The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1911-05-20

TmM~} is not IN 1912 out lei
INN VA on May IS, 1911! Il
lZSs was the beginning Of 6
naval engagement of
the coast tqf Virginia, and the thunder
of the opening gun has been referred
to as "Rhe second shot which was
heard around the world" Indeed the
battle. might we'll be known as "the
Lexington of the war of 1872" Yet,
strange to say, both the American
and British governments have per-
sistently endeavored to eliminate
from historys pages this unique
naval combat, and apparently tried to
keep the people in ignorance of what
actually transpired on the high seas
on that memorable occasion. Though
nearly a score of sailors were slain,
the affair was hushed up as far as
possible through governmental influ-
ence on both sides of the water, not
withstanding that the incident helped
to change the geography of the West
ern Hemisphere and marked a red
letter day in our naval annals. 1t
was the awakening of the new Amer
lean spirit. the Inauguration of the
real foreign policy of the United
States, the beginning of our interna-
tional influence.
:, The war of the Revolution ended In
1887 England withdrew her troops
from New York city and reluctantly
admitted the Independence Of the
RIJnited States, but in spirit refused to
accord the young republic a respected
place in 1.-THE household of govern
ments. She constantly, sought oppor
tunities to humiliate' her conqueror,
and assumed an especially aggravat-
=. ing attitude in insisting upon the
right to take from our vessels, mer-
chant or naval ,.any sailors who
were supposed to have been born: UNI
der the British: flag, Men made cap
u tive thus were forced to enter and
seYe upon British ships Of war. This \
was a. very practical Illustration Of |
the edict promulgated by the Eng
T. aFMays q ILL Eng tsh MAN. "a most dis
tressing situation for America grew
out of the British kidnapping policy,
I --aaad; such of the impressed men as
!. khdeayored to escape, or manifested !
{ discomfort With. their seizure, were
=, severely punished according to the
K naval. standards Of the day which
:: were not reharlabl fer gentleness.r
I For a seoEe Of years the young re-
|; public endureds these :. high handed +
II outrages on the persons OF it's a,citi7
\ zens. Our statesmen, among whom.
4 were Adams and Jefferson. seemed
\ unable to handle the problem, and
I their endeavorrs to.;enHst European.
\ sympathy i against Great Britain,s +
ar*stis :Nr6eeedings, were, lih Y vain.
But what WHOLE nation seemed. pow,
| erless to. accomplish was at length
achieved 'bNa single. person equipped
with the-irneAssary amount OF nerve ,
and fine disregard of consequences.
1t was plain. case of ''the right man i
in the right place at the Fight time"
On May,1ss 1871, this unusual, COM
bination ;i :9f.. qualities .apd lcircum,
stances was harmonized. to cope sue
cessfully with nationa1s emergency
Our histories lay little stress on this
really important event, and a closet,
Investigation of the nations unbub-
hshed. archives reveals certain salient
facts concerning it which, ate, fitbv'I +
set forth fully in print for the first
time ''t =, .,,::s. .>.ys, 81 e.. Il,
The :. British :. frigate Guerriere 8
stopped an, Ain erfean vessel't tlse ,Sspi..:f
lire, about fifteen miles from New
York English officers went aboard !
sher and arrested for oeif impress Il young l.,
sailor, whom they declared was an =
: II EHglishman by. birth The American +
=. Captain protested in vain. : -.
faSes Known this lad al BersoialifT
from childhood" he asserted. sand ,
:. know hnst RI shave been born In the Il
State q Maine. ." = !. =
"All that may be So" RESPONDED +.
the British captain, but what can v
you do about 1.-THE has no protec- +
tion?" :
/ Under fthe circumstances the argh- f
ment was unansWerable, and the, lad |,
was carried off in the Guerrero. The :
Washington authorities were duly n
notified of the occurrence, but appar t,
emily they had become so accustomed a
to such happenings that little or moth h
ing was done in hereinafter, aid: the IT,
documents relating to the iHduiry If
rested in dusty pigeonholes Of de- N
detrimental desks. Finally a genuine 8
sea captain CHANGED to assume the T
duty Of the hour, and the war DEPART So
ment,. acting under some pressure the b,
details Of which are not made clear hi
in: the official records open to the d,
public,S gave orders for the frigate, in
The President, to cruise on the Allan. ii
tic off Chesapeake bay. b.