The San Francisco call., 1904-10-09

Congress call to mind the Mohican,
the Unadilla, the Pawtucket, the Les
lie, the Sotoyome, the double turreted
monitor Monadnock, the rebuilding of
the historic Hartford, Farragut's flag
ship at Mobile, and a large number
of barges and launches costing in the
aggregate several millions of dollars,
for which the Government has re-
ceived full value, as every dollar was
paid out for labor and material. All
repair work upon the ships of the
navy and United States transports
should be done In the navy yards,
which should be fully equipped with
all modern appliances.
The navy is very dear to the Amer
lean heart. Its mention alone brings
a thrill of patriotic pleasure. 1t has
contributed some of the most brilliant
pages in our history. It's officers and
men are represented by citizens from
every State and Territory in the
Union, as every one of the 3S6 Con-
gressiOnal districts has a cadet at the
naval academy, while the President
appoints twenty additional cadets
from the sons of naval officers
The past half century has witnessed
a revolution in all things connected
with the navy. The wooden walls
have been replaced by walls of chilled
steel The swelling sails have given
way TO the propelling power of steam,
and the man behind the gun" has
become master of the situation.
While we do not number as many
ships as some of the other nations of
the world, yet for it's size our navy is
the equal of any-and ship to ship,
manned by American officers and
crew, 1t will never strike it's colors.
The evolution of the American navy
excites the admiration of the world,
and its exploits during the recent Span
ish War has given it a stronger and
broader hold than ever before The
United States has become a world DOW
er for good, and our navy is a bond for
peace as we'll as an arm of protection
to our people in foreign lands and our
commerce on the seas.
When in May, 1900, during the Box
er war, an appeal came for help from
the legations at Peking, China, our
feet of war vessels on the Asiatic sta
ton made up a detachment of marines
and sailors, under command of Cap
tain B. II. McCalla, now admiral and
commandant of this navy yard and
Joined the relief column with Admiral
seymour. You all remember how well
they did their work and saved the for
eign legations from annihilation. Our
naval officers and men won the highest
praise from all, and the British admiral
said of them: Their post was usually
in the advance guard, where their zeal
and go was praised by ALL" Again,
last November, the prompt action of
the captain of the u. 5. S. Nashville in
landing his troops at Colon, on the
isthmus of Panama, saved the lives of
many American citizens and prevented
the destruction of the city.
1T is, in my opinion the duty of our
Government, in the interests of peace
and good order. to maintain a strong
navy and man it with American citi-
zens. 1t seems therefore eminently
proper that we should assemble for the
purpose of congratulating the COM
mandant of this navy yard, the naval
architect, naval constructors and of
ficers that have directed the work, and ,
the mechanics that have fashioned
and builded this excellent vessel.
THE name selected by the Navy De-
partment-the Intrepid-is the third of
the name in the navy to fly the Stars
and Stripes. The first named was for
merly a Tripolitan ketch called the
Mastico, that had been captured in 1903
by Lieutenant Stephen Decatur. after
ward Commodore Decatur, while in
command Of the schooner ENTERPRISE
during the war that the United States
waged against a set of pirates who in
tested the Mediterranean Sea and were
making raids upon American COM
merce. The United States frigate Phil
adelphia while in hot pursuit of yes
sci that was running the blockade ran
upon a reef near the harbor of Tripoli
The tide was falling and all efforts to
get her off failed. A few days later
strong wind raised the waters and the
Tripolitans pulled the frigate off and
towed her to anchorage under the guns
of the fort. The work of destroying the
Philadelphia that she might not become
a part of the TriDolitan fleet was in
trusted to Lieutenant Decatur, who in
command of the Mastico. with a picked
volunteer crew, entered the harbor and
successfully carried out the plan and
escaped without the loss Of man. This
achievement was pronounced by Lord
ing act of the age The name of the
Mastico was changed to the Intrepid.
THE next of the name was built
during the '7O's and was steam
armored ram. but did not win distinc-
ton.
The third is the splendid vessel be-
fore you, now waiting the command TO
glide into the waters of the bay and to
be christened by Miss de Young. one of
the fairest daughters of the Golden
State. The Intrepid, bold. fearless and
undaunted, may she long sail the seas
as one of the schoolhouses of the
American navy
Chaplain McAlester stepped to the
front as the applause that greeted
Perkins words died away. He uttered
a short prayer, at the close of which
the Intrepid. released by the customary
mechanism, started toward the water.
AS she did so Miss Helen de Young,