Newark post., 1910-09-28
Caotain James Lawrence

On October Ist. 1881 James Law
renee was born in Burlington, N. j.
Fennimore Cooper informs us that the
father OF Lawrence was respectable
LAWYER who intended to educate his
son for the same profession, but, see
ing the boys inclination was to sea-
iarng life, obtained for him on Sep
tember 4th. 1898, midshipman's war
rant. He served therefore in the
Mediterranean Squadron during the
war with the Barbary States, and was
one of the volunteers who under De-
catur engaged in the hazardous under
taking OF destroying the Philadelphia
in the harbor of Trpoli. Promoted to
a lieutenancy. he commanded the vx-
en- ID. and the Wasp Is. In 1871, just
before the second war with Great Brl-
tain broke ont he was made captain
and was given the big Hornet IS. On
February 24th, 1873, off the mouth
OF Demerara river, British Guinea,
South America, he met and defeated
the British brig Peacock. The battle
lasted but fifteen minutes, in which
time the guns of the American tore
great holes in the sides OF the Pea
cock and caused her to sink. The two
briggs were fairly matched. the Hornet
measuring $50 tons and carrying a
crew of I35 men. while the Peacock
measured All tons and mustered a
crew of 100 men. But there was a
most remarkable disparity in the dam
age inflicted The Hornet had one
killed and four wounded; the Peacock
five killed. including her captain, and
thirty-three wounded The Hornet
came out of the contest without receiv-
ing any injury to her hull, and very
little to her spars. while the Peacock
was riddled like a seive. 1t was clear
case Of superior generalship and gum
merry. Having so many men on board
Lawrence deemed it expedient to set
sail for New York. at which place he
touched about a month after the en-
gagement to report his success, and
to be received with acclamations OF
praise. As a reward for his victory
he was appointed to command the
Chesapeake 3S. He asked for the Con
stitution. but had to be content with a
ship. that ever since her brush with
the Leopard in 1907, had been regarded
as the unlucky ship OF the American
Navy. Just as soon as Lawrence took
command of the Chesapeake he realiz-
ed that her officers and crew were at
variance with each other The crew
was made up Of scrubs. picked up at
random, many OF them being OF for
eign extraction, and having no inter
est either in their ship or the flag OF
the country. They complained tina
their wages had not been paid, and al
last threatened to leave. Under the
direction OF man of the skill anc
magnetism OF Lawrence they coule
have bee nwelded into one perfect ma
chine. provided there had been suffi
cient time, say a month or two. Bu
in the harbor OF Boston there appeared
the British frigate Shannon SO, Cap
tain Broke. who had the reputation o
being one of the ablest captains in th'
British Navy For seven years h
had commando dthe Shannon, and
had gathered about him a most eff
cient crew. Lawrence regarded th
presence OF the Shannon as a chal
lenge to a duel. and he felt compelled
to accept the challenge, although h
was aware of the fact that his crew wa
mutinous and. ill-sorted. He, who hat
sent a written challenge to the Bonn
AltDNPnlle To- Sollc oui III tllC lidl w
OF Bahia and try conclusions with tn
Hornet, could not afford to declin
the challenge of the Shannon. 1t
said that Commodore cambridge ad
vised him to wait until his ship was il
condition to fight, but he refused t
take the advice. So out went tn
Chesapeake to her doom, on June Isl
1873. For the first few minutes the bat
tie was fercely fought. both ships sui
iering severely. when by mere acc1
dent the irigates fell foul of eac
other. and while thus fastened togethe
the Chesapeake was exposed to rak
ing fire that literally swept her deck:
Although wounded in the leg, Law
renee refused to leave his post, and h
sought to inspire courage in tn
hearts OF his men. So imposing