The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-07-18
THE JUNK PILE.

NEW YUM, July li.-batteTP0
and worn from long years of service,
the old sloop-of~war Portsmouth, the
last Of Uncle Sans famous wooden
vessels. will make her last voyage on
July %. From her dock at Hoboken.
n j. the Portsmouth will be towed
by modern tug to the Brooklyn navy
yard, and then will either be de-
stroyed. sold for junk or turned into
a museum The chances are that the
Junk heap will be the fate of the
Portsmouth. The Portsmouth was
first used during the Mexican war.
She saw service in China and was In
Farracut's fleet during the civil war.
For years past she has been used as
training ship for the naval reserves.
Long and thrilling has been .he career
of the old sloop-of-war and brimful OF
experiences. almost any one Of which
would make story In itself Around
her staunch oak timbers cling memo
ries 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
anchor has spIashed in the deep. clear
water and fragrant tropical islands
OF the Pacific ocean. In peaceful In
lets along the African coast and I'm the
junk-infested hubors OF Japan and
China. Many a SLAYER has crowded
on sail as the towering masts of the
old Portsmouth poked themselves
above the horizon. and many
doughty pirate has shown his heels
when her long. black hull and white
ports came Into view. In many a
stern chase has the Portsmouth taken
part, but never in any capacity but
that OF pursuer Before the days of
swift steamers and trans-oceanlc ca
bles, when a cailor's life was full OF
picturesque and exciting scenes and
strange peoples, and their lands did
not know the now omnipotent Ameri-
can tourist. the Portsmouth was built.
When she was young ship the MeNi-
can war broke out The ships guns
were used effectually in the battle of
Vera Cruz, and after a long cruise
around Cape Horn and up the Pacific
coast she arrived at San Francisco.
then Mexican territory. She sailed In
to San Francisco bay and took pos
session In the name of the United
States. Later on, when Commodore
Perry undertook 70 open up the ports
of China TO commerce, the Portsmouth
played leading part While anchored
In Canton bay, together with the
frigates San Jacinto and Levant, to
guard the rights Of American citizens,
a shot from one OF the batteries flew
through the rigging of the Ports
mouth. For some time the Chinese
had been menacing the Americans
and the shot capped the climax Cap.
tain Henry Hull Foote, in command.
did not walt to inquire the cause.
but promptly beat to quarters and
with his thre ships opened fire on the
shore batteries. Jackies were landed
under cover OF the guns and the fort
was crushed AS the American tars
entered on one side there was hasty
exit of Chinese on the other, for the
Celestlals knew that the white dew
lis 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
vet tn be With Admiral Farragut's
feet the Portsmouth passed up the
Mississippi river 20 Forts Jackson and
st. Philip. The large sloop of-war was
not TOcstnl loI a li'Hl bodt, ttbb ~ NoN
thought best that she should he
towed. When the memorable engage
ment began the Portsmouth gave the
batteries broadside after hroadslde.
Shot and shell ralned on her, but on.
she went until a ball cut her tow limo.
The good old ship drifted about hope
lessly for time, still exchanging
shots with the batteries. and 1t was
at last decided to get up sail 1t is
said that the old ship maneuvered
about the river like yacht, lodging
the fire RATS which were directed at
her and pouring stead stream of
iron and shell against the Confederate
batteries. This feat OF sailing about
In q river was an almost unheard OF
thing for so large vessel. and. con-
siderinc the heavy fire under which
the Portsmouth performed her amaz-
ing feat was unprec edented. The re-
suit of the battle Is we'll known. The
surrender OF the city of New Orleans.
the destruction OF the Confederate
fleet and subsequent capture of Mo-
bile are among the greatest exploits
of American naval heroes. Through
all this went the Portsmouth. This
was the Portsmouth's last great en-
eagement. After the war she was put
on station duty and later joined
training squadron
Tact ceN0c MESSAGE