Mexico Missouri message., 1909-05-27

dents In the early days OF the school. and that
OF sufficient age to have done shade duty for many
generations OF sailors before their day. are still
standing the march OF modern improvements hRv.
Ing been directed to pass the ancient mon
archs by.
The midshipman's life. small as is It's compass. is
intricate and full OF interest. The eXternas, II
they really may be accounted exteTnals have a
world OF Significance. The young sailors are
hemmed in with incentives TO a heroic discharge
of duty. West Point has its battle flags and It's
memorial tablets to the who served their
country against its enemies on land, At Annapo
lis are gathered the trophies OF the sea- and there
are many OF them. for the defeats Of the ships
OF the American navy were so few that line or
two of hstory's pages are sufficient to record them
Perrys pennant which few from his flagship
the Lawrence at the battle of Lake Erie. is here
II Is a red ensign with the words of Lawrence en-
bfoidered II In white letters-words that are
now the rallying cry OF the men OF the American
navy: Don't give up the ship" Capt Lawrence
mad 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 an almost perfect state OF preservation.
The nag OF the British brig Boxer. Capt. Blyth
commanding, captured by the American brig En-
terprise of 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 are 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 hags are those OF the Confidence, the
Beresford, the Chubb and the Lnnet, British yes
sells sunk or taken by the American McDonough at
the battle OF Lake ChamDain.
Possibly the most interesting OF all these spoIls
Of the American sea fights Is the great wooden
hgure of the British lion wearing q crown and
with one paw resting on a globe representing the
world. For arrogance Of presumption the eoncep-
tlon 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
DOMAIN the lion with its globe was found It's
forward deck.
There are two iron 'long Toms" in the trophy
collection that fell into the hands OF Commodore
McDonough after the victory Of Lake Champaign
One of the guns has deep ndentatlon made by a
shot from gun Of the American neet during the
action. The British commander, Commodore Down
10. was killed In this lake fight II Is a matter OF
record that he came 70 his death by getting into
the way OF the recoil Of one Of the eannons now
In the Annapolis museum.
Charles Stewart the American grandfather OF
the Irish leader. Charles Stewart PaEneli, made
possible the addition OF two Aag trophies 10 the
Annapolis collection When In command OF the
Constitution cold IronSidesD he captured two
Britain menofwar. the Cyane and the Leyant
which he fought near the coast of the Madalras
stewart won the fight,
The navy OF tho United States had its full share
OF making the country's history There 10 no ures.
ent intention on the part OF the men who have
the mi4Hhipmen IN charge 10 let them become for.
setfnl Of the past ana the glory chat has come q
The service.