The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-08-08
Historic Old Portsmouth.

The agitation to repair the wooden
Warsh1p Portsmouth, at a cost of $25,-|
600, and to send her to San Francisco,
there to be inspected and revered, cs-
pecially during the exposition in 1915,
has sought action in congress, where
a bill to that effect has been introduced
and favorably reported out to the
senate.
The navy department, through Sec
rotary Meyer, has opposed the plan,
preferring to fit up the Portsmouth
only to the extent of $1,10O, to equip
her as quarantine vessel, to be sta
toned for the benefit of the treasury
department at Fort Monroe.
That old seadog, Senator Perkins of
California, chairman of the senate's
naval committee, and himself the only
man in the senate who has ever serv-
ed before the mast, objects, however,
and says that the noble vessel of the
old navy should be preserved and
maintained as a reminder of the pre-
dominating influence the United States
once held upon the sea, and as Wis
the flag to do their duty. I'VE do not
think" he says, that this honorable
service of noted fighting ship of the
American navy can be given by turn
ing her over into a hospital hulk for
the use of a department of the gov
eminent for which she was not built
and under whose direction she has not
sailed
me WHICH the second
of the name, was built at the navy
yard at Portsmouth, N. H, in 1913.
and she has carried a battery varying
from % to 4 guns. She took prom
inent part on the Pacific coast in the
war with Mexico her first service, so
that rightly she might end her days
there. She was back in Boston in
1S4S was one of the African squadron
in 1S49-51, and was after that fer
three years on the Pacific coast squad
he infF q
India squadron, and took part in an
| engagement on the Canton river on
| November 1922. 1856. when she was
struck by shot twelve times and was
! cheered by the crews of the British
men, of-war lying near.
From 1859 to 1851 the Portsmouth
was again with the African squadron.
capturing several slave traders, and
from 1851 to 1865 she was part of
| the gulf squadron, under Admiral Far
ragut, participating in numerous en-
/ gagements on the Mississippi river. She
| took a number of prizes.
| The warShip has since served as q
| quarantine ship in New York harbor,
as a training ship, been part of the
south Atlantic squadron, been in spe-
cial service to Brazil and on the Pa
cific coast, was in 1878 in special SER
| vice connected with the Paris exposi-
/ ton and in 1895 served as a train
| ing ship for the naval militia of New
| Jersey. She is now lying at the New
York navy yard. and her cost to the
government. inclusive of repairs, to
December Is, 1851. was $313.632.
! What to do with the warship has led
| to some debate, and it is held to re
unaccountable why the navy depart
ment should object to spending $25,-
! 600 on the vessel when it is only too
| glad to use up $S,000,000 in building
| the Florida.
saThe Portsmouth has outlived many
| iron pots, and is as beautiful unde
sail as when she emerged from the
New Hampshire harbor in 1S43,"
writes one defender of the ship
It is suggested that when fitted up
in the manner desired that the Ports
mouth be the first ship to pass through
the Panama canal. "It is her right
h 'storically," it is asserted.-John
Torrance, in the Boston Advertiser.