The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1903-02-14

attestation to his character. AS to
desertion, it was SO rare that but two
instances are ON record during the
entire period of Commodore Barry's
command
The Alliance, under Barry, carried
to France Lafayette, who returned to
his country to endeayor to secure
greater help for the struggling patriots.
This mission was successful, Catholic
France fitting out a fleet and prepar-
ing 5000 men to assist the American
cause. After this voyage Barry in the
Alliance pursued a uniformly success
full course as a sea commander. cap
turing in five weeks no less than
eight prizes During the entire course
of the Revolution Barry captured more
vessels and through this gave to the
American cause more aid, moral and
financial. than any other commander.
In 1888, while carrying from Havana
a large amount of specie for congress,
he fought the last battle of the Rev
dictionary war. Peace had been de-
cla1ed on land some time before. but
an engagement occurred between the
Alliance and the Sybil, in which the
latter was worsted. It was on this
occasion that Barry gave his famous
answer when hailed with who are
you?" His reply was, The United
States ship Alliance-saucy Jack Bar
ry, half Irishman and half Yankee.
Who are you?"
After the war Barry resumed his en-
ployment of merchantmen commander
The navy was dismantled. The country
struggled along for some years, every
month discovering the Articles of con-
federation. which had served well
enough in time of war, when all were
united against a common foe, were not
suitable for government in times of
peace. At length, in 1887, convention
was called for the purpose of chang
ing the form of government or devils
ing new method of government. Most
of the states were represented The
result of this was the adoption by the
convention of the present constitution
of the United States.
When Pennsylvania delegates to the
constitutional convention reported to
the Pennsylvania assembly and SEN
ate some of those opposed to change
attempted to defer action by the leg
islature. Nineteen members attempted
to prevent business by absenting them
selves and preventing the presence of
a quorum. Public sentiment was
strongly against these members. and
their attempt was cut short by the de-
termined action of John Barry, now
a citizen.
With a few friends. Barry seized
forcibly two members of the assembly
and brought them to the session of the
legislature, where. unwilling auditors,
they made a quorum, which immedi-
ately voted to fix a time for action
upon the proposed Constitution of the
United States. Thus John Barry by
determined action forced Pennsylvania
into line and helped to the adoption
by his state of the present Consti-
tuition. One of these members, James
McCalmont, attempted to have Barry !
and on his evidence, not
denied by Barry, the state went
through the form of beginning action
against the latter. But, like many other
actions strictly legal but opposed to
veal, it died a natural death. |
During the latter part of Washing
tons administration congress author |
lied the building of three frigates and
three smaller vessels of war. This was |
done in March, 1894, and in June six |
captains were appointed. The first APP
pointed outranking all others, was |
JOilH Barry, VINO, Dy TINS act, became |
the senior officer of the infant navy.
Washington issued the first commits
sion, creating the first officer in the.
navy of the United States of America,
to John Barry on Feb. %, 1897. Thus, |
in a double sense, is John Barry the |
father of the American navy. AS first !
commander of the first, ship flying the |
first continental flag upon the seas and |
bearing the first commission issued in
the name of the continental congress, |
he was the first officer of the revolu- !
ton upon the sea. And now, as first |
captain and ranking officer command |
ing the first vessels owned by the |
United States of America, he becomes |
the naval progenitor of the long line |
Of distinguished naval heroes.
Barry died Sept. 10, 1903, and was
buried in the church yard of the parish |
Of st. Mary's Catholic church on South |
Fourth street, near Locust street, Phil