Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-11
HISTORIC RELIC
GIFT TO DANIELS
GaveI Made of Wood and Iron
From Commodore Perry's
FIagships.

Y U
FIagships.
! ERIE, Pa, July 11.-Holdng in his hand
a gavel fashioned of wood and iron taken
| from the Lawrence and Niagara flag
ships of Commodore Oliver Hazard
Perry's little fleet at the battle of Put in
Bay. Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the
Navy. yesterday afternoon pledged him
self to the great crowd gathered about
him on the harbor front here to give it
to his son. in order that he might better
emulate the example of the great naval
hero of the lakes.
| The incident came al the close Of a re-
markable demonstration by thousands of
enthusiastic persons assembled for what
proved to be the most important day of
the Erie celebration of the Perry victory
centennial.
Secretary Daniels had just taken his
| seat when Senator Penrose, after argu-
| ing for big navy. In order that the
| United States might be considered in
| every International circumstance" pre-
sented the gavel to Mr.. Daniels.
Regrets Presidents Absence.
dent of the United States is not here to
witness this great demonstration of pub
lie patriotism and to know that among
these thousands there are men upon
whom he could depend to win victories as
Perry had won his victory
Mr.. Daniels hesitated as he accepted the
gavel and then expressed his pleasure.
Turning impulsively to the crowd he said,
with feeling:
Il will take this gift back with me to
| Washington. and / will give it to my son.
| so that he may the more be able to APP
preciate and emulate the example of this
| great hero of these great lakes, and of
his uncle. Ensign Worth Bagley, who
| gave his life for the flag on the Cuban
| coast
Early Heroes Lauded.
Exploits of Americas early naval heroes
were lauded as splendid examples proving
that 1.-The man is greater than the ship
here yesterday by Josephus Daniels, Sec
rotary of the Navy in an address at the
Perry victory centennial celebration. The
| Secretary told again the wonderful story
of Oliver Hazard Perry's little improvised
| fleet and its triumph over the great Brit
ish men of-war under veteran officers he
recalled the inspiring death of Lawrence
with the words, " Don't give up the ship
but recently off his lips and still in his
heart and he dwelt upon the magnifi-
cent daring of John Paul Jones.
/ 1T is not always the highest training
and skill which wins the battle. although
we must not for a moment underrate the
value of these" Mr.. Daniels said. 1t
was this marvellous initiative, this I'M
| conquerable will power, which saved the
| day for the young republic at the battle
| of Lake Erie and gave Perry immortal
| fame The man is greater than the ship.
| am afraid there is danger in this day Of
| technical things, this day of methods and
models and mechanisms that we may get
| too far away from the idea that readiness
| and aptitude and initiative. alertness to
| change the line of battle with changing
| circumstances in the heat of the fray, are
vital to success
| Perry wrote to the Secretary of the
Navy before the battle during his agon-
| lied efforts to get ready, Give me men,
| sir and l will acquire both for you and
myself honor and glory on this lake or
/ perish in the attempt. Men who mean
to die if they don't succeed. usually win.
| God give US the Jones and Perry spirit
| today.
Perry's Achievements.
Il am lifted up in admiration as I con-
template the results Perry achieved when
the difficulties doomed up before him so
large. so discouraging He not only had
his fleet to build, but the big vessels to
get across the bar from the bay into the
| lake, and that in the face of a blockade
by the enemy; he had to go about get
ting his armament and supplies; he was
| not supplied with men enough for his
fleet by his superior or by Congress until
| the last minute when there was hardly
enough time to train them in their duties,
and when the battle did begin he found
| himself Unsupported by his inexperienced
| little fotilla and was left to bear the
brunt of the conflict with a veteran of
Nelson opposing him. None of these
things moved him. He rose superior to
| every difficulty.
There is a tremendously important les
| son involved in this example that Oliver
| Hazard Perry has set US. In every ave
nue. of life II applies God pity the man
who gives up. Life is too full of oppor-
tunities to throw up the sponge De-
spair is the knife that stabs success to
| the heart
Snatches Victory From Defeat.
THE people Of Erie have done well to
raise the old hull of the Niagara and re-
store her to the form in which she ap-
peared in the day of her glory when she
| came into the great sea battle in the time
Of crisis and snatched victory from de-
| feat. / know that she was criticised for
| not getting into the battle at the first.
| but who can say that the Unseen Pilot of
| human destinies was not in this, 50 that
| she was kept fresh and ready to come in
| as the reserve force and win the day.
have been greatly interested in the
| splendid work YOU people have done in
| raising her. AS she goes up the lake
| this summer and fall. carrying the IA
| nous flag, with the immortal MOTTO and
| reminding the youth Of the day of the
| glorious episode in which she played SO
important part may fortune sit upon
| her prosperous helm
Secretary Reviews Parade.
| When the demonstration had subsidized
| Mr.. Daniels and his party were conduct
! ed to the recreation pavilion where he
reviewed the parade. led by the yacht
Anona, commanded by Commodore George
4 7. Bliss Of the Erie Yacht Club
| Mr. Daniels called on Mrs Harriet
| Gridley. widow of Capt. Charles Y. p.
Gridley. who commanded the Olympia at
| the battle Of Manila bay. and who died
| soon afterward. He Went with her to
i ,hlra ic h,,rin ted