Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1912-06-05
M. navy sI IT! !: !:
Always Arouses More a En i 'llI''ii:
asm Than Does the Army Az
ElT1[s TROPHIES 20 Is AT CAPITAL CA. z. ] a /
Long Tom With a Remarkable and
Varied History 10 Exhibited at
the Navy Yard---WiIloW 4
From Napoleon's Grave.

Varied History Is Exhibited at
the Navy Yard--..Wiilow ~. (.
From Napoleon's Grave.
I1&5 BY GEORGE CLINTON. 5
Washington.-It has been remark
I'd often as curious fact that the
people OF the United States who IN
large sense are Jan absolutely non
military body are yet in the main en-
thusiastic. lover the navy Congress
men say that proposition to increase
the number of battleships is sure Of
great support from the country, while
a proposition to increase the army
would be id many places II not in most
places vigorously opposed. Visitors
to Washington show greater interest
in naval affairs than they do in army
affairs. When they go to the state,
war and navy building they flock to
the places where models of battle
ships are shown and where naval
TROPHIES are displayed and pay much
less attention to the exhibit made BY
| the army. III 4 &i=4S "a. Il
The navy yard IL Washington is an
object of interest to the thousands
who come to the capital city in May.
There are good many trophies sot
battles won In the keeping of the navy
yard. In the United States Military
Academy on the Hudson river there is
q place set aside and known as Trophy
EPoint. There are exhibited many guns
captured by the land forces in the dit
ferent wars in which this country has
been engaged. Trophy Point is one
of the centers OF interest ct West
Point and what il true there is true.
OF; the navy>yard in Washington. PEG.
pie apparently like to look at things
which show the prowess either on
tfand or sea Of the sailors and soldiers
OF their country. and yet truth compels.
again the statement that the naval
TROPHIES attract the greater attention.
Curious History OF a Long Tom.
t In the navy yard there is a cast
lfiron gun which was made q century
and quarter ago. 1T belongs to the.
class called Long Toms. This gun
once had a place on the French ship;
| Noche, which was vessel Of squad
Iron sent by France in the year 1898
with troops on board for the purpose
of invading Ireland and helping the
Irish people to win their independence
lfrom Great Britain. The British cap
itured the warship and also the gun
which is now at the navy yard in
Washington. #
- Once on a time the United States
bought some guns from England and
this particular Long Tom which had
done service on a French, vessel and
afterward on an English vessel, passed
into the possession of this country. 1t
was mounted on board an American
mar. of-war and in one Of the engage
ments which our ships had with
French ships at the close Of the eight
eenth century the Long Tom was used
against a ship OF the country which
once owned it. In this fight a French
4 shot struck the gun and dented It,
but did NOT put 1t entirely out OF com,
i mission. .i, 81. :. 3 [ 81, g5,,
The United States government con-
demned the Long Tom although it was
still servieeable and /; sold 1T to the
island Of HAITI, which then was en-
I gagged in 4 wal, on its own account
| against tie French nation. It was
used by the Haytians and 30 at least.
i}twice I'm Its existence the gun was
turned against its first owners.
Used In War Of 1912.
In some way today unknown, this
gun was brought back to America and
1t was used on board an American
brik, The Armstrong, which had a hight
with three British ships in the war of
] 1872. So It was that the Long Tom
\ was used In service against its second
owner. Great Britain. II is now In the
possession OF, the American suthor-
tiles and It IL presumed that no other
| nation will capture 1t or buy It to be
used one day against it, present Own:
er, Uncle Siam. ,iS n s5t' &
willow trees there are in the United
States which are said to be- grown
| from slips Of the tree planted at the
head OF the first grave Of Napoleon
! on the Island OF st. Helena. One runs
across them In all parts OF the country
| and some Of them may be real slips Of
| the famous trees. but the general be-
lief ID that most Of them are counter
4 feits."'E iis. g: 81
There lisa willow tree In the Wash
ington navy yard. however. which it is
known is an offspring OF the Napoleon
willow. Commodore cambridge. who
commanded the old Constitution and
who was d famous naval officer in his
day, obtained slip of the tree.
brought it to America and planted it
with his own hands in the navy yard.
where 1t has thrived and is today hale
and hearty In its willowy old age.
Saving Historic Landmarks.
Amovement which has obtained
great Impetus to make the cap
! itals more, beautiful is no faster
on it, way than the movement to- pre-
serve landmarks OF historic interest.
CongresS Is taking deep interest In
the matter and has been spurred to 1t
by the influence of many OF the pa
triotic Organizations OF the country.
organizations of all kinds from the
Grand Army OF the Republic to the
Daughters OF the Confederacy. 1t
| might be said that the Daughters Of
the American Revolution do about as
much work In this line of endeavor
az any other two organizations.
--i--r-~9, ~
Bachelors In Distress. 133
The bachelors Of an unpronounce-
able town IN Hungary called Macy
perkata are holding meetings OF dis