always
having an Intrepid In the service. Some
years. ago . premature torpedo vessel was