The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1913-02-12
FLAGSHIP,
RAISED FOR The
To Be a Feature of Next
Summers Patriotic
Celebration.
COMMODORE OLIVER HAZARD
PERRY'S flagship, the Niagara,

@OMMODORE OLIVER HAZARl
PERRY'S flagship, the Niagara
~ is to be raised from the bottom
Of Misery bay, Pressure ISL
peninsula. The old wal vessel t
which Perry fled when his origina
flagship. the Lawrence, was forced t,
strike her colors is to take a leadin,
part in the centennial celebration O.
the battle Of Lake Erie next summer.
Her hull is in good condition, accord
ing to experts who have examined her
and a cofferdam is to be built about
her SO that the remains Of the vessel
Will be damaged as little as possible in
raising. The hulk will be lowed ashore
and brought into a drydock used fol-
repairing fishing tugs, there to be re.
built and made ready for the part it
Is to take in the celebration.
When Barclay had surrendered to the
gallant Perry the American fleet re.
turned to Erie harbor. and the vessels,
both Perry's and the captured English
gunboats. We're anchored temporarily
III Misery bay. a small inlet leading
back into the woods that cover Pressure
isle peninsula.
lie Lawrence was so badly riddled
that no attempt las made to preserve
1t. Its splintered timbers were con.
verted into walking sticks and knick-
knacks to be disposed of as souvenirs.
The Niagara. however, was useful for
a number Of years, and finally, not
knowing a better way of disposing of
the ancient warship. the residents of
Erie scuttled it in Misery bay, where
1t has remained since, covered by 6f.
teen feet Of water.
Can Be Raised Easily.
The Perry centennial commission en-.
gagged the services Of an expert diver
ana had the hulk carefully examined.
He reported that 1t is we'll preserved
anu could be raised easily.
Public spirited citizens Of Erie are
e%ndeavoring to have the old vessel
placed IN Central park. where it is pro-
posed to erect a suitable building in
which to protect it from the elements.
One plan is to erect a huge aquarium
In which the vessel can be placed, with
nsh OF every species found in the lakes
Enclosed with it.
The story of the battle of Lake Erie
Will never grow old. How the Niagara
came to be Perry's flagship is graph
caIly told by John Clark Ridpath, the
historian:
= The Lawrence. Perry's flagship. be-
gan to suffer dreadfully under the con
centrated fire of the enemy. First one
u and then another was dismounted.
The masts were broken. The rigging
or the vessel was rent away. The sails
were torn to shreds. Soon she yielded
no longer to the wind. but lay helpless
on the water.
ION the deck death held carnival
The American sailors lay dead and dy-
ing on every hand. During the two
hours that Perry faced his antagonist
his men We're reduced to a handful.
Entering the action the Lawrence had
Il crew of officers and men numbering
OF these by 2 o'clock in the after
eighty-three were either dead or
wounded. Still Perry held out. 9th
ers fell around him until only the COM
mander and thirteen others were left
uninjured.
Hero's Famous Exploit.
"Meanwhile all the ships had become
engaged. but the Niagara only at long
range and inetfectively. Elliott. the
captain of that vessel. p%erceiving that
from the Lawrence had
ceased, now sailed ahead, believing
Perry had fallen and that the com
mand had devolved on himself.
ut was ut this juncture that Perry
resolved upon that famous exploit
has made his name immortal.
He pulled down his battleflag. but left
the stars and stripes still floating,
Then. with his brother Alexander and
four Of his remaining seamen, he low
cred himself into the boat. He flung
his pennant and battlelag over his
arm and around his person. stepped
into the boat. stood upright and order.
ed the men to pull for the Niagara.
THAT vessel was more than a half
mile distant. 1t required the oarsmen
fully fifteen minutes to make the pas
The boat had to pass in full
~
After.christmas Exchange Items.
[Clipped from any newspaper
To exc~hange-three gold filed bracelets
Tor a pair OF shoes. GLADYS d.
Will exchange hand worked smoking
jacket for a half dozen corncob pipes.
ARTHUR S.
! have several pairs of hand worked
bed slippers to exchange for three pounds
Of beefsteak or other meats.
REVEREND c.
Nice pair silk suspenders for a ham
sandwich. DICK.
Will exchange hand embroidered socks
for some ink and stamps. AUTHOR.
January Woman's Home Companion.