Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-02-12
End of Old Fsrigate.


With recurring insistence there ap.
pears In the newspapers of this
country including certain service
publications whose edi,ols should be
better advised. the statement that
the frigate President captured by Il
british squadron of New York. Jan.
10, 1915, is still afloat and borne upon
tht English navy list, writes Wash.
lngton Post correspondent.
AS similar statement was con
tanned in an article published in your
issue OF Sunday last, the following
condensed narrative OF the presi-
dents capture and subEenient his
Tory may not seem inopportuue. stt,0
Incidentally. may say that for tho
account Of the action. etc. | draw
upon The official correspondence on
the subject and upon service litera
turc more or less contcmporaneous
with she event. AS to the disposi-
ton OF the vessel after capture nv
information comes chiefly through
certain letters of the late Sir William
Laird Cloves. the well-known Brit
sh naval historian. TO my friend Rear
Admiral stephen H. Ia,ce. U. S n.
tretlredl. copies of which are before
me.
Awaiting Chance to Put 10 Sea.
During the winter of 1Si4-lsl5. the
port OF New York was vigorously
biockaded by II British squadron
Among The American men oil war
there awaiting n chance to put to sea
was the frignte President (44). COM
mahded ~ Commodore Stephen De-
catur There having been continu-
ance of strong westerly winds. 4; was
assumed the enemy would be blown
wen of the coast. and the night Of
January IA. 1915, was selected MS al
suitable time 10 run the BLOCKADE.
Boats showing lights had been an
chorcd at the bends In the channel
ANA me ship WAS In charge of an ex-
periencod pilot. She was unusually
deep. having on board stores and am
munitlon for Il protractcd cruise. AS
soon as night fell the anchors were
hove up and the vessel stood down
The channel before the fresh westerly
gale. All went we'll until the ship
was on bar, when. owing TO some
blunder OF the pilot. she took the
bottom where, despite the efforts of
all hands to float her, she continued
10 strike heavily for one and half
hours whereby she was badly strain
ed and hogged. and several of her
rudder braces broken. and she re-
ceived other material damage Tn
Ter these conditions Commodore De-
catur would have gladly returned to
Port. but was prevented by the strong
on shore wind. lie, therefore forced
the frlgate over the bar and laid
course along the coast OF Long Is
land for about fifty miles. and then
headed away southeast by east.
A Lively Chase.
Al 3 o'clock In the morning on the
18th, three ships wire discovered
ahead The President was immedi-
ately hauled by the wind again and
passed TO the northward Of them.
At daybreak -four ships We're made
ont In chase one on each quarter and
two astcrn. The leading ship. race
OF sixty guns. soon opened an ineffec-
tual fire.
BY noon the wind had become light
and battling and the President had
Increased her distance from the ra-
zee. but the next ship astern. large
frlgate was coming up rapidly.
immediately all hnnds aboard the
American were employed 20 tighten
ship by starting the water, cutting
away the anchors, heaving overheard
provisions, cables. spare spars, boats,
and every article that could be quick
ly come At, and keeping the sails wet
from the royals down.
AT . o'clock the wind continued
light with the President, but the enc
my. In the meantime having been
joined Icy brig, had n strong freeze
and was quickly overhauling the
chase.
Duel With the Endymion.
The enemy's leading irieate-the
open fire with her low guns. which
dents stern guns. BY o'clock the
Endymon had obtained a command
ing position upon the Presidents
charter, and her ilre. which could not
then be returned. was infiicting great
damage upon our ship aloft.
Commodore Decatur found himself
liable to be crippled If he held his
present course. and to have hauled up
more to the northward TO bring his
after guns into action again would
have exposed him to the enemys rak-
ing fire. ~
1t was now dusk. and he therefore
KEPT away and ran on 10 the south
ward thus bringing the Endymion
nbcam. and soon both ships We're ex
changing broadsldes with unwearied
industry. the result being that after
two and a half hours the Endymion
dropped ont OF action. completely dis
maptled. So thorough was the drub
him. Ono recnivnL thnt 1yhiln IN "a q