Newark post., 1910-08-10
Commodore Oliver
Hazard Perry

,.be fame OF Commodore Perry rests
,, his victory over British squad
W, nm Lake Erie He was a very
~" ,,ro man to hold such an important
s"|+7 St not quite 28 years of age, and
Potb nrryiOus to and during the battle
','os pns, .i,frrring from late fever and over
work But actual service i'll the Medi-
,orranc,n as a midshipman fitted him
;or the responsible position, and an
;ndomtable will compelled weakened ,
nhysica organism to do its bidding. !
Wiat american does not recall with |
,r,de September 10th, 1873? Upon
kat davis bate hung the issues of
arr Western States, that were menaced
nv a force of British and Indians led
by General Proctor and his Indian ally
Tecumseh. Despa:ring of obtaining a
sea command Perry applied for posi-
,ior on the lakes. Having received
authority to collect a squadron for Of
irrsive or defensive operations he set
70 work. laborng with all his might,
until he had succeeded in getting toge-
ther at Put in Bay nile vessels; the
briggs. Lawrence, named IN honor Of
the amented captain James Lawrence,
the Niagara. and Caledonia; the
Ariel Scorpion, Somers, Porcupine
and Tigress, and the sloop Trippe.
The Iarees. OF the ships was the Law
renee. which measured no feet in
length, and 90 feet IN breadth. The
squadron. with its complement carried
az men, but sicknf IS considerably re.
duced the number. The squadron
mounted 54 guns, capable OF throwing
at one broadside sos pounds of metal.
Opposing the Americans were six Brit
ash ships, the Detroit, Queen Char
totte. Lady Provost. Hunter, Chippe-
way and the Little Belt, carrying 45o
men and Ga guns, throwing 4So pounds
oi metal at broads de. But the al
vantage in several particulars was wit
the British. Their comma der W S
the redoubtabie CAPITA II Barclay, VIII
had been trained under the eye OF
Admiral Nelson, and had won homo S
at Trafalgar; the long guns were bet
fer distributed on the British shi S
than they were on the American squad
ron: and thc British ships were built
originally as war vessels with the +
decks protected by heavy anks, that
made them proof asai.s gr2pesho ,
while. with the exception OF the brig,,
the Amer can boats were converted
merchantmen and hence the men on
their decks were unprotected. In
battle opened few inmates after th2
noon hour. the thrte Bri ish ships,
Detroit, Hunter and Que, Charlotte
concentrating the fl c on the Amerlc II
flagship. Lawrence. The fire OF the
Detroit was most damaging. Her
long guns ripped the Lawrence to
pisces and diSnant,ed her, while tn.
Americans carnonades proved .nct.
jective at the long range. The GIT
wind prevented the rest of the squad
ron from coming to the support OF the
flag ship. which true to her inmuc.a
namcsakc fought on WI h srm DC =
minati0n For over two hours sh
,ustG med the tremendous cannonadlns
mil she was r.daled lie a, sieve, {
every gun WIS disrar Ell, vine t1tl
decks ran with the b .ood oi hat & II
\ little after o'clock p. m, Ferry lei
the Lawrence in an opsn coat. an
with little company rowed to til
Niagara. which then became the flag
ship of the squadron, the Lawrence /,
the meantime having lowered her col
ors to save needless loss OF life. Ih
wind at this point freshened, thus Ell
ablng the American ships to bea
down on the British, who were exultin
over their victory In less than al
hour the scene was changed, and til
British ships foundered and raked wer
compelled to surrender. The tota
number OF killed and wound> d on til
American squadron was 27 and 90, G
which the Lawrence alone lost III ki''
ed 22 The British losses wee Al k i
ed and "a wounded. Thr importlnc
OF this naval victory can hardy b
Overtstmated The British, on learr
ing the news, evacuated Detroit. al
thus gave General HAIR son 4 ire
footing to save Michigan and Oh