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

| built and called the Intrepid but the name
has since ceased TO appear in the register
The present Philadelphia is certainly q
| misnomer-in conception, II not In fact. "a
the history Of the old frigate played no
part in the selection Of the name: At the
same time. the example set VA by those who
were 70 brave In that good ships defence
and In her final destruction In most in
spiriting. and, 30 far as the history OF the
incident is concerned, no harm could come
case. the Chesapeake, the same consolation
does not exist, as abe remained In the hands
OF her captors. and her early career served
but to emphasize the deep .damnation Of
her takin' on. Al the launch and baptism
practice ship at the Naval Academy, the
most prominent thought. robably,. was
OF the handsome bay upon which the Acad-
envy fronts. There had been successfully
detailed for this service a Bancroft CATER
OF founding the sohooD and an Annapolis,
each OF which had In turn proved unsuited
to the work. As an alternative. the name
OF Severn was, no doubt. considered also
and would be xs x a. pss tSss
Academy grounds. on whose waters the
midshipmen get thier professional training
and have their aquatic sports.
The frat Chesapeake furnished an almost
unique instance OF 2 United States y ATE , snip
single adversary Of equal strength. This
Is in no wise a reproach to the heroic Law
renee, whose dying words. Don't give up
the ship were In themselves an anthem
Of devotion which. three months later. was
emblazoned at the masthead OF the brig
which bore his name and cheered Perry's
fleet to victory on lake. Erie. When the
Inflated frigate sailed out from Boston In
June, 1873, to meet her challenger. II was
with an almost mutinous crew. lust assem-
LII - stavv. fnVa a nd xvtthA,.t
training; pitted against Capt. Broke's su-
perbly drilled ship, the result could not long
remain In doubt. and In but few minutes
after the first gun was fired the American
dag was hauled down by the Shannon's
brilliant order had been displayed on both
sides, Capt. Broke setting most consplcu-
ous and wellnigh fatal examples; and the
estimation In which our Captain had been
held BY the enemy Tss shown In the manner
when lowed into Halifax by her captor;
When Lawrencc's body was taken ashore
In q twenty-oared barge. II was met by a
regiment OF British troops, and 1t was car
ried swsy in its comm ny six veteran Britain
gallant seaman's memory: well was II be-
slowed upon Perry's flagship; well might
II again be bestowed upon a modern name
sake built Of steel. But his ship was taken
None OF the associations which cluster
about that unfortunate craft 10 such as TO
foster the generous enthusiasm which
should be felt In our ehips. Six year, be-
fore her death struggle, abe had been at
lacked. in time OF profound peace. by the
who were claimed to be deserters from the
British Navy, whom Commodore Bar
ron had refused 10 give up. The action
lasted less than quarter OF an hour, the
dition Of such unpreparedness that It was
only an the flag was coming down that Lieut..
Allen managed to fire one gun by means
Of coal carried from the galley fire. The
Leopard took OF the men; the Chesapeake
returned to port; Barron was suspended
for Ave years, and did not return to active
duty when he could have done 90. In 1872,
and he finally killed, In duel. the immortal
Decatur. upon whom had devolved the
thankless duty Of passing judgment upon
his conduct.
Early Impressions are the most easily
made: they are also often the deepest. Ny
frrt cruise was In the Macedonian. frieate;
and I remember well the. eagsrness with
IN my boyisS fancy pictured similar scenes
recurring, and was pleased 10 assure myself
that when such an event should come to
pass again would emulate the exampl.
set by the gallant men OF the frfgate United
s cop sn % Srs. sr mss proud 70 s ss
into the harbor Of Portsmouth, England. In
the tight little chip Dale. named after the
stout old Commodore whose first prominent
exploit was ne First Lieutenant Of the
Bonhomme Richard, In the appalling fight
Oh Marlborough Head. When fire was ap-
preaching the magazine and water was Ave
feet deep In the hold and rising, the MASTER
at-aIms liberated q number Of Enelish
prisoners Of war, telling them to save them.
selves: the quick-witted Dale met them
coming up the hatch In swarms and shouted
TO them that the Scraps was sinking along
side and that their only hope was 10 keep
the Bonhomme Richard ahoat, whereat
they turned 70 work despert tely. pumping
am thirty-eieht years older now than
was In those days; but. with no III viii for
those were once our perpetual enemies,