New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-17
TRIBUTE TO BARRY.
Rear admiral Melville Speaks at
UnUeiing Of Statue.

Philadelphia. March 1s-One Of the features of
the observance of ST. Patriclls Day in this city
was the presentation this afternoon 20 the city by
the Society Of the Friendly Sons of st. Patrick Of
a statue OF Commodore John Barry. who was one
OF the societys members along with George Wash
ington. The statue a bronze figure of the COM
modore. stands in Independence Square. and
great crowd turned out in the sprnglike weather
TO witness the unwilling This honor fell TO Miss
Elsie Hazel Hepburn. a twelve year-old great
great-grandniece Of Barry The national govern
ment was represented by Brigadier General Duval
and Rear Admiral TfIey commandant of the
League Island Navy Yard. a detachment Of ma
rines and sailors from the vessels at the navy
yard acted a guard Of honor.
The exercises began with n salute at the navy
yard. after which the Right Rev. Alexander
Mackay Smith. Bishop Coadjutor Of the Protestant
Episcopal Diocese Of Pennsylvania delivered the
Invocation The presentation address was deliv-
cred By Thomas J. Stewart. president Of the
Friendly Sons Of St. Patrick and the statue was
accepted on behalf of the city by Mayor Weaver
Tho grafton was delivered by Rear Admiral Mel
Vile retired The admrars GRAFTON was devoted
principally TO a sketch Of Barry's life He said in
part:
We are assembled here to-day. NOT 70 chant ~.
mlseTere or drge for the dead but IN iovfIi
jumpers TO sing the praises OF one of the most
Of one who did as much as, il not more than. any
ne L man 10 secure FOR you and FOR me-and let
this great Republic, ~ ~ u
The subject Of our peans to-day was seaman
IN al that II means: An officer Of the navy before
a W. na1 a nay man in the acceptation of tho
could not only sail. manage and navigate his ship
al over me world, but could build rg and equip
MeT, ana also could place. man and fight her guns
This he did on many occasions. as mis- brief history
o. OF To-Day VIII tell lie was no kid gloved" mar
,,a The man to whom refer is Commodore John
by those who knew him But to us Of later gen
6 non ms nan9 ana me record OF his deeds make
American Navy"
Captain Barry returned from sea in his good ship
the Black Prince In October. ITO when tie first
opportunity offered TO consecrate his life ana great
ability as seaman TO the cause OF the American
Congress had voted TO purchase ana equip two
vessels. the Lexington and the ReprSal and
Captain Barry honored with the command OF
the Lexington named after the first battle Of the
American Revolution.
From the time of the fitting out OF the Lexington
IN Hl5. Gown 10 the time OF tho declaration OF
colonies from the thrsldom OF Great Britain Cap
tain Barry was constantly engaged on shore and
afost. IN building and equipping vessels and IN
service At SEA, IS opportunity afforded when our
little feet could ind an opening 10 sc, through The
the broad Captain Barry made tho enemy
as seaman He never struck his nar - iEs
enemy though he was actually engaged In twenty
At the time OF the British occupation ~ Phlladel-
phia feet was obliged to retreat up the river
Captain Barry but by order Of the Naval COMMITS.
soIers. the few vessels composing It scuttled
II was under these circumstances that Barry be-
came cIosely associated with Washington as one
OF his stafI utilizing his resOurcefulness as
man in supplying and manning hotllas Of boats on
of and material Of war, and taking part In the
battles OF Princeton and Trenton I!e also fitted
out successful hotlla OF boats for service
the lower Delaware River. making from the enemy,
bound on its way up the river to Philadelphia.
numerous important captures or powder, war sup
plies and other material and happily diverted them
10 our army At valley Forge. In tact y was this
captured powder alone that sustained Washington
a; that time. This nOtilla OF boats passed down
the river at night very much to the CONSERVATION
Of the enemy. who was then enjoying the peace and
serenity OF the society OF the CITY
assigned signal duty of carrying abroad Colonel
Laurens. special commissioner 10 France. lie had
MARQUIS de I.afayetie. Count de NoaiIles. Thomas
Pane ana MIJot Jafkspp; a mus %s see o s gbt
err He selected the best and safest man
very time we had Benedict Arnold and others Of
his ilk in our midst. and Washington might wen
have said. My LORD. whom can We trust?' Hap
PLY for us. there was one whom all could trust
the enemy the establishments and offers OF
es s aaree from his s head on he o SG'a qG
shoulder knots. lie was more than Ioya-he was
We an know the grand success of the nesotla
uols OF our Coz : I'nknn alueu ny or
forts OF Marquis LAFAYETTE. How fortunate the
relations thus established. and what great and
browning glory came TO us through alliance
with France al that time!
Barry was the captain who intrusted with
the grave responsibility OF carrying this commits
SION abroad through the lines OF the eneny's block
aiding and cruising ships. This was a task both
great and honorable. and would have been quite
enough for most men. but for our hero He
hghter. 1t was not enough for him to avoid
the enemy 50 as 30 carry his precious cargo In
safety to his destination Fight he must And
fight he did both on his advance voyage to France
and on his hOmeward trip. IS q result of the en-
gaSeTnents he captured ten of the enem,,'s ships
sending some OF his gfl[es into French ports and
But, friends. l might go for an hour and vet
not tell half of the story OF the many other ser
vices rendered TO the struggling colonies law tho
man we are here to honor to-day Suffice II 20 say
that he of the brightest and nobIest Of
those Who came to us from the Emerald Isle an
Irish fisher LAD; whose name and fame will live
What you doing to-day in honOrinC his mem
DRY is but an earnest of that better knowledge OF
our hero which VIII grow with the history of our
beloved country which he did so much to make
a land OF freedom. We have been so young as
nation that we have not had time to sit down
calmly and think over the merits Of all the mon
who fought that we might have the greatest coun-
try and the nohlest government the world has
ever known We thinking more about tho
past than We did. and as we look back we see
the grand heroic figure OF John Barry taking its
rightful place among the defenders and saViors
OF the Republic.