Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-01-25
BATTERED BANNERS
At Annapolis include Only British
Royal Standard Ever Captured and
Hello


Slowed away in iron boxes in
the care of the superintendent of
the annapolis Naval academy is
collection of battered banners that
should be valued as the nations most
Highly treasured possession. Almost
every banner in the collection, which |
numbers 100 flags. is the trophy Of a |
deed Of heroism that won a place in |
American history. Many were taken |
from the greatest naval nation in the |
world. when the British flag was
struck at the demand of victorious
American sailors.
These flags are in danger of de-
struction through neglect and the
Navy League of the United states.
Through its present, General Horace
Porter of New York, has appealed to
the secretary of the navy to take
steps To have the flags renovated be-
fcre the natural process of decay has
ruined them past repair. The matter
| is before Congress. and there Is no
doubt that the necessary appropria
| tion will be forthcoming to have the
! flags restored.
II is estimated that the work can
| be done a a cost OF about $4,000. The
| plan is to have the tattered haes
| backed with linen mesh. This mesh
of fine linen will have To be especially
imported from ireland. and To COM
plete the work 1900 yards will be
needed The cost of the linen VIII be
only S150n. but as the work is very
difficult and can only be intrusted to
skilled needlewomen, it will bring the
total cost up to the amount stated.
The estimate figures on the services
of 100 expert seamstresses, working
200 days To finish the work.
Moths have been responsible to
some extent for the dilapidated eondi-
ton of these priceless trophies. Since
1900 the flags have reposed in the
boxes at the Naval Academy and no
one seems to have taken much inter-
est in them About year ago the
tboyes were opened and it was seen
that unless something were done to
prevent further damage the naval
trophies Of the United states would
exist only as dusty shreds.
Among the most interesting of
hese banners that are now to be
saved from the moths is British
ROYAL standard We have the only
British royal standard captured and
held by any nation 1t is not in very
good repair, but with patient and
| skilled work it can be put into condi-
| ion for exhibition in future patriotic
museums. The royal flag was cap
| ured at York. Canada April =, 1919.
md is one of the most interesting
trophies of many taken curing the last
war with Great Britain.
York. il may he necessary to eX-
plain, was formerly the name Of the
,ity nov known as Toronto. An
american squadron. with about 100
| soldiers aboard. Greeted Il landing at
| york.. under cover Of 4 fire of grape
rom the ships. cleared way through
! he Indians and slarpshooters that
he English had formed to oppose
hem. and stormed the batteries. The
apture Of York resulted not only IN
he acquisition Of the royal standard
low at Annapolis. but in 4 large
| uantity Of naval and military stores
| many boats built for the trahspofta :
ion of troops and the taking of a
-essel Of twenty guns that was nearly
| infshed York remained IN the pos
ession of tho Americans until May |,
| When it was evacuated.
A historical trophy that is to be re-
f paired none too soon is the battle lag
+ Commodore Perry. the identical
E ,anner that he hoisted at the mast
| lead of the flagship Lawrence as 4
| igllaI for action on Lake Erie sep
elnber TO- 1913. This banner looked
Town on a fight that seemed at one
| ime lost to the Americans. The
lawrence was damaged so severely
, | hat it seemed impossible to keep her
float, and Perry left her to board the
, | Niagara. The colors OF the Lawrence
we're actually hauled down, and but
| ar the later turn in the tide of bat
lie this flag would probably have been
| n English hands instead of its right
ul owners. When Perry. in the
Niagara. forced the gallant enemy te
ave the white flag the Lawrence was
| till aloat and the American colors
we're again flying.
A huge flag, in fairly good preser-
, alton, is the jack of the Guerrero
i aptured by the Constitution in the
amous fight of August 10. 1872. Cap
y ain Isaac Hull. of the Constitution, a
= | urtY-four gun frigate. came across
! | he Guerrero, a thirty-eight gun Eng
) | ish warship, while the latter was sail
l | ng in company with other ships OF
! | he squadron of Commodore Broke
BY the most skillful seamanship Hull
seaped from the formidable fleet he
lad run into, and later the English
rigates separated in hopes of getting
| fight singly instead of merely eX-
iting a chase, as they seemed to de
ghen in their formidable array to-
ether. Some days later the Guerrero
vas again encountered, and this time
, he Constitution obliged her with a
& | ght The result was a sea battle I'M
I | urpassed for fferceness, which left
j | he Guerrero a helpless wreck, and at
/ asst saw her jack, which had been
| ept flying on the stump of the mizzen
last hauled down TO the American
aptain. This is the jack that is now
, | ,,op.r thc fIaoss 70 he repairad The