Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-12-20


a peak in Darien"-where the sentlneis
of Carthage and of Rome had lifted
| their spears in turn-where the ARABS
had ruled for the better part of
thou sand years and the Cathollc chlV-
airy of United Spain had afterward
held brief posseSSion-thcre the nag or
England had been raised, and there we
keep it still. 1t meant the coming or
the British Empire, the opening of a
new era in the sphere of what we have
since learned to call welt -politik.
Three weeks later Marlborough won
the battle of Blenheim, and the glory
OF the "Roi So,eil' had reached its sun
set. These were the events that raised
England for the first time to her place
at the mead OF the great pow erS. Let
IS mediate.
| To say that We acquired the empire
i'll absence of mind" is stimulating,
but rather mischievous paradox. Sea
power we had gained by the exercise
of continuous presence of mind-by
vigorous and persevering efforts. From
superior judgment and efficiency in
that one sphere everything else re-
suited. The capture of Gibraltar was
|
| But it was the kind of invaluable ac-
cident that sea power alone made
possible, and in this sense we are
wholly right in refusing to regard it,
with some superficial sentimentalists,
as mere freak of fortune, rejecting
no genuine lustre upon our national
character and capacity.
| With the event will always be as
sociated the name of its author, Sir
George Rookie, upon whom a happy
idea was forced by an odd train of
rather unhappy circumstances. A
Kenuishman, born at Canterbury in
1850, when Cromwell was just begin
ming in earnest to create the British
navy, Rookie was no genius. In emer-
gency, none the less, he was dar-
ing and competent seaman. His life
had prepared him unconsciously for
some GROWING stroke of adventure.
BY conveying Marshal Schombergs'
army to Carrickfergus, and throwing
supplies and troops into Londonderry,
he saved that devoted city, and made
| it possible afterWard to raise the siege.
He went in against the French ships
La HOgue and burned them at their
anchOrs-a disaster which acted with
other causes TO dissipate Colberts
| splendid dream, so nearly realized of
winning for France the supremacy of
the sea. Some years later Rookie,
after the intervening failure of his
expedition to Cadiz, carried through
feat of arms which excited and daz-
zled the nation at home. Attacks
upon treasure ships We're at this period
! ,cl1- la oil
mind. Rookie, cruising in state of
some depression, learned that the
Spanish galleons, loaded with silver
and precious merchandise, had put
| into Nigo Bay under convoy of some
French ships of war. There was an
inner and an outer harbor, and the
narrows between the two We're closed
by a Donderous boom and command
ed by powerful Notifications. Brist-
| ling with peril as the attempt APP
| peared, Rookie went in again, smashed
| the boom, forced his way into the inner
| harbor under a hot fire, and of the
enemy's fleet, silver galleons, and war
ships alike, every single vessel was
burnt, sunk, or destroyed as per mar
| GIN I'm dim green depth lie ingot-
laden ships Besides the plate we
seized ourselves a great treasure in
doubloons went to the bottom of the
sea, and for generations imaginative
and enterprising minds throughout
Europe We're captivated by the
thought Of recovering the drowned
wealth of Nigo Bay.
Next year Rookie, who appears to
have been stiff and peppery in tenn
permanent, and set high and proper
value upon his own services, had a
quarrel with the Admiralty. and the
navy was nearly losing him at one
of the psychological moments of his
and our history. Queen Anne's hus-
! band, Prince George of Denmark, was
Lord High Admiral. An officer whom
| Rookie had recommended for promo
ton had been passed over. The hero
of Vigo took up the cudgels for his
| subordinate with promptitude and
| vigor. POSSIBLY Captain Wishart's be-
| ing a Scotchman may be a reasonable
objection" snorts the angry seadog in
an amusing and instructive aside-for
those Were the days before the union.
| Then he observes with great frank
| ness: 'In the thirty years that I have
| commanded in the navy my principal
| consideration and regard has ever
been the service and honor of my
prince and country, and next to that
the advancement and interest of my
own reputation" No poetry, it will be
observed, about Rookie, and no hum
bug either. He rendered his resigna-
| ton, mingling that act with a judicious
prayer that the Choicest blessings of
heaven" might, nevertheless descend
upon Her Majesty and her royal con-
sort. Prince George wrote at once a
soothing but evasive letter. refusing to
accept Sir George Rockies resignation,
indeed, but giving that Admiral no
solid satisfaction. Quick as the post
could run back from Spithead came
Rockies reply, quite declining TO be
Modified, and insisting upon retiring
to his poor patrinony." The only
thing to be done with him was to let
him have his way-and Captain Wis
hart hoisted his flag as rear admiral
Of the Blue in less than a week of the
second letter in his favor from his
vigorous chief.
This episode occurred on the very