Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-12
in OLD WASHINGTON
By James Croggon.

most notable OF which was the ref1ttine
of the frigate Potomac, IN which Martin
Van Buren,, minister to the court OF st
James. was to proceed to his post. and
then was to relieve the Guerrero in the
Pacific.
When, however, the Potomac reached
New York harbor, information had beer
receive that the natives Of the Island
several of our vessels engaged there In
the pepper trade. The ship then. under
the command Of Capt. John Downes, was
ordered to proceed by the most direct
route to Sumatra and demand indemnity
especially for looting the ship Frederich
of Salem, Mass. She arrived Oft the
island In February and on February 6
1892 landed a force Of $50 marines and
sailors under command OF Lieut. Shu-
brick.
The natives were intrenched In seven
forts and they were surprised by the
attack, which commenced early in the
morning. For four hours the battle ragged
one fort falling after the other and the
was about 1JO Our loss was two killed
and eleven wounded. This brought the
natives to their senses, and before the
Potomac left those. waters the native
chiefs came aboard suing for peace. The
vessel proceeded on her voyage, and
among her officers were Lieuts. T. 8
Dornin, r. B. Cunningham, F. Engle and
John Rudd and nearly twenty midship.
men. including j. p. Bunner, ]. c. Carter
D. Cameron. J. P. ellis, c. B. Hansford
Myers J. W. Swift and A. Taylor.
There were yet on the roster OF the
yard many who had participated in the
Tripolitan war and that Of 1872 Among
these was David Eaton. a boatswain, who
entering the navy In 1895. became war
rant officer In 1911 and was under Capt
Lawrence on the Hornet when the British
ship Peacock was captured. and under
Capt Biddle when the Hornet captured
the Penguin. Mr.. Eaton was in the yard
for many years. dying In the service. and
was we'll known, especially in that sec.
ton of the city. His grandson, George
g. Eaton. is the present Representative Of
the family. Salvatore Catalano. q
Sicilian was in the Tripolitan war and q
pilot Of the Ketch Intrepid when De
catur attacked and set fire to the cap.
tured ship Philadelphia in the harbor oil
Tripoli In February, 1904, and wss con
spicuous in many subsequent events dur
ing that war. He was a sailing master
from 1911 to his death.
Marmaduke Dove was a sail master al
the yard from 1912 to 1916, residing .op.
posite the marine barracks, familiarl,
known as Capt. Dove and in civic affairs
was very prominent. being member OF
the councils for number of years.
Rev. William Ryland was appointed
chaplain in May, 1929. by his friend. Pres
1Cent jackson, and was active there tC
his death i'm 1916. He had before his
appointment filled the position Of chap.
lain of the United States Senate for sew.
eral terms. and in 1927 was a stationed
minister at Ebenezer (now Trinity NJ. E.
Church in East Washington. While fol-
lowing his duties in the yard he also
was a most active missionary worker OF
his church, and to his efforts much OF
the advance of Methodist interests In this
section is to be attributed He is espe-
cially remembered for his efforts in build
ing UP the Methodist congregation in
south Washington and TO- the aid he
gave. presenting them with the site This
church. known as Ryland Chapel, per-
petuates his name.
Many OF the officers and employees OF
the yard. as we'll as officers and men
or vessels launched or equipped there,
We're connected with the yard for a life
time. and some of them are known in
are represented In the navy or shops bv
their children or grandchildren.