The San Francisco call., 1906-09-30

Perry, from the depths of Misery Bay
there is revived a bit of senti
mentality which, out of place as it may
seem in a Congress devoted largely to
an expose and a defense of CONNER
cialism peculiarly American. blossoms
forth with all the fragrance OF a sweet
scented flower in the desert. For now.
after q lapse OF nearly one hundred
years. we ind ourselves seeking TO per-
petuate historic glory that has made
possible this republic of the new world
They NAV tell you-the practical
ones-1hat in the building of a great
nation there is scant room for senti-
ment; and history, after ALL they may
say, is only the Outgrowth of subtle
sentimentality. And perhaps they are
right for il we go back in our mem
ories 10 our childhood days we recall
that il was the picturesQueRess Of the
waving plume OF Henry OF Navarro that
impressed our youthful fancy and not
The routine camp life and the hard
ships Of the battles that he fought.
We conJure to our minds eye a
Washington in cooked hat. gilt and lace
and glittering sword; a Wellington ia
boots and spurs. a. Napoleon with 4
strut and halo. Perhaps it is the
sentimental spirit awakened BY the
strains Of the fife and the drum and
the tinseleu side Of glory that calls
men TO war Have ] not myself. says
Teufelsdrockh. known FIVE hundred
living soldiers sabered into crows 5 meat
for a glazed piece Of cotton which they
called their flag; which, had you sold
a any market cross would not have
brought above three groschenT- And
yet his this sentiment that has kept
as together as a nation in the days OF
adversely as well as in the days OF
prosperity. So il is that this measure
dragged out from the dusty records OF
Congress. where it has lain for four
years brings US back to that eventfui
fal day when Perry, the intrepid New
England youth. with the beard scarcely
growing on his face. sailed out of San
dusky Bay into the midst Of the Brit
ish squadron and compelled hero of
Trafalgar 10 strike his colors.
This sentiment Of raising Perry's
flagship has been nursed for seven
years or more and at last has assumed
a practical form, for Congress has ap-
propriated $4,000 for that purpose
The old ship will be raised under the
alrection of the Secretary of the Navy
and placed in a permanent building of
brick and stone on the grounds OF the
soldiers and Sailors Home at Erie Pa.
as a memorial of the first victory of an
American feet over a foreign foe A
resolution calling for this action was
introduced by Representative Arthur l.
Bates OF the Twenty-sixth Pennsyl-
Nania District on January %. 1902 but
Il was only at the last session that it
became a law. The fact that the
Niagara lies at the bottom OF Misery
Bay was first called to the attention
of the public by former Representative
:. A. Davenport OF Erie as result of
a conversation in Washingtor sn the
spring of 1899. At that time the ques-
ton Of the rehabilitation of other his
.toric ships was being widely discussed
and II was suggested that among other
famous ships the old Constitution
should be restored.
Then some one announced that the
Niagara was stili intact in the little
bay near Erie The knowledge that
Perry's flagship was still in existence
came as surprise TO many Represent
atiFes, who manifested the greatest in
terest in the project soon after pro.
posed by Mr.. Davenport. The events OF
the next session of Congress were SO
closely connected one upon the other
that no opportunity was found for in
Producing the measure, but the matter
was suggested 10 Adr. Bates, who sue
ceeded Mr. Davenport. and the result
was the law Of last session.
History of the Niagara
While the movements of Perry's fleet
have been clearly followed in nearly
al the histories. it is not generally
known how the Niagara came to be in
her present position. Soon after his
battle Perry was ordered to winter his
vessels az Erie. and the Lawrence
which was the first flagship; the Nj
CARA. the Scorpion. the Porcupine, the
Tigress and others We're anchored in
the little body Of water opening into
The eastern entrance to Presque Isle, or
Misery Bay. The Lawrence and the
Niagara were RENTED the following
spring and joined the expedition against
Mackinaw. Upon their return to Erie
the Lawrence was found to be unsea-
worthy sno was sunk with the De-.
tloit and Queen Charlotte. both cap
tHred British ships. in Misery Bay. The
Lawrence was sunk in the northwest
ern part Of the bay. where the water is
quite shallow, and she gradually be-
came the victim of relic hunters, so
that now hardly a vestige of the old
vessel remains. For several years the.
Niagara was used as 4 receiving snip,
but finally becoming too old even for
that service she also was sunk in Mis-
cry Bay, but she lses in the northwest
ern part OF the bay whore the deep wa
Ter has protected her.
President Roosevelt said in his Ma
Ral war OF lbl- kIdl the glory OF the
battle Of Lake Erie most certainly has
heen estimated st more than its worth"
Nevertheless the story Of Perry's vic
tory win be forever regarded as the
achievement OF hero. and few Ameri-
cans who have read of the daring ex-
plox Of that typical American can be
induced to believe with the Presidential
historian that Perry stands on a lower
grade than either Hull or Macdonough.
and not a bit higher than a dozen 9TH
ers"
Perry did better than to twine a
wreath Of glory for a nation. for the
future Of a new world was in his hands
that day. The wonder OF it all is. not
that lie fought bravely. fiercely dog
gedly. against better ships and better
men. but that he and his little fleet
were not swept off the surface OF the
lake AS we now dispassionately look
back over the details Of that remark
able action and not the circumstances
on which the fortunes turned we cam
scarcely realize how II was that Bar
clay. instead Of Perry prOffered his.
sword hilt forward.
Not long ago / visited the scene~0f
this battle on Lake Erie ! sailed in a
small boat as nearly as possible over
the course taken by Perry when he met
the British feet. and tried to trace his