The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1911-09-23

of a member of the crew ordered to
burn her, the ship fell into the hands
of the enemy. But Captain Barry was
exonerated by court martial from
responsibility.
His next service was to make sew
eral voyages to the West Indies. In
1871 he took command Of the frigate
Alliance, SO guns. In February, 1881,
he sailed from Boston, having ON
board the Alliance, bound for L'Orent,
Colonel Laurens, who was on mis-
sion of diplomacy to the King of
France. Barry successfully eluded
the enemy's fleets and cruised with
success against hostile ships and the
enemy's commerce until May 20, when
he came in contact with two English
ships of war, the Atlanta and the
Trepasa.
Haul down your colors!" demand
ed Captain Barry.
The Englishmen refused to do so,
and at once Barry jumped to the at
tack. There was now scarcely a
breath of wind, and the Alliance was
practically at a standstill. The Eng
fish ships being provided with sweeps
were able to order their movements,
and they took such stations as to pro-
tect them from the Alliance and at
the same time to permit them to do
her the greatest amount of damage.
In the midst of the battle Captain
Barry was wounded in the left Shout
der and had to be carried below The
colors of the Alliance had by this time
been entirely shot away, and the en-
envy, committing the error of thinking
they had been struck, drew near to
board her. One of Barry's lieuten-
ants went below and reported the sad
state Of affairs to his captain, asking
permission to surrender.
mo ship of mine that can float and
fight will ever surrender" declared
Captain Barry. He was now too weak
from loss OF blood to stand, but the
spirit of the patriot and warrior was
alive. "If you can't fight the ship,
carry me on deck and I'll fight her."
he cried.
When this message reached the
crew they brought such valor and en-
ergy to their renewed attack, and the
wind permitting the Alliance to pour
such broadside into the enemy that
before the gallant captain could
reach the deck both English ships
had struck their colors
The next fall Captain Barry sailed
with Lafayette and Noailles, who were
bound for France on Public business,
Thence he sailed for Havana, and
cruised until March, 1882. The AL
lance was conveyed northward by
the American sloop of war Luzerne
which had on board specie borrowed
with the design of rendering the Bank
of North America strong enough to
finance the struggling Government OF
Philadelphia. On the safe delivery of
this specie depended the financial, il
not political. future of America. I'm.
less it came to hand, the Government
might in no other way raise coin to
pay the army and carry on the con
tlict. Barry knew this. He knew in
timately the affairs of the struggling
government, and of all the men in
America none ahead of Captain Bar
ry could have been trusted that day
to do the nation honor and defend he,
resources.
An English squadron bore down on
the American ship. Captain Green
commanding the Luzerne. had thrown
| her guns overheard in order to lighter
| the ship and increase her speed. He
now transferred the treasure to the
Alliance and preparations were made
to abandon the Luzerne. But even ir
the face of such grave danger Barr,
would not desert her.
"Stay with your ship" urged Cap
tain Barry. And as the English sloo1
endeavored to close with the Luzerne
the Alliance silently bore down upor
the enemy. When near enough to in
flict that terrific punishment that Il
was ever Barry's wont to do, and tt
do it quickly, he poured such deadl,
broadside into the hostile ship tina
she hastily withdrew and made sig
nails of distress to her consorts. Ther
appeared a French sail, and the
rrenchman joining the American
ships. they pursued the English flee
until darkness permitted them to es
cape. The English officers engaged
in that fight afterward applauded the
skill and daring displayed by Barr,
as the intrepidity of genius.
The first great sea fighter of Amer
| cd wi l.