The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-02-27

Senator Kearns, Of Utah, has intro
duced into the Senate and Mr.. Dris-
coll, Of New York, in the House of
Representatives bill whereby it be
enacted that the sum of fifty thousand
dollars be appropriated out of the
treasury for the erection in the city
of Washington of monument to the
memory of that famous Irishman,
Commodore Jack Barry, the "Father
of the American Navy" That this
movement will receive the support of
all patriotic Irishmen goes without
saying, and it is hoped that Irish cit
liens will vigorously exert themselves
in this matter and further the object
by writing to their senators and con-
gressmen, urging them strongly to
support the "Barry Monument Bill"
says the Gaelic American.
John Barry was born in the parish
of Tacumshane, in the county of Wex-
ford Ireland, about 1745. The place of
>alis birth was founded by two land
locked gulfs, upon both of which he
'splied the oar and set the SAIL" and
from his very infancy "heard the null
titudinous laughter of the sea-; and it
called to him, and he loved it, and fol-
lowed it, and it gave him power and
triumphs.
On leaving Ireland he probably land
ed in Philadelphia, for the first authen-
tic record of Barry shows him as
clearing" from that port in October,
1866, as captain of schooner. In 1869
he was elected member of the $50
,ciety for the Relief of Poor and Dis
tressed Masters of Ships" and on
December 27th, 1774, was made captain
of the Black Prince owned by John
Nixon, but chartered by Morris &
Willing, the foremost traders in North
America
This was the same, John Nixon who
first read the Declaration of Indepen-
dence in public, July 9Th, 1776. himself
the descendant of an Irishman.
While Barry was in cruise in the
Black Prince, ''the embattled farmers
had fired the shot that echoed round
the world" and on the day OF return,
October 18th, 1775, the Continental
Congress had resolved to fit out two
cruisers called the Lexington and the
Reprisal, in command of the former
and larger of which Barry was placed.
Speaking of this selection, "Bailey'
American Naval Biography" says: "At
this interesting crisis, it be-
came important to select officers whose
valor and discretion, whose experience
and skill, could give the utmost eff
cheney to our insignificant means o.
defence and annoyance The rare
union in Commodore Barry of these
qualities recommended him to the
notice OF Congress"
With the Lexington, Barry put te
sea, and in Prebles' "Origin OF The
Flag" it was declared that his "wa!
the first vessel that bore the Continen
tai flag to victory on the ocean" Hi
prize, the Edward, he brought on Apri
nth, 1776, into the port of Philadel
phia, giving pride and encouragement
to the patriots, which caused Joh1
Adams to write: "1We begin to make
some little figure in the navy way"
Barry's old employer, Robert Nor
ris, "the fnancier of the Revolution,
was the active spirit of the marine
committee. Under his direction Barr,
was to assist in taking, sinking ant
destroying the enemy"
So we'll did he perform his worl
that Henry Fisher wrote to the com
mittee of safety of Pennsylvania
"Last evening the King6sher (Britist
man-of-war) returned to Our roae
with prize brigantine, Captain Walk.
er, of Wilmington, but luckily for us
before the pirate boarded her, oul
brave Captain Barry had been or
board Of her and taken out the pow
der and arms"
Casear Rodney wrote August sd
1776: Yesterday came to town ar
armed vessel taken BY Captain Barry
at sea-; and Josiah Bartlett wrote tc
- - ~ an sxsf New fIainDshiEc.