The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-01-04
MALICIOUS VANDAL MUTILATES
FAMOUS CAPITOL PAINTING

or similar sharp instrument through
the canvas before he made an open
ing. The hole is in the lower left
hand corner, upon that part of the
canvas showing the water. The pic
ture is so high that without ladder,
a miscreant could not reach the main
part.
Damage May Be Repaired.
r. p. Tolman, an expert of the Cor
coran Art Gallery, was summoned to
the Capitol this morning to consider
the question of repairing the painting
He declared that repairs could be
made so that the damage would be
, little seen
Some holes were punched in the
picture a few years ago, when some
scaffolding was being built near it,
and they were repaired so skilfuul that
most people are unable to detect
where the repairs were made.
| THE Battle of Lake Erie" was
painted by William H. Powell, upon an
order by Congress. BY a joint reso-
I luton, approved March 2, 1865, the
joint committee on the Library of
Congress is directed tn enter into d
contract with Mr. Powell ito paint n
picture for the United States, to be
placed at the head of one of the grand
staircases in the Capitol, illustrative
of some naval victory, the particular
subject to be agreed upon by the com
mittee and the artist
For the picture Mr.. Powell was to
be paid not more than $25OOO The
picture was put in it's present place
in 1871, but, as the date on the pic
ture indicates, it was not entirely
finished until two years later
Description of Painting
The painting is one of the largest
in the Capitol 1t is about thirty-five
feet long and twenty feet high In his
book on The National Capitol; It's
Architecture, Art and History" Geo.
IC. Hazelton Jr., describes the painting
as follows:
1T represents Oliver Hazard Perry
in the midst of the battle fought in
lPut-inBay, September TO- 1879 as he
leaves the disabled flagship Lawrence,
in the foreground, to transfer his bat
tleflag to the Niagara, upon the right.
in order to renew the fight Through
Hack of wind the Lawrence had been
compelled alone to engage almost the
entire British fleet, especially the De
troit and Queen Charlotte, and had
quickly become disabled under the tire.
mendous fire to which she was ex-
posed. AS a daring resort, Perry haul
ed down his Union Jack, having for its
motto the dying words of the beloved
Lawrence, Don't give up the ship,
= and, taking it over his arm, orderei
a boat made ready. The English com.
modore, anticipating a surrender, sig
nailed his men to cease firing. Blu
when he saw Perry emerging from the
SNAKE, standing boldly erect among
his oarsmen and heading fearlessly
for the Niagara, Barclay OWNED his
object and ordered the fire of the fee
to be centered upon the little craft
Perry miraculously made the pas
sage in safety-Occupying a period o.
some minutes-in the very teeth o
the broadsides and small arms turned
e upon him, hoisted his flag at the mast
head of the Niagara, renewed the fght
and captured the English fleet, 1t was
on this occasion that Perry sent the
celebrated dispatch to the general il
command of the American army of the
Northwest, William Henry Harrison
1--WE have met the enemy and they
are ours two ships, two briggs, one
schooner and one sloop.'
/ Powell, in painting the picture, Sc
lected for some of his models men
employed in various capacities about
the Capitol. The face of the sailor
with his head bound and blood stream.
ing from it is that of Capt. John
Decker, for many years boss rigger
of the building"
The flag on the small boat occupied
by Perry, in the center of the picture,
is regarded as the best feature of the
painting from the artistic standpoint.
HALEIWA FOR MINE.