The citizen., 1913-05-23

harmed men including commander and surgeon,
were left on board
The Niagara for some reason had remained in
the rear. The smaller American vessels seemed
unable to do anything to prevent British vic
tory.
With the audacty of genius Perry called four
sailors to the boats. and with his brother
Alexander the flag of the Lawrence wrapped
round his arm. he left the ship At first he was
shielded by the battle smoke Then he was
rowed through the enemy's fire for fifteen min
utes at last reaching the Niagara unharmed The
breeze now freshened speeding the Niagara and
the American schooners into action. The Queen
Charlotte of the British fleet disabled while
getting into position for broadside She fell
foul of the Detroit The American schooners
took raking positions. The full battery of the
Niagara, joining in the steady and rapid firt
swept the British decks. Kentucky rifemen in
the tops acting as marines picked off every
enemy visible. At 3 o'clock the British flag was
hauled down 1t was the first time In Britain's
history that she had lost whole squadron. Then
it was that the deck of the Niagara Perry dis
patched to the secretary of the navy the brief
account of his victory and shortly afterward sent
to Gen. William H. Harrison the line: 1--WE have
met the enemy and they ours"
Congress voted Perry thanks, a medal and
the rank of captain. The city of Boston pre-
sented him with a set Of silver, and other cities
voted him thanks. He assisted in the defense
OF Baltimore. and in the squadron that was sent
to the Mediterranean In 1915 he commanded the
frigate Java. In June, 1919. while In command
of the John Adams and other United States YES
sells in the West Indies. he contracted yellow
fever In the Ornoco and died.
The United States has appropriated s250000
for Perry memorial to be erected at Putin-Bay
on Bass Island. The great shaft will stand in
the midst of a park. Individual states have
brought the total up to 100000. New York gave
$4,000: Ohio, $4,000; Pennsylvania, $4,000;
Wisconsin, $4,000 Other states that interested
themselves were Michigan, Illinois, Rhode Island,
Kentucky and Minnesota.
About a year ago the national commissioners
Of fine arts accepted a design for the memorial
submitted by J. H. Freedlander and A. D. Sey
mour. Jr. The design provides for a plaza
1000 feet long and about 200 feet deep. On the
plaza will be Doris column 800 feet high. The
island on which the column will rise is of
group at the western end of Lake Erie
The fourteen acres have been acquired to pro-
vide reservation around the memorial The
Doric column will serve a lighthouse. Other
features are museum statue typifying peace
fanked by colonnade In the museum will be
panels arranged for mural paintings descriptive
of historical events connected with the battle of
Lake Erie
The plan calls for a crypt under the shaft in
which will be placed the bodies OF American and
British sailors who pershed in the battle which
were buried the island. The sum of 100000
has been set aside for harmonizing the landscape
with the general scene.
The members of the commission having charge
of the Perry centennial celebration will try to
secure a brief suspension Of that convention be-
tween the United States and Canada by which
warshtps may not enter the Great Lakes. The
idea is to have British and American battleships
at the ceremony of dedicating the column to
Perry's victory and possibly warship two
OF Canadas navy
The national commission of fine arts which Sc
lected the design for the Perry memorial
sists of Daniel Fl. Burnham chairman, Daniel C.
French, Thomas Hastings Frederick Law Ohm
sted. Charles Moore Cass Gilbert and Francis D.
Millet They were unanimous in their choice Of
design. Commander George H Worthington
Ger Nelson A. Miles and Col Henry Watterson
are on the interstate board In charge of the
celebration.