The Washington herald., 1914-03-08
plan TO HONOR
FATHER OF navy
Thousands of Irish-Ameri-
cans Will Help Unveil
Barry Statue.
FOUGHT HISTORIcBATTL
Many Societies from Other Cities to
Send Delegates to Great Event
on May 10.

Thousands of Irish-Americans. repre-
senting all s'.-American organizations
| of the nation, will be in Washington
May l6 to attend the unveiling OF the
! statue Of Commodore John Barry.
| Father Of the American Navy" which
has been sculptorcd in bronze by John J..
! Boyle. Of New York, and erected in
| Franklin Park at a cost of $1,000 to Uncle
Sam.
Among the societies which have al
ready accepted invitations are the Irish
| Fellowship Club. OF Chicago; the Ameri-
! can-Irish Historical Society. the Hiber-
nian Society of Baltimore. the Irish
| American Society. Of Scranton. and
branches OF the Friendly Sons of ST.
Patrick and the Ancient Order Of Hi
bernians in New York. Philadelphia and
numerous other cities.
On the day before the unveiling the
visiting delegations will make pill
grImage to Mount Vernon TO visit the
| tomb OF George Washington. The even
ing following The ceremonies a great
banquet is to b, given in this city. Presi-
dent Wilson, members Of the Cabinet and
members of Congress are to be invited
Statae of Heroic Sire.
The statue is OF heroic size and shows
the distinguished Eavai officer standing
erect, his eyes fixed on the distance and
one hand resting the sword which
stands I'm front of him. He is clad in full
naval uniform. with cooked hat and
heavy military coat In designing the
statue the sculptor was hampered some
what because only one photograph OF
Commodore Barry could be found. and
that hangs in Philadelphia The only
inscription on the statue will be: John
Barry, Commodore in the United States
Navy, Born County Wexford. Ireland.
11i3. Died in Philadelphia, 1905.
Commodore Barry was one of the most
notable of the carly heroes of the United
States Navy. He was the senior officer
of the navy. and at one time Paul Jones
served under him. Barry came TO the
United States from Ireland when he was
fifteen years old and as he had decided
to make the sea his profession, he went
to Philadelphia, at that time the leading
American seaport.
was of Rare Ability.
Barry soon took rank as a seaman Of
rare ability and he was intrusted with
the care of many big merchant ships
sailing from Philadelphia. At the be-
ginning of the Revolution he was rec
commended as one of the most competent
men In the country to take place OF
power in the infant navy He. conse-
qUently. received n commission to COM
mand the brig Lexington. OF sixteen
guns.
The ship left Philadelphia in l716 and |
was the first vessel to fly the Continen- |
tai flag. from which fact Barry has been |
called the Father Of the American Navy. !
To this distinction the commander quick |
IL added the glory Of capturing the first |
vessel ever taken by an American war |
ship in an engagement His prize was |
the Edward. an armed British vessel. |
The action lasted about an hour and four |
of Barry's crew OF seventy men were /
killed This is said to have been the first
blood shed in the naval service of the
United States.
story of Battle.
While in comma nd of the Alliance. near
the close OF the Revolution, Barry
fought the great battle Of his career with
the British ships Atlanta and Trepassy.
At the beginning of the battle the Alh-
ance lay in a dead calm and could not
bring her broadside to bear. The two
British ships poured CALLING fire into
her. and early in the engagement Capt.
Barry was carried below, wounded in the
shoulder by grapeshot. The flag OF the
Alliance was shot away. and the crew OF
The enemy began cheering at the pros
pect of a certain victory. Barry. lying
wounded in the cockpit. declined TO listen
10 any proposition to surrender.
IF the ship can't be fought without
L." he said, III be carried on deck.
His bravery stirred his crew. They
,hecred wildly their wounded COM
nander was carried on deck 4 new flag
was hoisted and the American shot was
sent into the enemy with deadly effect
A breeze spran up and gave the Alli-
,nce a chance to shift and use her guns.
rhe Americans then fought with such
igor that the two British ships were
forced to surrender and the captains
we're brought prisoners to Barrys state
-oom. For the signal victory he had
achieved and the personal bravery he had
lisplayed in the action Capt Barry was
-, q ,.n.n Of thanks hN Congress-