The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-04-08
CAPTAIN
IN THE WAR OF 1912
Hts short But HO,iOra bic Career As
Commander Of the Inflated
Wasp.
BY L. u. ". CONNOR.


Johnston Blakeley, Of North Caro-
hna. commander OF the United States
Sloop-of-War Wasp, though cut Off by
a mysterious fate. at the early age OF
thiry-three years. wrote a memorable
page III the naval history Of his coun-
try. None Of the daring Seamen VIC
Won fame In the War Of 1912 have
received higher communication from
higher authority than this young
Carolinian. President Roosevelt ex-
presses doubt If the war produced
two better 5ingle-ship commanders
than Captain Blakeiey and Captain
ManneTS'@the latter Of the British
sIOop Reindeer: ana declares that "the
gallant but ill-fated Wasp was "as
ably commanded as any vessea in our
little navy" James Fenirnore Cooper
tells .us that Blakeley enjoyed q high
reputation In the service, which hts
short career as q commander fully
justified: and thought that had he
lived Captain Biakeley would have
risen to the highest consideration In
his profession. Az il was" he adde0,
sew officers have left better names
behind them" And Frederick Stan
hope Hill, in his 'Twenty-Six Historic
Ships" ranks Blakelev high "in the
naval annals OF his country as q SPLEEN
did lama and q most gallant Of
hcer.'
Johnston Blaketey was an Irish
man by birth and an American citizen
ny involuntary adoption. The place
n his birth was near the village OF
Scaforth. County Down, Ireland: tbs
time October, 1881. He was two years
old when his father brought him to
Wilmington, North Carolina, where
they were greeted by a warm-hearted
80 - 1872 Nl.ua, J, Ii
scendant OF the eminent Jeremy Tay-
Tor. Carrying the t~wo-year-old boy
in his arms. Jones led h way TO his
own house where he made the wand
ercrs welcome, The mothcrleSs boy
went straight to Mrs. JOnes'S heart,
n from the moment she received
hin from her husbands arms the two
were as mother and son. Edward
Jones was a lawyer of eminence and
ability, afterwards Solicitor-General of
North Carolina. n his friendship was
most advants .geous to the elder Blake
ley. Blakelcy's own warm-hearted-
ness n generosity, his remarkable
turn for inOffensive pleasantly, and
his ~Yacetous good humor, soon won
for him a circle of strong friends. He
engaged in mercantile businesy in Will
mlngton. prospered, accumulated q
considerable property. and at his death
IN 1926 left his son a sufficient income
for his needs.
After five years at an academy at
Flatbush, Long Island, Johnston
Rlakeiey entered the University Of
North Carolina In 1877. Though dis
tinguished in all of his studies, ne
showed especial proficiency IN mathe-
mates and its application to naviga-
ton. His college course was brief.
In the fall Of 1893 the burning Of
his uninsured buildings In Whining
ton, the rem OF which was his sole
source of income, forced him to with
draw from the University. Blakeley
now determined on a career In the
navy. end in 1900 accepted a COM
mission as m~idshipmap. Two months
later he was assigned to the frigate
President, the flagship Of Commodore
Richard Dale. then cruising In the
Mediterranean. Here was a splendid
opportunity to study his profession.
Dale had received his ructions
from no less a master than John Paul
Jones, himself. II In no less an en-
gagcment than that between the Bon
uOmmc Richard and the Scraps.
During the war with the Barbary
States Blakeley served under CommO-
dore Preble; and during the years
that followed was at different times on
the John Adams, Captain John Rod
gers; the Congress. Commodore Ste
phen Decatur; and the Argus. Captain
Jacob Jones, al! destined 70 win fame
in the second war with England. Feb
ruary 10. 1907. Blakeley was COM
missioned u lieutenant: and July "a,
1913. a master cOmmandant. He had
acquired a thorough knowledge Of how
TO handle a ship In the storms and
Gains OF the Mediterranean and the
Atlantic, and had earned "the potency
OF strict discipline and rapid and ac-
curate firing"
The declaration Of war against
Great Britain. June IS, 1912 was well
coined hy the h~iGh-spirited officers Of
the navy who had chafed greatly I'M
der the apparent Indifference Of their
government to the insults and Injuries
OF the enemy. Then, too. the piping
times of peace" gave them few op-
portunities for realizing their am
billions. Blakeley had become d~issatis-
fled at some variation from the usage
il promotions and despairing of &C.
curing either honor or profit in the
service CaNfpnnlateI Sen1inr il, l;c