New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-07

the great and stanch warships Of Britain.
with their list Of high achievements. that
any signal advantage to be derived from
II was at first looked upon with neglect
and distrust, while upon the Great Lakes
only few inadequate vessels had been
hastily secured. principally from traders,
and feared to cope with the enemy's SUI
perior fleets. The British for this reason
ravaged the towns along the shores, burn
ing the houses and massacring the in
habitants.
And behind this was the pressure and
greed OF a strong INSCRIPTIONS empire
TO extend the boundaries o, Canada down
ward past the Great Lakes until IL
embraced all that vast territory out OF
which we have since carved the sovereign
states OF Michigan Wisconsin, Illinois,
Indiana and a good part OF Minnesota.
Michigan itself is larger than England,
Scotland and Wales.
At this juncture arrived Captain Perry
an ambitious young officer. who had
been detailed by Commodore Chauncey
to cooperate with General Harrison in
the recovery of Lake Erie and the ada
cent territories. His navy was in the
green trees Of the forest, and Il might
almost be said that his guns were in the
mines. for the fleet was yet 10 be built
and It's armament to be procured. and It's
officers and crew 10 be gathered from
sources then unknown. Many trees
found their places as timber In tho YES
sells on the very day they were felled in
the forest"
In "a
dents OF the structure OF the two briggs
and three schooners and OF the desper-
ate passage OF the bar at the mouth OF
the harbor. the motley crew OF merchant
sailors frontiersmen and militia. many
on board stricken with bilious remittent
fever, including the Commodore. and
more than half the officers" two OF
three surgeons III on shore, and only
one able TO sail with the feet we ind
the gallant Perry. in this weakened con-
diton. Fastening 10 meet the enemy on
that memorable 10th OF September. 1913
Long before the fire OF his own guns
could be effectual on account Of dis
lance. his flagship. the Lawrence, was
the bloody target OF the Detroit the
Queen Charlotte. the Hunter and finally
Of the Lady Provost. His guns became
disabled. until only one on her engaged
side could be worked. or the 1903 men
At for duty eghty-three had been killed
or wounded. For nearly three hours he
stood this appalling conflict \ lesser
man would have pulled down the flag and
surrendered. As for Perry. ne had but
begun the battle. HIS Ieaping into an
open boat. and standing erect with his
broad pennant over his arm. while he
was rowed through shot and shell TO the
decks OF the rardy Niagara where he
once more raised his flag and began the
action anew. is one OF the sublime ro-
mances OF our nation, II not of the
world In fifteen minutes afterward he
had conquered the British feet. The por-
tentous storm was over. the thunder
subsidized the carnage ended the lakes
were ours the Northwestern Territory
was regained and the glory of il will
never be obscured In patriotic minds.
How futile does all this argument
sound of greater tonnage and heavier
metal at broadside, compared with the
skilful preparation. the indomitable per-
severance In battle and the stupendous
results of the contrast! Who prevented
the British from having n superior num-
her OF ships and heavier armament?
Surely they had the time. the means,
and for long the undisputed highway of
the lakes. Their admiral had been
trained under Nelson; he had taken his
degree on the dread tr.umphal day of
Trafalgar; he had no want of trained
officers nor of skilled seamen. Admiral
Codrngton stated that no want OF the
latter contributed to the British dsas-
ters on the lakes.
The inception and the elimination of
the Battle Of Lake Erie was a drama
that began in the forests on the bleak