The state herald., 1909-05-28


dents In the early days of the school, and that arc
of sufficient to have done shade duty for many
generations of sailors before their day, are still
standing. the march OF modern improvements hav-
ing been directed to pass the ancient mon.
archs by.
The midshipmans life small as is Its compass. is
intricate and null of interest The externals. II
they really may be accounted externals. have a
world of Significance The young sailors are
hemmed In with incentives to heroic discharge
OF duty. West Point has its battle flags and Its
memorial tablets to the men who served their
country against its enemies land At Annapo,
lis gathered the trophies of the sea. and there
many OF them. for the defeats of the ships
of the American navy were so few that line or
two of historys pages sufficient to record them
Perry's pennant. which flew from his flagship
the Lawrence. at the battle of Lake Erie. is here
II is red ensign with the words OF Lawrence en-
broidered on II In white letters-words that are
the rallying cry OF the men OF the American
navy; Don't give up the ship" Capt Lawrence
had been killed In the action OF his ship. the
Chesapeake. with the British ship Shannon only
few months before Perry engaged the enemy but
his last Injunction to his men already had become
the Yankee tars watchword. The Lake Erie flag
is In almost perfect state Of preservation.
The flag OF the British brig Boxer. Capt Blyth
commanding. captured by the American brig En-.
terprisc on the coast OF Maine is In the academys
keeping. Capt Burrows, the American command
err was killed In the very hour OF his victory. Near
the Boxer trophy the flags OF four of the
British vessels captured by Perry at the battle
of Lake Erie-the Lady Provost. the Hunter, the
Little Belt. the Chippewa, and the Detroit. With
the Erie flags are those OF the Confidence. the
Bercsford. the chubb and the Linnct British
sells sunk or taken by the American McDonough ut
the battle OF Lake champlain.
Possibly the most interesting OF all these spoIls
Of the American sea fights is the great wooden
figure OF the British lion wearing crown and
with one paw resting n globe representing the
world. For arrogance OF presumption the concep.
ton has few equals. II was OF course. carrying out
In sculpture the idea OF the world sovereignty OF
Great Britain. when Decatur In the ship United
States defeated and captured the British Mace.
doninn the lion with It's globe found on It's
forward deck
There are two iron long Toms" In the trophy
collection that fell into the hands OF Commodore
McDonoush after tho victory OF Lake champlaln.
One of the guns has deep indentntion made by n
shot from n gun OF the American fleet during the
notion. The British commander. Commodore Down.
ie. was killed In this lake fight. II Ia n matter OF
record that he came 10 his death by getting into
the way OF the reco OF one Of the chnnona now
In the Annapolis museum,
Charles Stewart. the American grandfather OF
the Irish leader. Charles Stewart Parncll. made
possible the addition Of two naR trophies to tho
Constitution cold ironEidoH') he captured two
British men-ofwar. the cyane and the Loyant
which he fought near the coast OF the MadeIrap
Stewart won the night.
The navy OF the United States had ita full share
OF making tho eountrya history There In no pres.
cnt intention on the part of the men who have
the midAhipmen In charge 10 lot them become for.
getfui OF the past and the glory that has come to
the service.