Los Angeles herald., 1910-07-17
DID SLOOP WILL
MAKE LAST TRIP
Portsmouth to Be ToWed from
Hoboken to Brooklyn
Navy Yard
WILL BE DESTROYED OR SOLD
Vessel Is Last of Uncle Sans
Famous Fighters OF
Other Days
WILL BE DESTROYED OR SOLD

NEW YORK, July 16.-Battered and
worn from long years of active service,
the old sloop of war Portsmouth, the
last of Uncle Sam's famous wooden
vessels, will make her last voyage on
July %.
From her dock at Hoboken, N j., the
Portsmouth will be towed by a mod
ern tug to the Brooklyn navy yard and
then will either be destroyed, sold for
junk or turned into museum. The
chances are that the junk heap will be
the fate of the Portsmouth.
The Portsmouth was first used in the
Mexican war. She saw service IN
China and was in Farraguts fleet dur
ing the Civil War. For years she has
been used as a training ship for the
naval reserves.
Long and thrilling has been the ca
reer of the brave old sloop of war and
brimful of experiences, almost any one
of which would make a story of itself.
Around her staunch oak timbers cling
memories of the days when fourteen
Knots an hour in a free wind was
great time Bodies of salt water are
few whose surfaces have not been
traversed by the Portsmouth. Her an
chor Splashed in the deep, clear bays
of fragrant tropical islands of the Pa
cific ocean, in peaceful inlets along the
African coast and in the junk infested
harbors of Japan and China. Many a
SLAYER has crowded on all sail as the
towering masts of the old Portsmouth
Dol<ed themselves above the horizon
and many doughty pirate has shown
his heels when her long, black null
and white ports came into view. In
many a stern chase has the Ports
mouth taken part, but never in any
capacity but that of pursuer. Before
the days of swift steamers and trans
oceanic cables, when a sailors life was
full of picturesque and exciting scenes
and strange peoples and their lands
did not know the now omnipotent
American tourist, the Portsmouth was
built.
YOUNG SHIP IN MEXICAN WAR
When she was young ship the Mex
lean war broke out. The ships guns
were used effectually in the battle or
Vera cruz, and after a long cruise
around cape Horn and up the Paclilc
coast she arrived at San Francisco
then Mexican territory. She sailed into
san Francisco bay and took possession
in the name of the United States. Lat
er on when Commodore Perry under
took to open the ports of China to
commerce the Portsmouth played
leading part. While anchored III can
ton bay, together with the frigates san
Jacinto and LeVant to guard the rights
of American citizens, shot from one
of the batteries flew through the rig
ging of the Portsmouth. For some time
the Chinese had been menacing the
Americans and the shot capped the
climax Capt. Henry Hull Foote, in
command, did not wait to inquire the
cause, but promptly beat to quarters
L.. chire nnpnpH fire
the shore batteries. Jackies were land
ed under cover of the guns, and the
fort was crushed. As the American
tars entered on one side there was
hasty exit of Chinese at the other for
the Celestials knew that the white
devils" were in earnest.
The noble Portsmouth had borne the
Stars and Stripes aloft through thick
and thin for twenty years when the
Civil War came on, but her SeVerest
test was yet to be. With Admiral Far
raguts fleet the Portsmouth passed up
the Mississippi river to Forts jackson
and st. Philip. The large sloop-of-War
was not meant for a river boat, and IL
was thought best that she should be
towed When the memorable engage
nent began the Portsmouth gave the
batteries broadside after broadslde
Shot and shell rained on her, but on
she went until d ball cut her tow line
The good old snip drllteu IelpIes9i2
about for a time, still exchanging shots
with the batteries, and it was at last
decided to get up sail, 1t is said that
the old ship maneuvered about the riy-
er like a yacht, lodging the fire RATS
which were directed at her, and pouring
a steady stream of iron and shell
against the Confederate batteries.
This feat of sailing about in river
was an almost unheard of thing for SO
and considering the
heavy fire under which the Portsmouth
performed her amazing feat, Was un-
precedented. The result Of the battle
is well known. The surrender OF the
CITY of New Orleans. the destruction of
the Confederate fleet and subsequent
capture of Mobile are among the great
est exploits of American naval heroes
Through all this went the PortSmouth.
This vas the Portsmouth's last great
ngagenent. After the war she was
put on station duty for time and later
Joined a training squadron.