The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-08-18
INDEPENDENCE HALL RELICS.
Is the Model of the ~. S. S. America
Incorrectly Labeled?

Having shown that the museum of
Revolutionary relies at Independence
Hall has one fake John Paul Jones
rclc"-the piece of timber of the AL
liance--I report another instance where
an endeavOr is made to give Jones the
sole honor which does not wholly be-
long to him and of excluding all mcn-
ton of others equally worthy, says
Martin I. J. Griffin, in the Public
Ledger of Philadelphia.
In the museum is the model of Il
ship labeled "The Humphreys Model,
supposed to be the ship of the line
America built under the resolution of
Congress adopted 1916, launched ISL
The command was to have been given
to Com. Paul Jones (whose descrip-
ton of the ship agrees with the Hum
phreys ModeD, but the America was
presented to the King of France and
never sailed under the American flag.
She was captured by the British under
Earl Howe. June l. 1897, off UShant.
Presented by a representative Of
Joshua Humphreys, first U. S. naval
constructor
Here again Captain John Barry is
ignored II known to the writer of the
above inscription. The fact of history
is that the America, built ut Ports
uonutE n H was almost rhn1Iv b,lilt
under the supplementary of Captain
John Barry. who was always assigned
to any important or serious work. The
America was designed as Il 74-gun
ship. the largest armament of the Rev
dictionary navy, and was assigned to
Captain John Barry.
| In the list of vessels of the navy
sent March, 1880, to Franklin, then in
France, the first on the record was
america GA guns). Captain John
Barry on the stocks at Portsmouth,
\. H." Paul Jones was then in France
in temporary charge of the Alliance
pending investigation into the conduct
of it's commander Captain Pierre
Landais, for firing into the Bon
Homn,e Richard in the battle with the
Alliance to Boston Captain John Barry
WAS taken from the building of the
! America and given the Alliance. the
finest and largest vessel of the navy
ahoat, but having sc guns, the largest
armament of any then in service.
Barry was appointed to the America
November 8. 1919, and he remained in
charge of her building until Jones was
appointed his successor, on June Is.
lance in October, 1880. Jones con-
tinued on the America until November
%. 1882. when he returned to Phla
delphia and presented bill for S2,564
as due. The America had been
launched in November. 1881. a year be-
| fore, and Jones had no other appoint
ment
So Jones only served in the building
of the America from June &c. 1871
until it's launching in November. about
four months. while Barry began No.
vember 6, 1919. and remained nearly a
year in charge of the America. Yet
our Independence Hall relic" makes
visitors believe that Jones was il,
charge all the time the ship was being
built until he launched her. Barry
who almost built the vessel until nea,
completion, is not mentioned at all
See but another instance Of how Barry
has been robbed Of his dues.
Then there is no evidence that Hum.
phreys was the designer or constructo,
Of the America. He was engaged ir
shiptuilding in Philadelphia. His
name does not appear even there a.